Open or Locked LSD

[Div is back]

Ok, I was talking with my dad and he said he miss the locked LSD (both wheel spinning at the same speed) and that the new trend of open LSD sucks.

I don't really know much about the avantages and disavantages of both. Please enlighten me !

thx

 

[slimer90210]

OK first of all there are 3 kinds of differentials

1. Open
2. Limeted Slip(LSD)
3. Locked/Locking

YOu would usually not say you have a locking LSD or an open LSD. YOu would say you have an open diff, a LSD, or a locking diff.....

 

[slimer90210]

as for the differences I believe that this has been covered before so might I suggest you use the SEARCH feature....

 

[///M-Spec]

EDITED FOR CONTINUITY AND SENSE: Tell your dad that there's no such thing as a "locked" LSD. By definition, a limited slip differential allows the wheels to turn at different speeds. An LSD can split torque and bias the side that has better traction. A locking diff can lock the two halves together and deliver 100% to both sides --regardless of traction, and act like an open diff when it is not locked.

I think I do understand what your dad is getting at, though... He likes locking diffs because they can be handy in a drag race or in a off road vehicle. If they lockup, you would never have a wheel spinning while another is sitting idle. There is never 'lost power'.. all of it is being delivered.

It comes down to what priorities you have in power delivery. If you want to turn, you will need an LSD. If you want to go fast in a straight line and have the skills to keep the car headed straight under a lot of power, then a locking diff is the right device for you.


///M-Spec

 

[Joey D]

I got a locking diffs in my Blazer, beats the hell outta me why but I do.

 

[MazKid]

I've got open on the 323...though really power goes to both wheels unless I just floor it with 1 wheel on dry pavement and the other on wet, in which case I'll start to go, then the power will transfer to the skidding wheel, and I'll do a huge 1 wheel burnout. The only thing it's good for is when I have to really get going around a corner in the wet, since the outside wheel won't spin so I'll beable to turn instead of peelout straight ahead.

My dad's 2nd gen RX-7 has the factory LSD rear end from the RX-7 Turbo II...he use to have the open diff but it sucked in rain...with the LSD it drives very controllably.

Our MPV has open, and it drives great in dry weather, ok in wet weather, and horrible in snow(got our '89 MPV stuck in snow years back when we had it, at the end of our driveway, then proceeded to get into the 323 and just drive away...a RWD minivan with no LSD is just asking for trouble in the snow).