Miata Tech: Torsen LSD

[rajito]

GTF, its not just you...
I spun all 4 wheels around 3 and all the way up the hill all weekend, and I think Ive got a gaggle of diffs in my car... ask Raj, he was staring at my passenger door up the hill every lap that he was behind me.

I think you took the concept a bit overboard at the end of the day, Joey...

This one will not go away for a while. Sorry, Joe

Raj

[ctkag]

I knew this was coming...

actually found a loose nut that was the source of my problems

Was the 'loose nut' behind the wheel??

[zip4zat]

Um... So I think GTF needs a new LSD

[Mark Swinehart]

Has GTF been to Huntington, WV recently?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061025/ap_ ... ink_bridge

[Georgethefierce]

Has GTF been to Huntington, WV recently?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061025/ap_ ... ink_bridge

I wonder where he got that much pink paint

[RyanC]

Has GTF been to Huntington, WV recently?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061025/ap_ ... ink_bridge

I wonder where he got that much pink paint

Don't try and trick us, silly, we know he bought it from you!

[Georgethefierce]

Has GTF been to Huntington, WV recently?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061025/ap_ ... ink_bridge

I wonder where he got that much pink paint

Don't try and trick us, silly, we know he bought it from you!

I hate you.

[Georgethefierce]

OK, seems I was mistaken and the car came with the VLSD which tend to wear out and turn into an open dif over time...

considering the car has about 128k on it.....I am most likely running an open dif...thanks for the help everyone.

[Dave_G]

OK, that makes perfect sense now. One of the nice things about the Torsen is that unlike a VLSD or a clutch pack LSD, it never wears out.

If you did decide to put a Torsen in your Miata, I can offer up my experiences if it would help. It's a fairly straightforward swap, but since they're bigger than the original 1990 diffs, you also need to replace the driveshaft and halfshafts.

[Bane of Tires]

Ah, a turn 3 thread. I was just thinking about it myself.

Last time out I found my car was getting unsettled over the transitions to the point where I couldn't even touch the power lest I plow very hard (wrong-wheel drive, an Integra ). Funny part is I don't recall having that problem on my stock suspension (I'm now on H&R Street Coilovers). I'm guessing the travel I lost is giving the car trouble eating up the bumps. I definitely don't have that kind of understeer elsewhere on the track. The problem is that I lose a bunch of momentum just before the uphill, and that ain't good with 118 WHP.

Would a shallower turn-in angle help? I figure I could carry a little more speed in to save momentum so long as it doesn't make the car do the wiggle dance. Any ideas? Any of you other front-wheel drive guys experienced this?

[Crusin]

Since you only mention turn three, I assume the understeer problem is only an issue there. After you changed springs, are you having an increase in understeer in other corners? If yes, then some suspension balance work may be required. If not, and the issue is only turn three, then a couple of things to think about during the cold winter months:

The lower springs allow the car to hit the bump stops when going over the rumble strips. This stiffens the spring rate considerably, upsetting the balance and traction.

The springs are significantly stiffer with the same results as above.

One potential solution is to go deeper into turn three, past the rumble strips, make a sharper initial turn and reducing the amount of turn going up through turn 4. This reduces the unloading effect on the right front tire and should allow you to get on the power sooner.

Quaiffe on the Christmas list also helps.
:tweety:

[Bane of Tires]

So basically a later apex in three? It's worth a shot. I'd love to get an LSD but right now I am a destitute student who cannot even consider a track day for a while.