Has anyone seen, or tried this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/OBX-M...spagenameZWDVW

Can this be fitted to an MC?

 

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...&highlight=lsd

 

why go cheap on something that drives the whole car? doesnt make much sense to me!!! Drivetrain parts is where the money should be spent for quality!

 

While I love the idea of spending such little money on an LSD, I'd greatly advise against it. Imagine if it catastrophically failed as you were driving and caused your driving wheels to lock up instantly........not something I'd ever want to experience. When it comes to something as important as your differential, go big or go home!

 

I plan on buying one.

All of the differentials ive seen so far are so greatly overpriced, it makes me sick. They are raping us.

The price of the OBX is right about where all of the LDS's should be.

If you dont want to go aftermarket, a Ford Diff from an SVT Focus will fit the MSC too, for half the price of the Quaife.

BTW, a failed diff wouldn't cause the wheels to lock up, you would simply lose all power to the wheels.

 

Ever considered a Phantom Grip?

Mini Madness has nothing but good things to say about them.

 

sooo .... wrong lsd then ?.... damb . well back to the 70's ... bye .

 

I have one in a drawer I bought off the marketplace waiting for that fatefull day when the clutch is smoke!

Matt

 

The cheap stuff can make you go insane...don't try the brown ones!

 

Been waiting for that...

 

When the transaxle failed in my Plymouth both front wheels locked up. It didn't restult in an accident luckily but both front wheels were locked solid when we tried to get it on and off the flatbed and I was unable to move the shiftlever out of gear.

 

That wasnt a differential failure then, the shifter would still be able to move around.

 

I haven't been very impressed with the Phantom Grip cars I've driven. A few years back I helped a friend install a Phantom Grip in his Neon. A year or so later we installed a Quaife LSD in my Neon. Big big difference between the two, both in price and performance. A PG is better than peg-legging it I guess, but if you only plan on dropping your transmission to install a LSD once, get something better.

-Keith

 

I see a great deal of griping about the prices of aftermarket stuff for the MINI v. other cars. In the case of LSD's, though, I believe the problem is that there are fewer options manufactured for FWD in general, and that the Quaife, while expensive, is not any more expensive for the MINI than it is for other cars. If you look at the Quaife web site (just Google it) you'll see that all the Quaife "ATB" diffs are roughly the same price. I believe that is because the Quaife is not a run-of-the-mill LSD. They have a patent for a unique system on which they offer a LIFETIME WARRANTY because unlike any Plate or Plate clutch type, it uses gears.

The "Phantom Grip" may work better than an Open (most OE) but it won't last long. The "lockers" of various sorts could be (seems to me) especially troublesome on an FWD when one is trying to steer precisely and looking for smooth control. The Torsen might be a good (and less expensive) option, but, they too require significantly more maintenance and hassle than the Quaife design.

Anyway, I think Quaife is taking advantage of their (patent-protected)position, but, FWIW, they do NOT seem to be singling out MINI owners for gouging. In addition, I haven't seen any other LSD for the MINI application that appear to be "Quaife knock-offs" AND which have succeeded. Maybe they really are worth the asking price??

I don't believe the OEM LSD is a Quaife or even the same design as Quaife.

FYI, the following is excerpted from the Quaife web site:

AUTOMATIC TORQUE BIASING (ATB): (Quaife) Powers both drive wheels under nearly all conditions. Unlike a conventional plate-style limited slip differential, the ATB relies on gears rather than clutch plates, so it operates more smoothly. The ATB never locks harshly. Rather, the ATB automatically biases the torque away from the spinning wheel across the axle, to a constantly varying degree, and never locks. The ATB eliminates torque steer and snatching in front wheel drive cars; and it’s a maintenance-free design which retains the standard oil lubrication. The ATB is produced and inspected to ISO 9001 standards. The Quaife ATB is subject to a lifetime warranty (subject to terms and conditions).

 

Many people on here have the OBX Diff and are very happy with it...and it's an exact copy of the Quaife ATB

 

The OEM diff is a clutch type diff. Quaife works a lot better. I "Upgraded" to a Quaife and love it.