LSD.. or not ?

[nathanVY]

So I'm tossing whether to buy an LSD or not or get upgraded diff gears but stay with the single spinner.

Main my question is, are there any other benefits of an LSD other than being able to look mad and spin both wheels? Because I can't really be bothered and i doubt the v6 could even do it hahah.

Just looking for maybe some quick take-offs? and obviously no thumping like my current diff! Also good fuel economy on highways is a must (roadtrip car!)

Thoughts!

[old mate]

better drive out of wet corners. torque spread better over both wheels so improved traction. it depends how you drive. most people wouldnt be able to tell what an lsd does when they drive anyway.

fuel economy shouldnt change with an LSD but what ratio diff gears you going?

[nathanVY]

hmmm ok, I notice just about any change in my car so I probably would notice it with an LSD. Definitely better take-offs with them?

I was thinking 3.7? It will be LSD. or single with diff gears as money permits.

[ari666]

lol, silly poll. of course lsd and gears, but if you cant afford it, tough one, but i would go for gears B4 lsd

[nathanVY]

Yes don't really want to splurge a whole lot of money. I can spend $500-600 on an lsd but its a lot of money for me. Wondering what's cheaper/better bang for your buck.

[sleepa]

If you drive it hard out of corners the LSD will make it easier for the back end to grab instead of just spinning one wheel. ie, faster on the race track.

[sleepa]

Yes don't really want to splurge a whole lot of money. I can spend $500-600 on an lsd but its a lot of money for me. Wondering what's cheaper/better bang for your buck.

Just change the gears for now, unless you are racing.

[nathanVY]

sleepa - exactly the answer i was looking for, cheers.

one more thing, my diff is thumping at the moment. will getting new diff gears fix the problem or should I just get another single spinner from the wreckers and put new diff gears in that?

[Reaper]

sleepa - exactly the answer i was looking for, cheers.

one more thing, my diff is thumping at the moment. will getting new diff gears fix the problem or should I just get another single spinner from the wreckers and put new diff gears in that?

Depends entirely where the thumping is coming from. If it is from the pinion/crownwheel then new gears should fix the problem. If the thump is due to worn rubbers, shock absorbers or other suspension components (highly likely) then the gears won't make one iota of difference.

Reaper

[nathanVY]

Depends entirely where the thumping is coming from. If it is from the pinion/crownwheel then new gears should fix the problem. If the thump is due to worn rubbers, shock absorbers or other suspension components (highly likely) then the gears won't make one iota of difference.

Reaper

Well the diffs only got 180,000kms on it and wasn't driven overly hard as far as I know. So it's more likely to be suspension components, any in particular that spring to mind?

EDIT: Would 3.45 be a good medium to go for without affecting highway fuel economy? Will this throw my speedo out?

[sleepa]

I was just reading up about diff gear ratios last night. Apparently 3.45 is alright for economy, but 3.7 won't make too much of a difference either and get you up to speed quicker.

[nathanVY]

Hmm ok, the higher the ratio the higher the price lol.

[QldKev]

I haven't had a lot to do with V6 commodores; but the same rules apply.

When you change the diff gears you will change the torque ratio from your engine; resulting in more torque at your back tyres.
Example (made up numbers for cleaner example)
Engine output 100nm
(Allow 1:1 ratio from gearbox)
diff ratio 3.08 = 308nm torque at the wheels
diff ratio 3.73 = 373nm torque at the wheels

So when you change ratios you will have more torque than before. Although today you don't keep spinning the tyres; you have a better chance after the diff ratio. Allowing decent tyres I assume even with the 3.73 gears behind a V6 you should still be ok for day to day driving on an open centre; but you should really try and find someone who has the gears with the same setup. In my GENIII there is no way I would consider 3.73 without a LSD centre.


edit: Also with ratios do you have a 4 speed auto? if so
3.46 if you do heaps of country
3.7 if you do some country
3.9 if you rarely go country


QldKev

[nathanVY]

QldKev - thanks for the info, really helps.

Yeah 4 Speed Auto. So why wouldn't you run 3.7 without an LSD in your Gen3? Just because of the power? I'm leaning more towards 3.46 because I like to do interstate trips and love the fuel economy. or should i just got 3.9 and get it put on gas for long trips lol.

[QldKev]

With mine (with the Stage I mods), even with the stock open centre diff 3.08 I can’t boot it off the line without lots of wheel spin; I don't bother turning off the traction control as it's just a waste of tyres. With 3.7s it would become a nightmare; pretty good if you want to do burnouts, but not so good if you want to drive normally or go to the drags.

Since you’re talking interstate driving 3.7s would be the absolute limit, otherwise you will just get so sick of the revs. Also 3.9s will use at least 1L/100km more fuel in the country. If you’re happy with 3.46 sometimes you can pickup a completed lsd diff fairly cheap out of a manual HSV.

I’m not sure on the speedo recalibration in the V6; but with the GENIII it’s a 5 minute job for your tuner to set every thing up.

QldKev

[Cashaz]

LSD And diff gears in my opinion too, i got 3.46 gears LSD, good for a car not producing tonnes of tourque

My speedo is out like 2 - 3 kms though, but thats because I have 19s (bigger wheel size) and a 3.46s.

Anyways, it is worth re-building or getting a rebuilt diff, 3.46 on a freeway 1750rpms on 100kms, so not much more than what it was with a std 3.07, and the response of a LSD and longevity when taken care of (not cont. thrashed) is really good as well.

[havavb]

I have a question about prices, does it vary from gears? Also im a bit lost with all the options like 3.08 3.9 4.11 etc. Can anyone describe LSD's to a well noob lol. (hey atleast im being honest lol)

[VS-S-PACK-UTE]

hey guys, abit off topic but however, ive got a VS ute, manual and sitting in 5th gear on the freeway the car runs at a bit over 2000 revs, is this normal or is it an indicato that they have fitted diff gears in it before i have purchased it, thanks

[HamaTime™]

Probably have a higher gear ratio mate... at those revs at 100

[old mate]

depends what year vs. the 5th gear ratio was different in the series 1 to the later models. different gearbox, different ratios.

[VS-S-PACK-UTE]

its a series three, getrag box..... Anyone out there with the same deal as me?

[IBLOWN]

If you go too low ratio without an LSD it will single pegger everywhere. You'll get no traction off the line. Do the LSD at the same time. It all has to come out anyway.

[greenacc]

I would go with LSD before changing gears. I do a lot of long trips and HATE high revs on the highway.
3.46 will rev about 10% higher on the highway than a standard 3.08
LSD will stop the inside wheel spinning when you are turning left out of a sidestreet into fast moving traffic... a classic VS quality.

[VS-S-PACK-UTE]

off topic again guys, how much would it roughly cost to have some diff gears installed?

[DavesCalais]

open wheeling is torqe being transferred through the easiest way out, the tyre with less load, what an lsd does is prevents this from happening by locking the diff to allow for minmal slipping. proper lsds have no affect at all on driving (they do however improve inline stability) or cornering unless it is under load which is when it locks up, there are many different types lsds too. my advice is if your not building the car up performance wise there really isnt a point to swapping out an lsd or changing your diff ratios