The Big LSD FAQ thread (About various Limited Slip Differentials)
Z1, have you ever had any problems breaking a tire loose on a really tight corner? It seems like the quaife does a great job of keeping the tires hooked up UNLESS you still manage to break one loose, and then it just stops working until you get grip on both wheels again. Is that right?
Here is an old vid in which I hit a cone on side "A" and decided to "play" (hange the rear-end out, over and over
) on side "B". The quaife worked well the whole time. (BTW I didn't hit any cones other than the one I blew the run on.)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eHAIvfdplQ&fmt=18
If you get one of the rear tires in the air, on ice, or other near-zero-resistance situation, it will not work.
Last edited by Z1NONLY; Jan 26, 2009 at 02:55 PM.
i've had the Cusco RS 1.5 way, and current using the OS Giken Superlock 1.5 way. and ridden in cars with KAAZ and Nismo.
KAAZ = Nismo... very similar (if not identical casings) noiser, but gets the job done. adjustable lock via adjustment through the side. cheaper of the three listed here.
Slightly less noiser is the Cusco RS. The engagement on mine was quite smooth, and i drove it at 60% lock... if you're going racing, perhaps 80% or higher. lock is adjusted based on clutch plate arrangements.
The OS Giken is super smooth. no noise!! Fully adjustable on WHEN it locks and initial torque. locks to 100%. most expensive of the group...but like Kwame said. quality is there.
KAAZ = Nismo... very similar (if not identical casings) noiser, but gets the job done. adjustable lock via adjustment through the side. cheaper of the three listed here.
Slightly less noiser is the Cusco RS. The engagement on mine was quite smooth, and i drove it at 60% lock... if you're going racing, perhaps 80% or higher. lock is adjusted based on clutch plate arrangements.
The OS Giken is super smooth. no noise!! Fully adjustable on WHEN it locks and initial torque. locks to 100%. most expensive of the group...but like Kwame said. quality is there.
We've been having a discussion for a few months over on HybridZ.org regarding limited slips and yaw behavior. There's a lot of information about car setup, etc. specific to each type of differential. Its worth a read.
http://forums.hybridz.org/showthread.php?t=140642
http://forums.hybridz.org/showthread.php?t=140642
I have the Quaife. I don't know how clutch type Diffs are, so I can't offer much of a comparison opinion. Mine is super smooth though. But yes, once one wheel is having no resistance you're pretty much stuck. I have a driveway at work that I have to take sideways. And if I don't go with momentum I'm stuck. I've stopped once on it, and when I tried to move of all I heard was my tire spinning and saw smoke coming from the back. I was freaking out at first, but then I realised one tire was off the ground. (the smoke was from the tire barley touching the road and burning from it spinning so fast) I sat in the car and jumped up and down and that rocked the tire to 'touch' the ground, and I moved off. Lol!
Happened again in traffic going over a huge ditch in the road. That time I was stuck for almost 15 minutes trying to get the tire to touch the ground. Lol. I'm glad I can laugh now!
OTHERWISE... Lovely diff. Smooth and absolutely noise free. I've noticed how the car almost automatically straightens itself after doing a power slide. It's effortless.
Happened again in traffic going over a huge ditch in the road. That time I was stuck for almost 15 minutes trying to get the tire to touch the ground. Lol. I'm glad I can laugh now!
OTHERWISE... Lovely diff. Smooth and absolutely noise free. I've noticed how the car almost automatically straightens itself after doing a power slide. It's effortless.
....Or you could just use the e-brake to get a little resistance on both wheels and the Quafe should put more power to the tire on the ground. (because it has e-brake resistance + the ground resistance.)
how was it with the welded diff on the Z?
I have the Quaife and love it! Best $1k(something) I've ever spent on my car! During regular driving I don't notice any difference. However, when I'm cornering (hard) I can feel the outside wheel bite down. It does it subtly though, it doesn't snap hard or anything. I just notice it because in similar corners/speeds with my old open diff, I would have to throttle off a bit. with the Quaife, I can accelerate much sooner and brake later.
I've never used the clutch types. A carbon one will not clank as much, or so I've read, and it may be better suited for competition.
I've never used the clutch types. A carbon one will not clank as much, or so I've read, and it may be better suited for competition.
Carbonetic has always been my favorite choice. I havent tired the OSG, so I can't comment on that one. The Carbonetic Carbon LSD is very smooth in normal street driven, and tight manuevers, and incredible on the track. It's set from the factory on 100% lock, but doesnt feel like it, due to it's very smooth engagement.
Been using the NISMO LSD for a for weeks now, wish the car would have came with something like this. I will have to admit its little loud. Just did my first oil change after brake in with Amsoil. I know everyone has said to run Motul, might have to try that, to see if will be a little quieter.
Cusco RS
You can't actually, they will just direct you to a US dealer
The Quaife is a nice unit - not the ideal choice for road racing due to the nature of helical diffs (both wheels must be on the ground for it to work), but it is a nice unit.
The nicest clutch type diff out there, bar none, is the OS Giken - it is buttery smooth, and the quality of construction is on another level. Check out this months Grassroots Motorsports for a nice write up of a few units compared to one another. It's also among the more expensive units (in the $1500 range). The Cusco RS is a popular choice as it's less expensive than Quaife, though a bit more sensitive to fluid selection (we use Motul in ours, works great and you can't tell it's there unless you are doing 3 point turns. It's significantly smoother than the NISMO/Kaaz type units as it uses springs in the center hub section. Adam uses the Cusco in his car now, and it's worked flawlessly. For the new rear he's building (trying different gears) he's going to use the Quiafe, just to try something different. Both are excellent units.
The Quaife is a nice unit - not the ideal choice for road racing due to the nature of helical diffs (both wheels must be on the ground for it to work), but it is a nice unit.
The nicest clutch type diff out there, bar none, is the OS Giken - it is buttery smooth, and the quality of construction is on another level. Check out this months Grassroots Motorsports for a nice write up of a few units compared to one another. It's also among the more expensive units (in the $1500 range). The Cusco RS is a popular choice as it's less expensive than Quaife, though a bit more sensitive to fluid selection (we use Motul in ours, works great and you can't tell it's there unless you are doing 3 point turns. It's significantly smoother than the NISMO/Kaaz type units as it uses springs in the center hub section. Adam uses the Cusco in his car now, and it's worked flawlessly. For the new rear he's building (trying different gears) he's going to use the Quiafe, just to try something different. Both are excellent units.
Is he selling the the used Cusco?
i read the articles and have some questions:
1. if you have the quaife and stand on snow, only one wheel will spool and the other will do nothing right?!
2. the quaife and the os giken lock from 0% to 100% is this right?!
thanks from austria
thomas
1. if you have the quaife and stand on snow, only one wheel will spool and the other will do nothing right?!
2. the quaife and the os giken lock from 0% to 100% is this right?!
thanks from austria
thomas
Well, 2 years after the original post, here's a newbie that appreciates this write-up. 
If Dave is still around the forum, did you leave everything set the same, or have you teaked it since then?
I couldn't find any oil discussions. I saw Redline mentioned here, and another mention of Motul on another thread. Mine has Mobile 1 in it now and I really bounce around the parking lot. What are people running in their track Zs with Nismo, Cusco, or Kaaz LSD?
Thanks,
Bill
If Dave is still around the forum, did you leave everything set the same, or have you teaked it since then?
I couldn't find any oil discussions. I saw Redline mentioned here, and another mention of Motul on another thread. Mine has Mobile 1 in it now and I really bounce around the parking lot. What are people running in their track Zs with Nismo, Cusco, or Kaaz LSD?
Thanks,
Bill