LSD options?

Moto · Postby **Moto** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 9:20 am

I'm wanting to get LSD action for my NB8A, I'm just wondering what options are out there and what would be the best bang for buck?

I like the idea of a KAAZ centre and getting it installed in my current diff, but is there other costs I have to consider? ie. seals and things?

Are the torsen diffs reliable or do they eventually wear and become inconsistent?

Any imput appreciated.

cheers

Matty · Postby **Matty** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 9:57 am

Torsens are very reliable and don't really wear out. The factory one is the cheapest option, then you get in to aftermarket units like the Guru which has more lockup, and preload.

Clutch type LSDs will tend to wear out with use, but many people perfer the lockup characteristics, especially for the track (won't go open if you lift a wheel). An RX-7 centre is apparently a cheap option.

If you buy a centre you have to get an pro to assemble it and set the backlash, plus it would be smart to replace the seals at the same time while it is apart. And obviously it means more time off the road to assemble it, rather than buying a whole pumpkin and bolting it in.

16bit · Postby **16bit** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 10:03 am

what he said^^^ having lived with a kaaz for about a year i can say it is a great thing. however no matter how well you wear it in it WILL chatter at close to full lock in slow corners like car parks and alike. if you don't mind it shaking the car and bit then its great. if you are one of those people who lose sleep over a small squeak/rattle its probably not for you as it will never stop doing it.

Babalouie · Postby **Babalouie** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 11:26 am

As a compromise you might want to consider a Mazdaspeed LSD. They are made by KAAZ, but to a softer recipe than KAAZ's own diffs. Noticeably more aggressive than a torsen but without the clunks of the KAAZ.

CT · Postby CT » Wed Oct 14, 2009 11:53 am

Tomei
Cusco
Kazz
Guru

RawSouth · Postby **RawSouth** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 12:19 pm

Are the mazdaspeeds a clutch type?
Where can you get them from?

Cheers
josh

Babalouie · Postby **Babalouie** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 12:33 pm

RawSouth wrote:Are the mazdaspeeds a clutch type?
Where can you get them from?

Cheers
josh

Yes, clutch type. Made by KAAZ but with smaller clutch plates with less preload than their own aftermarket LSD. I bought mine in Japan but I'm sure a place like http://www.jdmyard.com could sort you out. FX rate's pretty good this week too.

Ps. you can change the bearings and seals when the new LSD goes in. IIRC it didn't add much to the cost, maybe $100, but good insurance.

Ps. ps

I think torsens don't suffer from wear to a noticeable extent, but they can get damaged thru abuse or an excess of power.

tank · Postby **tank** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 3:57 pm

What LSD or diff to get also depends a lot on what you're using the car for?? Is it for drift, circuit racing, touge, motorkhana, or leisure blast in the mountains. Different circuits will favour different setups, also. Do you prefer grip or drift driving?

So, you'll probably get a better recommendation, if you let us know what the purpose of the car is and also ultimately how much horsepower your car will be putting out.

Moto · Postby **Moto** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 7:43 pm

The car will stay N/A for the moment, but a turbo down the line isn't out of the question.

I mainly blast through the hills and attend the club sprint days (so, Winton, Sandown, Phillip Island), I don't have much interest in motorkhana's or drifting at the moment.

I find on the tighter sections of Winton the car singles pretty bad and I loose a significant time, of course this is mainly driver error but anything that improves traction is a plus.

Craig · Postby **Craig** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 11:49 pm

Moto wrote:I find on the tighter sections of Winton the car singles pretty bad and I loose a significant time, of course this is mainly driver error but anything that improves traction is a plus.

My first NA used to do this at turn 8 at Wakefield Park, and I fitted a factory Torsen into it, and it helped it heaps! :mrgreen:

If you're just blasting around the street and occaisonally amatuer circuit racing then the Torsen is more than enough...however if your going to go nuts and track it all the time and become a CTZOOM clone then go the harder core units. :wink:

Babalouie · Postby **Babalouie** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 2:14 am

Craig's on the money...if it was just pure street driving then I'd got a torsen too.

You can do this with a torsen, and as you can see the smoke's all coming from the outside tyre

Moto · Postby **Moto** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 9:16 am

How do the torsen's work? Does it just send power to the outside wheel or both?

From what I can see a second hand Torsen diff is about the same price as a LSD centre installed.

Is there any australian suppliers of the mazdaspeed centre?

Benny · Postby **Benny** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 1:28 pm

A torsen works by using worm gears, and a normal LSD works by using clutch packs to come on when one wheel is spinning.
Worm gears by nature, will not allow any differential in speed between the 2 worm gears, so when one wheel starts to spin, it also applies power to the wheel that isn't spinning.
In worm gear diffs, depending on the pre-load they are set with, they do allow a little bit of slip, otherwise you'd be twisting your axles when doing tight turns.

I've got a Guru diff in my SP (which is a worm gear diff, or Torsen), and I've been very happy with it both on the street and on the track.
You do hear it clicking occasionally during slow, tight turns, but you have to really listen out for it to notice it.

For street and mild track work, any of the LSD's mentioned will do the job for you, but please, get it fitted by an expert.