Discussion
How much effect can a LSD have on improving traction on a high powered FWD car? I note the civic FK2 type r has one and is quite high powered.
Can a LSD allow a FWD car to have 350bhp and manage traction quite well?
Does it only help in corners or does it make a difference accelerating in a straight line aswell?
Im reffering to a HELICAL torsen type if that helps?
Can a LSD allow a FWD car to have 350bhp and manage traction quite well?
Does it only help in corners or does it make a difference accelerating in a straight line aswell?
Im reffering to a HELICAL torsen type if that helps?
A lsd makes an enormous difference to a FWD car.
Even with substantially less than 350hp a diff will help traction and drivabiliy. It's how a diff changes a FWD car from push on understeer to a feeling that the outside wheel is pushing toward the apex whilst allowing you to get onto the power far sooner that makes any disadvantages largely insignificant.
I've driven plenty of FWD cars with/without diffs and the best example is the difference between a standard open diff equipped civic type r and civics, integras and accord type Rs fitted with lsd, it transforms the car. Combined with sticky tyres and decent suspension many will under estimate the difference these will have. By far the best setup for hardcore fun is the Kaaz plated diff but for mixed road use a helical from the likes of quaife, pelloquin, wavtrac, torsen are fantastic with barely any compromise. Fitting a diff is also a good time to consider changing final drives and gear ratios to optimise them for the cars intended use.
Even with substantially less than 350hp a diff will help traction and drivabiliy. It's how a diff changes a FWD car from push on understeer to a feeling that the outside wheel is pushing toward the apex whilst allowing you to get onto the power far sooner that makes any disadvantages largely insignificant.
I've driven plenty of FWD cars with/without diffs and the best example is the difference between a standard open diff equipped civic type r and civics, integras and accord type Rs fitted with lsd, it transforms the car. Combined with sticky tyres and decent suspension many will under estimate the difference these will have. By far the best setup for hardcore fun is the Kaaz plated diff but for mixed road use a helical from the likes of quaife, pelloquin, wavtrac, torsen are fantastic with barely any compromise. Fitting a diff is also a good time to consider changing final drives and gear ratios to optimise them for the cars intended use.
Petrolsmasher said:
Are they good for straight line traction aswell as corners? I wonder why more 200bhp+ fwd hot hatches arent been fitted with them.
Also if your car already has torque vectoring electronic type of control, does it all intefere with one another?
Simple. Cost. And the fact that 98% of the people who buy them wouldn’t even notice. Also if your car already has torque vectoring electronic type of control, does it all intefere with one another?
thebraketester said:
Simple. Cost. And the fact that 98% of the people who buy them wouldn’t even notice.
Lsd is traction, it is not a cornering device. Lsd can only have benefit post Alex when the wheels are pointing straight. Cornering is about the contact patch of the tyres, not about how torque is transmitted to tarmac. Power corrupts.I have one on my Alfa GT 3.2. It makes a huge difference to torque steer, which is practically eliminated. As far as cornering goes, it allows me to steer on the throttle to the point where the limiting factor is my ability to stay in the driver’s seat. Without the LSD, the inside wheel would let go, and the car would understeer.
It’s one of the best mods available for FWD Alfas, especially is the standard diff is weak and can let go.
It’s one of the best mods available for FWD Alfas, especially is the standard diff is weak and can let go.
Its a popular and straight forward modification for fwd V6 Alfas (190-250hp). I have one on my 2.5 156 and it transformed the car when I did trackdays. It reduces understeer and no wheelspin at all coming out of corners, an extra bonus on fwd cars is it can also help with heavy braking as it transfers torque away from the locking wheel.
I've got a quaife ATB helical diff on my 350bhp Rotrex Civic Type R and it rarely spins up unless damp in a straight line and cornering grip is comically good. It feels unnatural at first to come on the power earlier mid corner to pull the car round but oh so satisfying when it just hooks up and just goes.
heavy/late braking is also greatly improved, I can't remember the last time the ABS kicked in due to the ATB.
heavy/late braking is also greatly improved, I can't remember the last time the ABS kicked in due to the ATB.
sheepman said:
I've got a quaife ATB helical diff on my 350bhp Rotrex Civic Type R and it rarely spins up unless damp in a straight line and cornering grip is comically good. It feels unnatural at first to come on the power earlier mid corner to pull the car round but oh so satisfying when it just hooks up and just goes.
heavy/late braking is also greatly improved, I can't remember the last time the ABS kicked in due to the ATB.
So it still spins in a straight line? Does it spin less than before the diff? And how bad does it spin. heavy/late braking is also greatly improved, I can't remember the last time the ABS kicked in due to the ATB.
sheepman said:
It feels unnatural at first to come on the power earlier mid corner to pull the car round but oh so satisfying when it just hooks up and just goes.
I agree. General rule in every powerful FWD car I've driven has been to be very gentle with the throttle until the very exit of a corner. I drove an i30N on track, and you could plant it mid corner, and it seemed to pull the nose in towards the apex, instead of make it wash out wide, which is what every bit of experience told me it should do. Counter-intuitive, but very impressive.
Gassing Station | Engines & Drivetrain | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff