LSD diff???
 

hi could somebody tell me in thick mans terms what these are and how are they different to standard diffs.are they good etc etc.
thanks in advance

I believe they stop the wheels spinning and losing traction, with the slippage being controlled by the diff instead, thus you get max. traction and torque.

Can't imagine it being important for a 4WD car. I can't get my Scoob to wheelspin (on dry/wet roads - not snow/ice obviously)

LSD = limited slip differential. Does what it says on the tin ;)

Basically it sends power to both wheels evenly regardless of traction, yet allows enough slippage to allow for differences in rotational speed (such as going round roundabouts).

A normal diff, in low traction conditions will just spin the wheel that has the least grip - whilst the other wheel (the one that has grip) will just sit there and do nothing.

It is important in a 4wd car, I am a (poor) offroader and my Landy only has a locking centre diff, when stuck in mud I'll have one front wheel spinning and one rear wheel spinning - which is no better than a 2wd with an LSD. Without the diff lock (yet still in 4wd) it would just spin one wheel - exactly like a normal 2wd car.

The scoob in effect has 2 LSD's - one in the rear diff and one the middle. So in low traction conditions you will always have power going to at least 3 wheels.

Oh, you can wheelspin a scoob in the damp - Did it on Friday night when I was egged into showing some "mates" on how to do a proper standing start. And making a pigs ear of it and spinning the wheels at 7K rpm in 2nd gear :eek:

Nice explanation ALi-B, seems I was a bit wide of the mark....as usual

BTW is the Wrekin you mention near Telford? If so your not far from me.

I love the rabbit run on my bike, haven't tried it yet in the car (only had it 3 weeks). Although if you get to the petrol station and turn sharp left and head towards Bridgnorth, thats also a nice road - then keep going to Kidderminster - also fun :D I live at Perton, the other side of Wolvo.

yeah, some good roads round there. Not as good in the car though - unless you get a clear run without much traffic :)