Can you feel an LSD in action?

[raf_gti]

Mr Will said:

hornetrider said:

Uh-oh. Can of worms about to ex-plode!

What if you hold it down for however many seconds so it's disabled huh? HUH!

IIRC, single press turns off the TC, but leaves stability control loosely engaged. Hold for 10 seconds to turn it fully off (light will flash).

First stage off should be enough for the OP to discern the difference, without (too much) risk of being ejected off the road.

I shall experiment tomorrow, wish me luck!

Saying that, last time I gave it a big 'ol boot in 2nd on my airfield corner rather than going sideways as I expected the rear end just gripped and went, most disappointing!

From what I've read so far I'm leaning towards the sensation I'm feeling simply the car providing traction.

[busta]

raf_gti said:

From what I've read so far I'm leaning towards the sensation I'm feeling simply the car providing traction.

Yup thats why I asked if it was your first RWD car. The way a RWD tightens it's line and flings you out of a corner is quite surprising after driving FWD cars a lot, and will certainly seem slightly at odds to what you are used to. I found the same with my first RWD.

[John D.]

CraigyMc said:

Smike said:

John D's car. I can't remember whether it is a type A or B diff.

Slight thread drift, but I imagine that thing is quite interesting to drive. I remember watching a documentary about the elise handling development where they were talking over the lack of anti roll bars (it originally had none, before they eventually settled on the front-only approach). LSDs were discussed in a fairly bad light for the car- low speed oversteer, high speed understeer. The only thing they likes was the traction.
I konw they offered an LSD with certain models after a certain point, so perhaps thoughts have changed. The autocross scene in the USA demanded them, certainly.

Anyone else on here got an LSD equipped elise care to comment?

C

Yes it has a Torsen LSD fitted by previous owner. I do not know what specific type it is but do know it has a 2 to 1 ratio.

As to whether it is interesting to drive; well it is an Elise! I have read similar stuff where a Lotus designer/engineer who developed the S1 is quoted stating why they did not opt for an LSD as standard fit. I certainly don't find it massively snappy at low speed or forever pushing wide at high speed. It is easy to kick the tail out at low speed on a slippy surface with a prod of throttle if you feel like ttting around a bit, but neither is every roundabout taken sideways. Obviously it is important to be aware of the possible effect of the diff locking up at an inopportune moment, where in comparison an open-diff would just spin away the excess power with less 'harm' done.

I believe there are others out there with Quaife or Torsen LSD fitted, but it is not a common mod.

A lot can be done to tune the handling of an Elise with the suspension geometry. So the different effects of the LSD can be enhanced or tuned out to an extent (I certainly am no expert on such matters). Dan, whom I bought the car from, likes going sideways so had the car rather pointy for his purposes. Here he is:

http://www.youtube.com/user/danwebster4130#p/u/25/...


Always makes me chuckle

[Smike]

John D. said:

CraigyMc said:

Smike said:

John D's car. I can't remember whether it is a type A or B diff.

Slight thread drift, but I imagine that thing is quite interesting to drive. I remember watching a documentary about the elise handling development where they were talking over the lack of anti roll bars (it originally had none, before they eventually settled on the front-only approach). LSDs were discussed in a fairly bad light for the car- low speed oversteer, high speed understeer. The only thing they likes was the traction.
I konw they offered an LSD with certain models after a certain point, so perhaps thoughts have changed. The autocross scene in the USA demanded them, certainly.

Anyone else on here got an LSD equipped elise care to comment?

C

Yes it has a Torsen LSD fitted by previous owner. I do not know what specific type it is but do know it has a 2 to 1 ratio.

As to whether it is interesting to drive; well it is an Elise! I have read similar stuff where a Lotus designer/engineer who developed the S1 is quoted stating why they did not opt for an LSD as standard fit. I certainly don't find it massively snappy at low speed or forever pushing wide at high speed. It is easy to kick the tail out at low speed on a slippy surface with a prod of throttle if you feel like ttting around a bit, but neither is every roundabout taken sideways. Obviously it is important to be aware of the possible effect of the diff locking up at an inopportune moment, where in comparison an open-diff would just spin away the excess power with less 'harm' done.

I believe there are others out there with Quaife or Torsen LSD fitted, but it is not a common mod.

A lot can be done to tune the handling of an Elise with the suspension geometry. So the different effects of the LSD can be enhanced or tuned out to an extent (I certainly am no expert on such matters). Dan, whom I bought the car from, likes going sideways so had the car rather pointy for his purposes. Here he is:

http://www.youtube.com/user/danwebster4130#p/u/25/...


Always makes me chuckle

It will be a type B ( like the later fwd Rovers had rather than the early Tomcat ) then John - I remember Dan did mention it but I couldn't remember