Are the any disadvantages of a limited slip diff ? Help please?
(2012-02-04 15:15:13) 1. Says: As far as i know, LSDs are much better in cornering and in winter times. But why car makers install the regular open diffs if they are not that good in winter times? Please write me the answer. The best mentor will get points as a reward. Thanks a lot.2. Says: The only disadvantage of a LSD is that it may require an additive to be added to the gear oil. Without it the clutches in the LSD will wear quicker, or not work at all.A limited slip should not do anything to the vehicle while cornering, thus not wearing your tires, Unless its a real tight corner. The LSD will kick in only when one tire has lost traction.
An open diff is cheaper to make.3. Says: Normal limited slip differentials do not hook up until one tire spins 3 or 4 revolutions without the other side turning. Think of it as your two rear tires are linked by a clutch pack in the center via the axles. Going down the road both wheels spin at the exact same speed so no opposing movement in the clutch pack is there. When you corner the outside wheel spins slightly faster but most times it is only one or two revolutions more than the inside tire. This causes the clutch packs to work against each other and heat up/expand, but not enough to lock the tires together. When you spin one wheel in the mud or snow it really heats up the clutch packs and locks the two tires togetherr through the axles and doubles your traction after enough friction is generated.
The down side to clutch type limited slip units is they (clutch packs) wear out. Depending on your driving habits they are pretty much shot between 80 and 100K miles. They can be rebuilt but it costs in the 200 to 300 range to do so. In extreme wear cases the keeper on the clutch pack tabs wears out and come loose causing differential damage or ring and pinion/bearing failure.4. Says: Dry pavement plays hell on limited slips. They limit the amount of slip generated by the tires turning at different rates through a turn. So at some point one of the tires drags instead of rotating. This causes stress to the components and shortens tire life.
If you are driving a race car, you plan on replacing tires and the diff any way, so you live with the short comings to get the out of corner speed. Tag: Are the any disadvantages of a limited slip diff ? Help please?