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From "Spika's Tuning Guide" (
http://www.gameimporterz.com/GT3/GT3Tuning.htm )
Limited Slip Differential Explanation
LSD Initial - Soft to Hard:
Think of this setting as the overall "power" of both the Accel and Decel parts of the unit. It seems to effect the speed at which the Accel and Decel portions engage. When set hard, the car "jumps" out of corners and reacts very quickly, instantly making the adjustments noted above. At a softer setting, it engages smoother (but slower). In fact, when set very low, it's almost like turning the whole system off.
LSD Accel - Soft to Hard:
The softer you set it, the more the tires spin independently of each other as you apply the gas. For example, when turning left and powering out of a corner, the inside tire (the left one in this example) turns slower than the right one (under normal conditions). This is because the right tire has to cover more distance than the left one. If you try to accelerate in this situation the left tire spins as it tries to "catch-up" to the right tire's rotation speed. However if you set the LSD to a harder setting it attempts to keep both tires turning at the same rate. The result is less tire spin which sounds like a good thing (at first thought). However, it's a trade off - you gain more control over the car, but it turns slower (and develops some "push" or understeer) due to the fact that both tires now turn at the same rate. This makes the car want to go in a nice straight line with little tire smoke, but a straight line often leads you into a wall or off the track. I turn the darn thing way down.
LSD Decel - Soft to Hard:
This does the same thing as the accel setting, but it effects the car under braking, of course. As the car slows with this set to hard, both tires slow at the same speed. The advantage is that the car does not spin out, but the direct disadvantage is that now you have to "wait" for both tires to slow down to the correct speed before making the turn. Once again, for my driving style (and the del Sol LM at least) this sucks big time. I want the tires to break loose under braking since this forces the car sideways and then you can cut a sharper angle into the turn. Of course you're on the edge of control and can spin out at any second, but that makes it more fun, I think.
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From "GasMan's Tuning Guide" on Gran Turismo By Numbers (
http://www.granturismobynumbers.com/ubb/Forum30/HTML/000011.html#lsd )
Limited Slip Differentials:
LSD helps the car when pulling away and during cornering. It does this by making sure that the driven wheels both rotate at the same speed. Without an LSD turn in too fast to a tight bend and you will spin the inside wheel through loss of traction, which ultimately scrubs speed and time when you exit the bend. Alternatively the LSD will help the car to corner as well. However by making the near side wheel turn slower than the offside wheel when cornering you will hook the car round to the right meaning that you can enter the right hand bends at a faster speed than without the LSD. Really it's a compromise on the type of circuit your racing at whether it consists of mostly left or right hand bends.
LSD Initial:
This purely dictates how much the values stiffen or loosen the differentials. A higher setting will maximise the biggest acceleration and deceleration values and a lower setting will have the reverse effect.
LSD Acceleration:
A lower setting will mean the wheels spin more independently of each other and a higher value tightens up both wheels which will increase the grip especially when you pull away. Also, by delivering the same amount of power to each driven when pulling away you will help the car to pull off in a straight line and reduce any torque steer (the effect of the car pulling to the left or right under acceleration depending on which of the driven wheels has more power).
LSD Deceleration:
This is the complete opposite of the Acceleration settings and will help the control and turn in of the car under braking. A higher setting will tighten both wheels up delivering the same amount of power to each. The result of a higher setting will be that the car will now have more turn in force and will decrease the chance of spinning. However set the gearbox differential up too tight and on a rear or front drive car you will cause understeer because the back will want to push the front on mid corner.
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