Folks:

anybody tried to install LSD on a Cooper S? If so, what's the feedback? Is it forth it? MiniMania offers a couple of differentials that sort of make sense if you plan to boost your Cooper to 220+ hp....

Thank you.

 

The most common LSD to add to current MINIs would be the Quaife but at over $1050 for the part alone and another $900 to $1500 to install it most people don't do this sort of mod without thinking it over.

At the time of installation you can install a lightweight flywheel by RDR, M7,UUC, Minimania, etc and a racing or other upgraded clutch for essentially the same labor. The flywheels make for faster shifts but are noisier and cost about $499 to $699.

Some owners have installed the phantom grip but most of us don't know much about it or it's durability.

LSD in theory can be very helpful to allowing your MINI (either MC or MCS) to maintain traction as much as is possible to the two drive wheels. Doesn't really matter how much power you have if it is being lost at the wheels. A stock MCS has enough power at 163 HP to make use of LSD.

For street driving it isn't really worth it. For track or autocross it can be very helpful accelerating out of turns.

For 2005, the MCS comes with the option for LSD from the factory. Price unknown and it is not Quaife.

 

I am in talks with phantom to see what they can do. We are planning on testiing it once we get our new engine built.
They have 2 versions a street, and a race version. The race is a bit tighter, causing the wheels to slip even less.

I am waiting to see how they compare with the quaife. When we have more info, we will let you know.

 

We?

 

We've got a guy in the MINI club in our area with an S Works who installed an LSD himself . He said it took him 13 hours and it involves removing the transmission. Definitely not something I'd consider DIY. That and a few other mods make his MINI an insane auto-x car.

 

The "Royal" we.

 

Yes,

Pilo Racing, and the other companies that are teaming up on this engine build project.

 

Hi.....

I'm putting a phantom grip race version in the mule next week.
Should be really exciting with the new Toyo RA1 235/40-17

I will report back asap.....

peter
Team M7

www.m7tuning.com

 

Sounds good. We run 225 Wide Tires. The Grip is amazing.

Let me know how that LSD works, I have a seperate tranny that I want to put it into, but would like feedback.

 

Can't wait to get more updates on LSD...

 

I've got the race vesion of the phantom grip. The installation was very involved. We had access to a hydraulic lift, and the tranny did have to be removed. Not for someone with alot of mechanical knowledge. In my opinion, I like the LSD alot, I've had it for abou 5000 miles already and no problems what so ever. Big difference in off the line performance, I love it.

 

Sounds good. We will have it in an extra engine, so install should be a bit easier. Do you do street driving with it? How is it? Also, have they told you how it is diffrent then the std version. I did not get that from them

 

I have a Quaife in my 04 MCS, It is great it makes the car hold the road, however it is costly, my cars have lots of mods so it was worth it to me, I could not stop the wheels from spinning, now I do not have that problem.

 

Here's my $.02
I ran the car at length in both autocrossing and on the track without an LSD, and I now have a Quaife installed.

I can now be ham footed and get away with it, whereas before I couldn't. The inportant point here though is that being hamfooted isn't the fast way around the race course. If you respect the gas pedal, as you should, on the track, the LSD only gives you a tenth or so.

It is [i]easier[/]i to drive, because the LSD will cover up mistakes, but it isn't necessarily faster. Suspension set up is a much easier way to achive the same goal, and from there, learning to drive the car correctly can save you quite a bit of cash. Stiffening up the rear (remember the twisting body stuff in physics?) will give you better grip at the front inside wheel, and it can be accomplished through a rear swaybar or rear spring rate.

I am very happy with the Quaife, and would recommend it highly over the Phantom, which is much less in design.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

Randy

 

I have been driving mini`s since 1967 with the mods I have you need that LSD, I also have the rear sway bar, springs.

This car use to breakaway at 40 m.p.h in First gear, don`t have that anymore

 

Will installing an LSD mess with the DSC at all? Will DSC still be equally effective with an LSD installed? I'm expecting to spend a lot of money on mods for my MINI and with a lot of power I'm certain I'm going to want an LSD, but it would concern me if it affects safety features like the DSC.

-mike

 

mlebeau,

The DSC is electronic and can be let on or turned off manually(if you ordered it). The LSD is physically present once installed and "ON" all of the time to allow for maximum traction. You would not want to turn off the LSD. In a stock MINI the stock differential is working all of the time.

DSC works along with LSD just fine for me. When DSC is off, LSD works just fine. So no problem.

I agree with RandyBMC's remarks about LSD for autocross. It does change the feel of the MINI but it may not translate to faster times. You still have to drive really well to get a competitive time. At the most competitive levels though, a tenth of a second is quite a bit to have.

 

i see on euro styles east that theyre offering a quaife,lightened flywheel, and clutch installed. i got to drive mckinneyminis MCS (highly modded) in the rain with the quaife etc. and it was fast and stuck like glue in the rain. i want one with all the diff. goodies.

 

[QUOTE=minihune]I agree with RandyBMC's remarks about LSD for autocross. It does change the feel of the MINI but it may not translate to faster times.]/QUOTE]

Hune - I think Randy's comment about the LSD was more true about the track than autocross. The right pedal finess required to do well in Ax is significantly reduced with an LSD but so are the times. I'd have to say about a second on an average 45 second course. Make it tight, add about another half. It's also much more fun as the limits are now in the suspension more than the traction of the inside front tire. The car is still far from competitive in SM but those 350+ hp Evo's start to get a little worried.

 

No, I feel that way about Autocross as well. I think the most important part of the car is the nut behind the wheel . If the car is set up properly, and you learn to modulate the throttle, it should only make a tenth or so on the track or at a tight autocross course.


I am competitive in SM here in one of the most difficult regions whenever I bring out my car (Bob Tunnel and his cars are here). It only took a ton of work and money! I don't think the LSD was a huge improvement though - even with all of the power. The reason I did the Quaife is because I was starting to lose the clutch with the power I have, and while I was all the way down there, I figured it would be a waste not to do the Quaife at the same time. I'm currently writing a how-to on it by the way.

Hope that helps!

Randy

 

Randy,

You had mentioned earlier about stiffening up the rear, and how that helps with traction up front for us. I know that I certainly felt less slippage with the addition of a heftier rear sway bar, courtesy of you .

Along those lines, is there anything to be had by further stiffening back there? As you must know, the MINI converts have some extra hardware to address the lack of rigidy they face. Would the addition of something like this be beneficial for us to gain more traction? More weight is not always desirable, but if it makes for better traction, it might be worthwhile. Plus, the weight would be in the rear, and down low (good things)...

Just trying to find other creative ways to gain better traction without spending nearly $2k. But if your'e doing a DIY :smile: .

 

Randy - Next time you come East save a Sat or Sun to go AXing in NYC area. You can co-drive my car!