How do I know if I have an LSD?

NMX516 · Postby **NMX516** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 6:03 pm

Hi folks,

A few things lately have lead me to think that my car might have an LSD installed, and I am wondering if there is any decisive method for proving or disproving such a theory!

Will jacking the rear wheels off the ground and spinning them by hand tell me anything?

Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

No, I'm not heading out to do a few burnouts to see what happens!

cheers

Craig · Postby **Craig** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 6:15 pm

Only 100% way to tell is to have a look inside if you don't want to test via the rev and dump method.

Abyss · Postby **Abyss** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 6:18 pm

So that wasn't you on Brunswick St Saturday night checking if he had an LSD? :mrgreen:

Astroboysoup · Postby **Astroboysoup** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 6:26 pm

hehehe i remember asking this very same questions AGES ago.

the reply was i could either drop it and check the tyre marks

or put it up on stands and in gear. turn one wheel and if the other turns with it then u have lsd.

i never got my car on stands and i still haven't dropped it in.

so i don't know either

might try tonight

NMX516 · Postby **NMX516** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 6:28 pm

Abyss wrote:So that wasn't you on Brunswick St Saturday night checking if he had an LSD?

I probably did drive along part of Brunswick St Saturday night actually, but wouldn't have been testing anything along there! :shock:

NMX516 · Postby **NMX516** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 6:31 pm

Guess I could find a deserted patch of grass somewhere...

Thanks Astro, the turning wheels with it up on stands is what I had an idea I might be able to do.

Fuzzlet · Postby **Fuzzlet** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 7:09 pm

Haha I was gonna suggest checking whether you leave 1 or 2 black stripes along the road, but jacking the car up would also be a good test....just not as fun

Sheck · Postby **Sheck** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 7:34 pm

if its an LSD the wheels will turn the same way, you can alwasy find some gravel road so your not stressing the diff too much. But on gravel you'll have to do a few turns as an open may spin both wheels on flat gravel and if you only go ein a straight line.

Dave

PS or just wait for some rain and do some doughnuts, if they're tight then your in LSD town, if you just drive in a circle with one wheel spinning and it occasionally flicks round then you have an open.

Abyss · Postby **Abyss** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 7:37 pm

NMX516 wrote:
Abyss wrote:So that wasn't you on Brunswick St Saturday night checking if he had an LSD?

I probably did drive along part of Brunswick St Saturday night actually, but wouldn't have been testing anything along there!

Ok, maybe I lied about the testing bit but it's amazing who you see when your not in the 5! :mrgreen:

With their hard top on

NMX516 · Postby **NMX516** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 7:54 pm

Abyss wrote:
NMX516 wrote:
Abyss wrote:So that wasn't you on Brunswick St Saturday night checking if he had an LSD?

I probably did drive along part of Brunswick St Saturday night actually, but wouldn't have been testing anything along there!

Ok, maybe I lied about the testing bit but it's amazing who you see when your not in the 5! With their hard top on

Looks good with the hardtop on doesn't it?! It would have needed a wash though at that stage

Happy to report that hardtop is now off however

Sheck wrote:if its an LSD the wheels will turn the same way

Thanks for the clarification Sheck.

I am trying to avoid stressing the drivetrain unduly for this test folks

zoomzoom · Postby **zoomzoom** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 8:03 pm

You can jack it up if you want to be profesional like, but if you wanna do it a bit more fun way, then pull up with one wheel of the side of the road on the gravel and one on the road. This is a more of a sure way to tell as an open diff may spin both if you are cutting up on grass/gravel etc, but an open diff will always spin one wheel when it has lots of traction on one and not much on the other. So drop the clutch just for a second, if it is open you will end up with a hole in the gravel, if it is lsd it'll scream like hell when it spins on the road

StanTheMan · Postby **StanTheMan** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 9:42 pm

you guys are such amartures.

This question has been asked 100 times. & answered 100 times.

JBT · Postby **JBT** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 10:24 pm

The torsen will not necessarily lock up both wheels. If one wheel loses traction then it will behave like an open diff. Some info here, here and here.

kitkat · Postby **kitkat** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 10:56 pm

An OPEN diff WILL lock up BOTH wheels if the clutched is dumped.

dab · Postby **dab** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 11:33 pm

when you jack it up. and depending on your lsd type if both wheels spin in the same direction try and hold one still whilst spining the other(easy with 2 people). this will tell you how \"tight\" it is. If you can not stop 1 whell then its a good lsd. most standar ones u can stop one wheel with a little force.