How much 'riskier' is the base V6 without LSD?
#1
How much 'riskier' is the base V6 without LSD?
Watching recent youtube videos of cars with open differentials spinning out and hitting curbs when taking a turn onto a city street and accelerating pretty hard is making my now wish I had LSD in my base. I would assume that the ABS, DSC, traction control nannies would suffice, but what exactly does the LSD add in terms of real world examples? Is there a way to add an aftermarket diff currently and what would be the approx. cost?
#3
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+1.
I've owned/driven cars with far more horsepower and far less refinement and auto-gadgets than an F-type and had no trouble keeping the back end from swapping ends with the front.
It all comes down to respect for the machine and understanding what the limits are.
An LSD will not prevent any of the self inflicted accidents you've seen on the internet. In the hands of an unskilled driver, an LSD can create a bigger problem than a standard open diff.
I've owned/driven cars with far more horsepower and far less refinement and auto-gadgets than an F-type and had no trouble keeping the back end from swapping ends with the front.
It all comes down to respect for the machine and understanding what the limits are.
An LSD will not prevent any of the self inflicted accidents you've seen on the internet. In the hands of an unskilled driver, an LSD can create a bigger problem than a standard open diff.
#4
As you suggest, the traction control (DTC, etc) on the vehicle is what maintains directional control. The value of the LSD comes in when powering out of tight turns. With the weight shifting from the inside rear tire to the outside tire, the inside tire looses traction and will start spinning, with the open diff transferring the power to the spinning tire. In this circumstance , an LSD will maintain some percentage of power on the tire with traction. That percentage will depend on the LSD design. In short, LSD is for maximizing acceleration out of a turn.
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doctordeuce (03-03-2015)
#5
As you suggest, the traction control (DTC, etc) on the vehicle is what maintains directional control. The value of the LSD comes in when powering out of tight turns. With the weight shifting from the inside rear tire to the outside tire, the inside tire looses traction and will start spinning, with the open diff transferring the power to the spinning tire. In this circumstance , an LSD will maintain some percentage of power on the tire with traction. That percentage will depend on the LSD design. In short, LSD is for maximizing acceleration out of a turn.
#6
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lhoboy is correct and gives the foundation of why LSD can do more harm than good in the hands of the foolish or inexperienced. With an open diff, the inside wheel would simply spin rather than propel the car forward. Since the outside wheel still has full traction, the car will simply follow though the turn without incident albeit without maximum possible speed.
With an LSD, the drive to both rear wheels combined with excess throttle will bring the car closer to losing rear end grip causing the car to spin out. DCS is meant to intervene and eliminate this, but YouTube gives us solid proof that idiot proofing just offers bigger challenges to bigger idiots.
I have one car with LSD and it's a bigger handful to drive on snowy icy roads than it's non-LSD equipped cousins.
With an LSD, the drive to both rear wheels combined with excess throttle will bring the car closer to losing rear end grip causing the car to spin out. DCS is meant to intervene and eliminate this, but YouTube gives us solid proof that idiot proofing just offers bigger challenges to bigger idiots.
I have one car with LSD and it's a bigger handful to drive on snowy icy roads than it's non-LSD equipped cousins.
#7
On a track - where you should be driving to the limits of adhesion - the LSD will also maintain drive through high speed turns, keeping corner speeds up and lap times down.
On the road, they have greater benefit in monster horsepower front drive cars. Although as Ford's Mk1 Focus RS proved, you can have too much of a good thing.
On the road, they have greater benefit in monster horsepower front drive cars. Although as Ford's Mk1 Focus RS proved, you can have too much of a good thing.
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#9
#10
In addition, I suspect many of those videos star individuals, who have none of the above, and who have "brilliantly" decided to turn DSC off.
Last edited by Foosh; 03-03-2015 at 07:02 PM.
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Unhingd (03-04-2015)
#12
#13
Unfortunately, many cars don't seem to be available with that option.
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