So I read some material a while back about how to figure out if your differential is a LSD or an open type. They said that you jacked up the front end and spun one wheel, then used the direction of the other wheel to tell which type it was. I couldn't remember which goes with which. For example, if you spin one wheel forward and the other goes backwards, then what type of diff do you have? Another question. The other day I jacked up my drivers side to mess with my wheels. I had the car in neutral and off, with the parking brake set. I tried to spin my front wheel and it wouldn't turn. There was a slight amount of play, but it wouldn't turn. Why?

I feel like these are really dumb questions, but I'm curious. Thanks.

 

if you spin one tire and both tires spin in opposite directions then its open. both wheels spin the same way. lsd, ive never had a problem with wheels not spinning set on neutral

 

Maybe it was because the front wheel on the passenger side was on the ground?

 

lol there you go didn't read that part

 

Ok, now for the daily double. Why does a limited slip differential require a different lubricant?

 

Because they operate entirely differently than a standard differential. An open diff uses spider gears. A closed diff either uses a carrier with clutch packs, helictical gears, or viscous discs. Different types of contact, different types of stress, different fluids needed.

 

So there's a fluid out there that manages to:
1. Provide adequate friction to actuate the locking behavior of the LSD mechanism
2. Provide adequate friction to drive the synchro cones mechanism.
3. Provide sufficient lubrication to the ratio gears and shaft bearings.
All while not destroying bronze or chemically reacting with plastic.
Tall order, no?

 

only clutch type LSDs require a special fluid. helical gear types like the oem units work fine with the oem honda mtf.

imo, you really shouldnt be considering a clutch type for any kind of street use anyway. leave those to dedicated track cars (not drag racing, actual turns) that get frequent tear downs, inspections, and rebuilds.

 

If you had lsd...you would know by driving it

 

Oh I know I DON'T have it. But just for ***** and giggles, what exactly does it feel like to lose traction with an LSD differential? Or how does it compare to an open differential at the extremes of grip? Thanks partner.

 

With lsd the car pulls better out of corners, losing traction you have to actually steer the car to keep it strait (unlike spinning one wheel) and I get absolutely zero wheel hop on 1st to 2nd gear shifts.

 

What does it feel like to drive a car with electronic traction control, where wheel spin is detected by sensors and the brakes automatically applied to that wheel to form a kind of differential.

 

Is this on a D series? didn't all D series trans come without LSD?

 

Yes, I already clarified that I was aware of that. I just wanted to learn more about them, and google isn''t being very helpful so I came here.

 

What is wheel hop? Doesn't that destroy suspension components?