Enlighten me on diffs

[slomove]

Another minor disadvantage: while the LSD can give you a good advantage on the dry track the Quaiffe style can be a handful on a wet/muddy/oily track.

 

If you accelerate out of a corner already at the limit of adhesion and one rear wheel suddenly loses traction (mud on the track, oil slick etc.), the other wheel gets immediately double torque. This will cause an instant spin without any warning (been there, done that).

 

According to the previous posts the Torsen diff would not do that.

 

Gert

[Birkin42]

I am no expert on Torsen/Quaife LSD diff's, but having looked at both, they are designed very differently.

If I am not mistake, the Torsen uses 45 degree helical gears arranged with their axis 90 degrees to each other and uses the friciton in the gear mesh to create the torque bias. I believe this system has the problem of acting like an open diff if no traction is available from the other wheel.

I'm pretty sure a Quaife has shallower helical gears with their axis parallel to each other and uses the friction between the idler gear and the carrier to positively drive the wheel with the most traction. I believe a Quaife do not transfer all power to a wheel with no traction.

 

The negative I have heard about Torsen's is that they can create push or understeer when powering out of a corner since the internal friction in the gearsets causes the diff to acted locked and hence does not want to track a circle but wants to go straight. I am not sure if a Quaife has the same issue but I would suspect it would to some degree.

I think any LSD in the end will create some handling issues but in turn will provide much better drive out of corners. Whether this trade off is worth while depends on personal preference and how easily your car can light up an inside wheel.

 

Jack

[slngsht]

This is an old thread from before last year's upgrades. I ended up with a Camaro rear, which has a Torsen unit in it.

[Mandurath]

hehehe guess should read the whole thread sometimes....:leaving: