Real world driving - LSD vs no LSD

[s m]

Sf_Manta said:

I've had RWD cars for the past 8 or so years, from Manta's to E30 BMW's from 320 to 325.

Having driven in a lot of weather, before having an LSD installed in the 320, the car didn't feel 'planted' and had a habit of breaking traction on one side, then the other especially in icey / wet / greasy conditions, even when driving normally.

After installation of a LSD, generally the car felt more planted in all conditions, easier to catch if the back end stepped out in adverse conditions, and in snow / ice, made it easier for getting around since both wheels would get some traction, instead of having one wheel spinning aimlessly on ice.

So on RWD cars, yes an LSD I would say makes them easier to drive, both normally and enthusiastically.

I've had old cars like you, Manta GTE, XR4i, BMs, Escorts - must admit I've preferred them all with rather than without.

Guess it's personal preference ... plus apart from one BM they had no other traction aids

[J4CKO]

GC8 said:

J4CKO said:

I am sure I can handle one but its the budget drifter option, not really appropriate for an open top Porsche of advancing years.

Option M220 on the sticker in the service book, but its a rare S2 that has one.

Was on about welding the diff really but it is indeed a rare option, especially on a cab as I suspect that most 944 cab owners wouldn't know what one was, for me I can do without one but I suspect my next car will have one, need to re-acquaint myself with RWD, after all just getting one off the bat, I wont appreciate it.

[5lab]

kambites said:

nottyash said:

If its an option its always worth having, dont accept sales talk that it has an electronic traction control which is just as good. It isnt.

I'm not sure how true that is any more - as soon as a car can brake the driven wheels independently (and most modern traction control/ESP systems can), it can essentially do exactly the same thing as a mechanical LSD but without the downsides.

thats not quite true. an e diff will typically brake the spinning wheel which allows up to 50% of the power to be transferred to the outer tyre. this is better than the 0% a open diff will give if one wheel is spinning, but worse than the 100% a locked diff will send. in reality an lsd will probably transfer less than 100% unless its really vicious but its going to be better from an absolute performance perspective than an e-diff.

thats not to say e diffs dont have a place. to pull a 4wd car out of some snow they can be as effective as a locked diff but essentially free as its just some code on the esp system

note in the above ediff refers to a system of braking wheels to give traction, not an electronically actuated diff

[icepop]

madevo said:

Ok so having never driven a rwd car with an lsd (without a sales guy sat beside me to test it out myself)I am curious to know what the real world practical difference with one and without one are on a rwd car, to be specific the car I am hunting for is a C63. Just want to know if I should bother with an lsd on the spec sheet.

I appreciate the theory of what it does, allows both wheels to spin, sounds great. I just don't want to waste my time hunting for one with an lsd if really I personally won't benefit from it.

All I can compare to is a 2002 C320 we have. No lsd but I seem to be able to waggle the tail out easily in the wet and control pretty nice drifts if i try, it doesn't seem hard control at all. Pulling out a junction with tcs off (as far as it goes off!) I can easily do some tail out stuff. I really want to know what difference would an lsd add. Does it allow for me to get a sideways angle quicker? To hold a slide for longer? etc

Please note although I like to drive hard when the situation allows I don't do many track days nor do I tend to want to get the back end out very often (too scared on public roads!). Out of this fear I tend to back off during corners and be gentle with the throttle. You could call me miss daisy in that respect!

So with that in mind, I would really appreciate if someone could offer their opinion.

Don't listen to the bug brains. IF you even need a LSD in normal driving conditions, you should kindly hang up your driving gloves, for the safety of other road users.

[nottyash]

icepop said:

Don't listen to the bug brains. IF you even need a LSD in normal driving conditions, you should kindly hang up your driving gloves, for the safety of other road users.

Muppet