of all my mods, I still do not have an LSD and I wrestle with getting one...... to put it in with labor, flywheel and clutch is in the $3000 range..... yes I will put it in when I need a clutch but I am curious what the current wisdom is about a LSD..... if this was a new car for the $500 option there is no question but $3000 is a lot of money......to me...... I saw a post about a year ago where the difference was a second or two on a road course.......so what do you think?

 

Horror...don't be admitting this in public Bob

One word...Quaife

$3000 sounds a bit high...you might want to check with Chad/DT for another quote...

 

Aside from the headwork, me and you are pretty much on par performance wise, I am pondering this same issue myself. I have ridden in a car with LSD, and it is quite an amazing, you feel it pull you out of turns instead of slipping around it. The turn in is slowed down just a bit as well from what I understand.

 

It is a great performance option and a must have for those who track their cars.
I would wait until you need a clutch.. then its much more cost effective..

 

Have owned an 03 without and an 06 with. With the LSD the curves are much more fun and the car feels more in control around them with it. However, 3K seems a bit much for a little more fun around the curves...

 

Hey,

I'm an open book....

The $3k is with the clutch and flywheel...... the "Q" is almost $1200 for the part......

 

The way I see it Bob, in the automotive world, limited slip differential is a synonym for performance. All the serious musclecars in the 60s and 70s had it. With what you have in your car, I would seriously consider it.
Sending the power to both wheels instead of just one is the only way to go.

 

If it is true that it isn't even an option on the 2007's then it definitely will make my little "S" worth a few more $'s...

 

yeah you guys are definatly more knowledgeable about mini performance then I am.

However, I have a good amount of experience with performance cars, mostly italian.

In my experiences the lsd is something that really helps a moderate driver handle applying power exiting corners correctly. For a very skilled driver the difference will most likley be nominal. However, if you are talking about a case in which the car in question may have just a touch more power then say, was meant for the chassis (like your's, especially now with the m62) the lsd can help even a very skilled driver with power management.

Overall the price seems just a touch on the high side but as you said that includes a flywheel and clutch install. In all honesty I'd say go with it, especially since now you are going to be looking for any way possible to put the power that you have down to the road.

erik

 

If you can't run a rear sway bar, then you'll really need an LSD. But a stiff rear sway bar can really mask the fact that you don't have one.

With a good rear sway bar, you would really only need an LSD on tight turns that open on to a straight.

Lotus says the Elise is actually faster on some tracks without an LSD. An LSD can cause the car to understeer more entering turns.

But don't get me wrong, if you're really serious, I would get an LSD. But I'm not sure it's as important as other things like tires, suspension, engine, when you're builing the ultimate track car. The more power you have the more important an LSD is. For example, if you were running a stock MC with suspension upgrades, with the right rear swaybar and sticky race tires, you wouldn't need an LSD.

 

http://www.coasttocoastusa.com/zenca...products_id=85

Here's one part for you Bob

 

I believe Randy Webb says on his Web site... "It makes the car easier to drive fast, but only made about a tenth of a second difference at the track using the proper driving technique."

SpiderX... While you may enjoy a track event now and then (I'm not sure honestly), you don't strike me as a serious track rat where $3000 makes sense for a tenth. Personally, I'd rather upgrade to a nice 2006 with one installed, transfer the bulk of your mods, and sell your older baby. You'll probably save money in the process.

$3000 would go a long way towards paying off some things, or investing it for your kid or grandkids education.

Anyhow, that's my thinking on the LSD for an older Mini.

 

http://www.enhancedstreetperformance...products_id=85

Here's the other...

 

http://www.manufacturersdepot.com/s.nl/it.A/id.131/.f

Here's the rest...

 

I think Helix does the Quaife for $2k/installed. Don't quote me on that.

If I may chime in....we've got two MCS's. The wife's '05 Cabrio with no LSD and my '06 Coupe with factory LSD. I HAD to have it, you know, because it's a 'performance mod'. Well....I've got to say...it's weird. It drives weird. Not smooth. Yes, no inside wheel slip when goosing it at low speed, but at normal highway cruising, letting off the gas a bit on a high speed corner causes the car to step in.

Better or worse? Different. I guess I wouldn't have known the difference without having owned almost identical cars. For $500, it was a steal. For $2k+....I don't know. I'd probably pass.

Hope this helps a bit.... (and yes, I realize OEM != Quaife)

 

A sports car without an LSD just makes my soul cry.

especially one with alot of power, the power is useless if you cant get it to the ground.

Im with MSFITOY, never speak of this in public again.

Psssst....get an LSD!!!!

Edit: get an LSD or get a new 06/07 with an LSD...just get an LSD! pleeaaseee! hehe

 

Eric quoted me something like $850 to install the Quaife...but that was two years ago...

 

I would imagine an LSD is key for auto-x, with lots of low speed, tight-radius turns. As said above, not a major advantage on the track, except in exiting very tight, 2nd-gear turns. No advantage at all on the street, except in snow.

 

You'd be surprised how often the Quaife comes into play on the street...when you hear both wheels chirping around a turn, you know torque is being evenly distributed...

 

It's really pretty elementary, isn't it?

If you have the power, the most effective way to get it to the ground, so that you can actually make use of what you paid big bucks for, is the LSD.

Otherwise the power is partially wasted.

And at least some of the big bucks - not to mention a little rubber, are wasted, too.

Bob, you gotta get this done.

The world's rubber supply is hanging in the balance.

 

Quaife + hi perf clutch + lightened flywheel + labor + travel + food + hotel in Phiily(I'd have to do this)= really, really close to $3K.

It's a day long install. Not cheap.

 

Yeah, I thought his number was closer than it first appeared.

But compared to the money lost by not being able to make use of all that he's already paid for?

In his case, "not cheap" may be different than the rest of us.

 

Yea, it's Bob's money. Let's spend it

 

Yeah!!!

Anyway he knew what he was asking...

 

I have to chime in as well.. on is it worth it.. as what Randy and Lotus has to say about the LSD is correct. It all depends on the course and driving styles. If you do Drag racing, Autox or any course where there are extremly low speed corners. Then LSD make a noticable difference on these types of tracks. IF your on Ovals and Momentum Road course where there are nothing but mid to High speed corners then a LSD can hinder performance due to the Binding effect when turning.

Then theres set up of the car. Since you race and you do your own setup from what i recall this shouldnt be a major factor but might be as well. When doing cross wieghts and depending on the track. Some people will set the front end so the wieght is not even up there to give it more push or to make it have more bite in the turns. With these types of set up depending on the power and how far you have gone. A non-LSD car will spin the unloaded tire at will which caused pretty smoke but lost in forward momentum. Where as a LSD equipt car will get more bite and better times.

Hope this helps some