snowboardgeek1

I'm purchasing an EG with a Type R engine and tranny. The tranny has a Spoon LSD. I'm not too familiar with the different types of LSD's out there, but I was wondering what you guys thought of the Spoon LSD and whether or not its good for just track use or both for track and street use. Thanks.

Egezzy

iTrader: (2)

if youre goin with a 1.5 way thats goin to be somewhat of a hassle for street use. but it will be fine

snowboardgeek1

Why would it be a hassle?

I've been trying to do some research on this site about the spoon LSD but I haven't found much. It looks like the Spoon LSD will need to be rebuilt but it doesnt say how often. I only plan on tracking the car 3-4 days/year. The car will be used on the street as a somewhat daily driver (at the most, maybe 150 miles/month). Any other ideas? Would it be better to get an ITR LSD?

rotten

Weather or not it is a 1.5 way or not has little do to with its usability on the street.

The key characteristic of the Spoon is that it is a clutch-type differential. Meaning that rather than using gears like a torson-style unit or a Quaife, or fluids like a viscous, it uses little clutch plates. A lot of people don't prefer them for the street because, like all clutch-plates will wear and require maintainence and special friction-modified transmission fluid if used in a transaxle or differential fluid if are using in a third memeber or rear-end (because it is a wet clutch).

I personally highly prefer clutch-type differentials for competition, especially rally, as they work well if the wheel is or is not loaded, etc. It is more aggressive setup, and can chatter and can occasionally feel the clutches slip or engage, which can feel strange if you're not used to it.

The nice thing about a gear type unit like Quaife is that you can set it and forget it... no maintaince, special lubricants, etc. Lifetime warranty on the Quaife. Should last forever. Spoon one will eventually need to be serviced.

I prefer clutch type for competition, but I think I'd probably prefer a gear type if it was my daily driver.

That being said, if anyone has a clutch-type and would prefer a gear type for street use I'd gladly swap anyone a brand new OBX for their KAAZ, ATS or Spoon clutch-style differential.

Cheers,
-k

rotten

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by snowboardgeek1 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Why would it be a hassle?

I've been trying to do some research on this site about the spoon LSD but I haven't found much. It looks like the Spoon LSD will need to be rebuilt but it doesnt say how often. I only plan on tracking the car 3-4 days/year. The car will be used on the street as a somewhat daily driver (at the most, maybe 150 miles/month). Any other ideas? Would it be better to get an ITR LSD?</TD></TR></TABLE>

I have a KAAZ which is very similar to the Spoon.

I've got about 10,000-15,000 miles on my Kaaz in the rally car, probably 2500 competition and/or gravel miles and 7500-12,500 street miles. When I inspected it about 1000 miles ago it show little wear.

I have used only KAAZ differential fluid, changed it 2 or 3 times (costs about $50 for a 2L which is about how much you need for a change). I seem to remember rebuilding would cost about $300-400.

As long as you broke in the LSD properly and are using good lubricants I wouldn't think you'd have to rebuild often.

Other thing that is a blessing and curse on the clutch units is that they can help contribute to snapping axle CVs. You can adjust the preload and the ramp angles if you're so inclined--meaning you can set the amount of torque before the clutches slip. I've broken like 6 or 7 axles during rally competition, and I am not sure that we'd be breaking quite as many if we had a gear type LSD. We'd still break 'em, just not as often. Nice thing about the clutch types with the adjustable preload you can set it up almost like a welded diff, where can still limp home even with a snapped driveshaft.

Cheers,
-k

BlwnBlue

I too have had a KAAZ and at first couldn't deal w/ the "broken axle" sound around the parking lots..so I switched to the quaife...after having both...the car was a different animal with the KAAZ braking and steering were impoved greatly...with the quaife I can't really even tell I have a diff...I don't feel I grip the corners as well nor do I feel it brakes as well...for road racing I'd def go w/ the clutch type...just break it in properly and use correct fluids and reg maint and you should have no complaints...and the person that bought the KAAZ off me is still running well off it...it's not a daily but it definitely gets driven hard..

snowboardgeek1

Are you guys all using Kaaz as oil for the spoon LSD? How would GM Synchromesh with the friction modifier work?

Egezzy

iTrader: (2)

my point wasnt that the 1.5 way would be bad to drive i just said more of a hassle as in a decel tite turn at low speed.

as far as oil i think thats goin to be based on opinions.

good luck.

snowboardgeek1

Understood. Thanks.

Any other opinions?