The mechanical diff is still a desirable extra on rear-wheel-drive sports cars, and well developed systems will still offer better responses than any electronic alternative. On front-wheel-drive hot hatchbacks, the LSD helps to minimise undesirable torque steer as the front wheels have to cope with steering as well as putting the power down, while the introduction of more advanced electronics helps the front wheels to cope with power outputs that were unheard of only a decade ago.
For four-wheel-drive cars, the limited-slip diff has a specific task in sending power to the corner of the car with the most grip, and the most sophisticated systems can be used in conjunction with locking diffs to boost a car's off-road ability.
The principle of the limited-slip differential is that it offers more control over power delivery than a conventional 'open' diff. An open diff uses gears to ensure that the wheels turn at different speeds when going round corners, but when there is lots of power being delivered, it's easy for an open diff to be overcome by its delivery. When power arrives at the wheels, it looks for the path of least resistance, which in this instance means the tyre with the least amount of grip.
If you're heavy with the throttle in a powerful car, this can mean all the power evaporates in a cloud of smoke as the unloaded tyre spins away while the other tyre continues to grip.
Add an LSD, and extra mechanisms — usually in the form of a clutch assembly, cams, or even a viscous fluid system that's part of the diff — counter this natural flow of power to redistribute the engine's torque to the wheels with the most grip. The result is reduced wheelspin for the unloaded tyre, and the car's power is put to the road more effectively, which will boost grip and therefore cornering and acceleration performance.
There are different types of limited-slip diff available, and which one a car uses will depend on the drive system it uses. This means that the LSD will have an effect when applying power and also when slowing down, meaning a consistent feel to the car. A one-way LSD is better suited to a front-wheel-drive car, because this will only have a limiting effect when accelerating.
When slowing, the LSD is inactive, which helps with cornering off the power because a 2-way diff has a tendency to introduce understeer to the drive system. In between these two is a 1. This offers an LSD effect under acceleration and when slowing, but the amount of slip isn't the same in both directions, so there's less effect in one direction than in the other. This can be more useful than a one-way LSD because it still enables a car to use engine braking when slowing down.
Another type of LSD is the torque-sensing differential. One of the first production cars to use a Torsen diff was the Audi Quattro, and this system helped it to dominate in rallying in the early s. In an effort to reduce manufacturing costs, some car makers have come up with alternatives to the limited-slip diff that deliver a similar effect.
Car Culture. Type keyword s to search. Today's Top Stories. R for Car and Driver. This content is imported from YouTube. In order to prevent this wheel from slipping on the road, the limited-slip differential takes away some of the torque energy from the slipping wheel.
As a result, you can make hard turns much more easily and reduce slippage in the process. If you had the more common open differential, it would not be able to reduce slippage as you make hard turns. A limited-slip differential contains different clutch discs which are secured by springs.
When a wheel experiences slippage, the tension increases between the different clutch discs. This will cause more resistance to occur between the two wheels on the axle, resulting in limited slippage. This type of differential needs more maintenance than an open differential. Be sure to replace the differential fluid periodically because this keeps the clutch discs functioning normally.
An auto mechanic can perform all the maintenance and repair work needed. But it is important that you understand the potential of a limited-slip differential and why it is a good investment if living in an area with certain road conditions that call for it. Good job buddy! I have a charger rt road and track. Its not super fast but I have been toying with the idea of an LSD to get more power to the pavement.
You have convinced me to make this my next mod. Thank you!
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