I have an '05 transmision available to me and I have a question for those who drive it, hard. Just how well does your LSD really work.
Would it "really" help in an instance like THIS ?

 

Seems like you are spinning the inside wheel in the corners and yes, I think the LSD would help. Although I haven't done any track time, I do drive agressively at times and have enjoyed my LSD tugging me through the corners with no crazy inside tire spinning. It just digs-in and goes.

 

I'm speaking for Garfield - so this is second hand - he autoxed an 05 MCS with factory LSD all last year - He also co-drove my 02 MCS in 2003 with a Quaife LSD.

He indicated that the quaife LSD is much more effective than the factory LSD especially as it relates to wheel spin coming out of corners

 

Factory LSD worked well for me. It's the 05 tranny gears that really makes things cook!

 

I've only had to opportunity to track mine twice but the answer is yes to LSD. I've owned several FWD and RWD cars that have all been on the track at one time or another. I've never had a LSD that didn't perform better in either drive line than an standard diff on the road or track. The ability to control drift is so much better when both wheels pull.

 

Looks like its a problem mainly over rough patches of the track when the car gets upset and only one wheel has enough weight on it to maintain traction. I've had about 8000 miles of street driving in my 05 w/ LSD and my educated guess is that the LSD will help slightly (enough to be noticed) but not eliminate the problem. In playing with my PSS9s I've noticed that setting the rebound softer helps keep the wheels on the ground, reducing the problem you're having, but you've likely already considered that. In any case, it's probably not worth the price in handling just to keep the wheels more planted. Although I definitely like my factory LSD, I'll second the thought that the main reason to purchase a 05 box is the revised ratios.

 

You definately have to shift more on the track, using 3rd and 4th gears mainly, the older MINIs mainly could be kept in 3rd, except on longer straights, then up to 4th

I have to use 5th on long straights with my 05 ... I do NOT have LSD, not sure if we "need" it

 

i have it... it works really well...

i do have to say that i think mine has burnt out though... it seemed to be alot more effective along time ago... but 14K miles later 100 ish drag strip or drag strip like launchs/passes and a couple of track days... i think its excusable for it to not work as well as it did before...

 

Greg
The LSD would be a definite plus but I don't know much about the MINI unit. I know the Mania unit is better or should I say stronger then a Quaife unit. I know you don't want to put the tranny in then have to take it out to put another LSD in it. Give me a PM. Like to know $$$ for tranny.

 

I would have to say it would help you greatly in that situation. In my 03 without a LSD, running the Nashville track once, there was a right turn that I constantly lost traction on because the wheel had no weight on it. That's the first time I ever thought of getting a LSD so a few months ago when I had a chance to move to an 06, I made sure to get the LSD.

I have yet to run at a track or have a very good situation to test it completely. I have though taken it to a parking lot and checked it out. I can turn the wheel to go right and from a stop, go in quick circles without the front tire loosing traction. It's not a good test but one that I feel that without the LSD running the other tire with weight, I would have done nothing more than loose traction until the speed slowed enough to get the spinning wheel back on the ground.

 

Greg,

Just saw this. I cannot speak about the LSD, however, I wonder if a few slight changes to your set up will work on this track??? You still running PSS9s?

Michael

 

I've got a question, and I've even asked this a few months back, but there weren't enough 05's to compare. But now the 06's are finally here and we've got a whole bunch of 05's out there, has anyone driven an 05 w/LSD and an 05 w/o LSD in autocross or track? The main reason I ask is, anything pre 05 seems to be a bit outdone anyway due to change in performace. I think comparing 05-06, two cars with exact gearing and horsepower would be much more helpful in deciding how much an LSD would really do.