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Will I notice a big difference putting a limited slip differential on my car?

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Old Feb 2, 2002 | 12:01 AM
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Question Will I notice a big difference putting a limited slip differential on my car?

Well? I have a 1991 Convertible. I am seriously considering, as in one step from buying one, putting a LSD on my car and I am wondering if it will make a big difference? Will I notice it? Also, what is the difference in gears from the straight differential to the LSD? I am wondering if I am actually getting a worse gearing over all. In short is this a good idea? Fell free to answer any and all of these questions as I need as much info as possible!!
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Old Feb 2, 2002 | 12:45 AM
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open diff sucks ***, lsd always helps, get viscous if you're planning to do heavy duty stuff, cuz that has the least chance of breaking
but as for feeling it, you hafta be doing drag or drifts or somethign to feel it, can't just expect your daily drive to be like you're in a lexus or somethin
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Old Feb 2, 2002 | 05:22 AM
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Hey,

The LSD will help you if you do some racing like autocross and trackwork/drifting. It'll make you faster if one of your wheels spends time off the ground. Sorry, I don't know much of anything else about it.

Just curious, what LSD's are available for the Convertables and GXL's? Are there aftermarket units or is it only junkyard vulturing for rear ends off GTU's and T2's? Thanks folks.

Will
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Old Feb 2, 2002 | 09:52 AM
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I noticed a huge difference when I got mine on. Driving in regular weather AND in the snow.

-Derek
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Old Feb 2, 2002 | 12:23 PM
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If you going to get the LSD for your car you might also want to consider getting a 4.30 gear set for it also. Your car is heavy to start with being a convertible and the 4.30 rear gear will help your acceleration.
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Old Feb 2, 2002 | 01:36 PM
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Fprep.. Why would he have to get 4.3 because of the LSD???

MY thiery could be wrong...The AWD cars suck for top end. I beat a gsx on the freeway. I would imagine since u have another wheel to push then U might lose top end to... But I also thought LSD activates under torque conditions so I can be wrong.

As for drag racing I thought about doing this but I heard that the normal diff will activate anyways.. People say they see two streeks when they burn out so I dont know. Can anyone tell me if LSD would be better for drags.
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Old Feb 2, 2002 | 02:49 PM
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Yeah, when I got my LSD, I put 4:30 gears in it while it was out. I like them a lot.


-Derek
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Old Feb 2, 2002 | 05:06 PM
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Hmmm LSD is like a positrack? I dunno whats in my TII but when I launch hard it leaves black marks on each side. When i come around a corner, gas it and fishtail i leave 2 marks as well. Is this a LSD or is it just normal? I don't know much about the cars history.
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Old Feb 2, 2002 | 07:02 PM
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Originally posted by West TX RX-7
Hmmm LSD is like a positrack? I dunno whats in my TII but when I launch hard it leaves black marks on each side. When i come around a corner, gas it and fishtail i leave 2 marks as well. Is this a LSD or is it just normal? I don't know much about the cars history.
Yes LSD is = to posi, and all T2 have LSD.
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Old Feb 2, 2002 | 07:29 PM
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Originally posted by von
Fprep.. Why would he have to get 4.3 because of the LSD???

MY thiery could be wrong...The AWD cars suck for top end. I beat a gsx on the freeway. I would imagine since u have another wheel to push then U might lose top end to... But I also thought LSD activates under torque conditions so I can be wrong.

As for drag racing I thought about doing this but I heard that the normal diff will activate anyways.. People say they see two streeks when they burn out so I dont know. Can anyone tell me if LSD would be better for drags.
I think you need to do some reading and learn what a diff does coz you don't seem to have a clue! And what have AWD cars got to do with this discussion and why would they lose top end? An LSD isn't absolutely necessary for drag racing because you're on an even surface going in a straight line, so you'll probably spin both. But if you are spinning one wheel then you need one because power being used to smoke a tyre isn't being used to accelerate the car.
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Old Feb 2, 2002 | 08:50 PM
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I'm with Jason, read a little to learn what a differential does. You have a "differential" because when you go around a turn the inside wheel travels a shorter distance than the outside wheel. Hence "differential". It allows the outside wheel to revolve more times than the inside so you don't build up tension in the rear end. Ever drive a 4 wheel drive with a locked center differential on dry pavement? Make about 2 turns and the thing will be hopping all over the place.

An LSD is a limited slip differential. lt allows a certain amount of slip between the left and right wheels and then "locks up" (not quite). That's why an open diff leaves one black mark and an LSD leaves 2. In many race cars the differential is welded, no more differential.

If you're only using your vert as a daily driver with no autocross, etc. putting in the LSD is a waste of time and money.
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Old Feb 2, 2002 | 10:03 PM
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Im saying that the more tires u have to push the more drive train loss(NZ convertable) So less speed up top am I right??????????????????Yes. Thnx. As for drag racing I simply mentioned that People without LSD leave two marks when they burn out. Like dump the clutch at high revs. Wich leads me to the original question ( does it help drags)??????????? two people here said the oposite... Looks like someone else needs to study before I listen.
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Old Feb 2, 2002 | 10:11 PM
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Originally posted by von
Fprep.. Why would he have to get 4.3 because of the LSD???

I don't mean that you have to get the 4.30 gear set, its just a good time to add it if your going to the trouble to upgrade to a LSD. You could put the 4.30 gear set in an open diff and still probably get better acceleration provided you can control that one wheel from spinning during your run through 1st gear but why would you want to do that?
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