Quaife ATB Helical LSD - worthwhile upgrade?
Discussion
I have saved our MGF Trophy 160 from the breakers after HGF, and after getting the engine fixed and anything to do with the cooling system replaced, I had the undersides replaced. It has had uprated Bilstein dampers, new poly bushes everywhere, 4 new wheel hubs, Rossini front discs, new pads and new GS-D2's all-round. It is now like a new car.
I have also just ordered an AP racing clutch and ultra light flywheel. What I want to know is, is it worth changing the basic diff with this Quaife version (as the engine has to be dropped to fir the other parts anyway)?
http://www.quaife.co.uk/shop/products/qdf28k-9
I enjoy driving this car around the twisties, so would that be a worthwhile investment, if yes, what improvements would it give?
(I know I have spent a lot more on this little car than it's worth, but it is now starting to pay off, fun-wise..)
I have also just ordered an AP racing clutch and ultra light flywheel. What I want to know is, is it worth changing the basic diff with this Quaife version (as the engine has to be dropped to fir the other parts anyway)?
http://www.quaife.co.uk/shop/products/qdf28k-9
I enjoy driving this car around the twisties, so would that be a worthwhile investment, if yes, what improvements would it give?
(I know I have spent a lot more on this little car than it's worth, but it is now starting to pay off, fun-wise..)
Right, my Lotus has the usual crap diff that lets the inside wheel spin coming out of corners. If I were to fit one of these it would be easier on the inside tyre, corner faster and make the car feel more sure footed. The downside is, once it lets go, it's more of a snap and less progressive due to both wheels spinning not just the inside one. And it will happen at higher speeds.
For the track it's one of the best upgrades to make performance wise.
If I could afford one I would have one in a heartbeat.
OC
For the track it's one of the best upgrades to make performance wise.
If I could afford one I would have one in a heartbeat.
OC
I'll be honest: I never missed having an LSD for road use on either of my Elises and the Sport 160 will have had a lot higher power:weight ratio than a Trophy.
Traction isn't such a big deal with relatively low-powered mid-engined cars, anyway, 'cos they've got enough weight over the back to keep it well stuck down most of the time, and I think the more progressive breakaway of an open diff is preferable for the few occasions you encounter when traction is a limitation.
Traction isn't such a big deal with relatively low-powered mid-engined cars, anyway, 'cos they've got enough weight over the back to keep it well stuck down most of the time, and I think the more progressive breakaway of an open diff is preferable for the few occasions you encounter when traction is a limitation.
Sam_68 said:
I'll be honest: I never missed having an LSD for road use on either of my Elises and the Sport 160 will have had a lot higher power:weight ratio than a Trophy.
Traction isn't such a big deal with relatively low-powered mid-engined cars, anyway, 'cos they've got enough weight over the back to keep it well stuck down most of the time, and I think the more progressive breakaway of an open diff is preferable for the few occasions you encounter when traction is a limitation.
Don't tell me that, not after I just bought the damn thing, you could have lied! Traction isn't such a big deal with relatively low-powered mid-engined cars, anyway, 'cos they've got enough weight over the back to keep it well stuck down most of the time, and I think the more progressive breakaway of an open diff is preferable for the few occasions you encounter when traction is a limitation.
Sam_68 said:
I'll be honest: I never missed having an LSD for road use on either of my Elises and the Sport 160 will have had a lot higher power:weight ratio than a Trophy.
Traction isn't such a big deal with relatively low-powered mid-engined cars, anyway, 'cos they've got enough weight over the back to keep it well stuck down most of the time, and I think the more progressive breakaway of an open diff is preferable for the few occasions you encounter when traction is a limitation.
Traction isn't such a big deal with relatively low-powered mid-engined cars, anyway, 'cos they've got enough weight over the back to keep it well stuck down most of the time, and I think the more progressive breakaway of an open diff is preferable for the few occasions you encounter when traction is a limitation.
- seemed like a wizard wheeze on my friend's old onechris watton said:
Don't tell me that, not after I just bought the damn thing, you could have lied!
Sorry! Not to late to cancel it, though?Obviously the Elise is a bit different to the MGF (though I'm a big fan of the MG), but I used to be able to consistently drift my Sport 160 around roundabouts on opposite lock, which I don't think is a trick I'd want to try on public roads with an LSD-equipped transverse mid-engined car... they're a wee bit snappier!
Although a lot of people in the Lotus camp don't think an LSD is warranted in the Elise, there was a poster on the Evo forum who swore by them. He really did like to hang the tail out though and posted a fair few videos to prove its effectiveness.
On the MGF/TF that up grade should work well.
On the MGF/TF that up grade should work well.
interloper said:
He really did like to hang the tail out though and posted a fair few videos to prove its effectiveness.
On the track, I'm willing to bet?Certainly, on smooth tarmac with plenty of space if you get it wrong an LSD is a benefit for tail-out antics.
On crappy, patched, pockmarked and cambered tarmac, with a kerb 5 feet away, they can be a bit trickier - as per Oilchange's response, above.
Well, at some point, I do want to bring the power up a little more, 185bhp perhaps. At the moment, I am changing anything that could be considered 'weak spots', mechanically. The engine already feels stronger than usual after being rebuilt; the suspension is now completely new and 'race-spec'. It already has a CR box, so I figured I'd change to the AP racing clutch, ultra lightweight flywheel - and why not 'slip in' a LSD at the same time.
http://www.ptp-ltd.co.uk/shop/128/mg_rover/mg/flyw...
(I know some may think me mental to lavish such sums on a car that fetches so little, but they are fantastic to drive in Trophy 160 spec, and my wife loves the car)
The guys that sorted my (well, the wife's..) car are Tech-Speed Motorsport - http://www.tech-speed.co.uk/road_car_preparation/g...
We went up there this past Wednesday, and worked on our car from 9.30am to 7.30pm - as I said, they changed virtually all of the suspension for their own, and every bush was changed to poly bushes, and all four wheel bearings were replaced - plus a full geometry set up - all for around £460 labour costs (3 guys worked on the car all day)
I mention this because I also spotted a beautiful racing Lotus Elise in the workshop, what a monster that was (the shell was off, so all the insides were perfectly visible). So I am sure they would be good for Lotus owners too, and they know their stuff...
http://www.ptp-ltd.co.uk/shop/128/mg_rover/mg/flyw...
(I know some may think me mental to lavish such sums on a car that fetches so little, but they are fantastic to drive in Trophy 160 spec, and my wife loves the car)
The guys that sorted my (well, the wife's..) car are Tech-Speed Motorsport - http://www.tech-speed.co.uk/road_car_preparation/g...
We went up there this past Wednesday, and worked on our car from 9.30am to 7.30pm - as I said, they changed virtually all of the suspension for their own, and every bush was changed to poly bushes, and all four wheel bearings were replaced - plus a full geometry set up - all for around £460 labour costs (3 guys worked on the car all day)
I mention this because I also spotted a beautiful racing Lotus Elise in the workshop, what a monster that was (the shell was off, so all the insides were perfectly visible). So I am sure they would be good for Lotus owners too, and they know their stuff...
Edited by chris watton on Friday 9th March 18:52
Sam_68 said:
On the track, I'm willing to bet?
Certainly, on smooth tarmac with plenty of space if you get it wrong an LSD is a benefit for tail-out antics.
On crappy, patched, pockmarked and cambered tarmac, with a kerb 5 feet away, they can be a bit trickier - as per Oilchange's response, above.
On the road as well actually, although I suspect those videos have now been carefully removed or made private! Certainly, on smooth tarmac with plenty of space if you get it wrong an LSD is a benefit for tail-out antics.
On crappy, patched, pockmarked and cambered tarmac, with a kerb 5 feet away, they can be a bit trickier - as per Oilchange's response, above.
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