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612

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[–] 2 pts

On street vehicles it's good. Limited slip allows much better forward movement when the road is slick. When a car is turning, the wheels on the outside of the turn travel a longer distance than the inner ones, so axles have a set of gears that allow one wheel to turn faster than the other while allowing both to continue to receive power (the differential gears). The problem arises when one wheel has less traction than the other. The differential allows power to continue going to the "loose" wheel causing it to turn a lot faster than the one with traction. This is why a car in the snow will sometimes spin one wheel while the other (which still has traction) stops. Limited slip detects the out of control wheel and locks the differential, causing power to transfer back to the one with traction, which can move the car. As soon as the wheels get closer to the same speed the locking action relaxes so the differential can again allow the wheels to turn at different speeds.

[–] 0 pt

Well that is a fantastic explanation of a limited slip differential! However I think you forgot the part about how they can be a lot of fun.

[–] 1 pt

My people do not believe in fun. Limited slip allows us to do more work, faster.

[–] 0 pt

No fun? Isn’t limited slip great for drift cars?

[–] 2 pts

Well, you need some friction otherwise there's no happy ending for anyone.

[–] 2 pts

I was thinking a limited slip rear diff but yeah without friction there is no happy ending.

[–] 3 pts

Most 2 wheel drives are one wheel drive as most 4 wheel drives are two wheel drive. A limited slip is for when one wheel loses traction the other takes over, thus the limited. Nothing beats lockers for true wheel drive.

[–] 1 pt

I knew a guy once a long time ago we both got these old riding lawn mowers and we decided to race them. Well he welded his rear diff and could get off the line way faster.

[–] 1 pt

Totally depends on the application. Street use? Track? SUV? Off road trails and snow? Crossing the Darien Gap?

[–] 0 pt

Always good if you ask me.

[–] 1 pt

Too much hurts handling, fights the steering. Too little and tires slip. Try driving a 4wd rig with front and rear locked diffs, can’t turn for shit and it eats tires. Now try a 4wd with open front and limited slip rear like an auburn pro unit. Good on road, good in wet, fantastic in off road, spins front slightly on extreme terrain. Mostly that’s the best compromise. Traction can be best achieved with proper suspension keeping tires applying equal pressure.

Everything is a compromise, just have to make the best compromise for the majority of encountered situations.

[–] 0 pt

Well you sound like you have a lot of experience and are very practical about vehicles.