How can I tell if I have an lsd?
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smithy318i
- Engaged to the E30 Zone

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floor it out of a corner and see how many tyre tracks you make 

with a slipper 2 yes, but can also be done with an open.
good if u can jack the back up and out of gear, turn a wheel by hand. if the opposite rotates opposite u have an open diff.
if its a bastard to turn its a lsd or u need to change your oil
good if u can jack the back up and out of gear, turn a wheel by hand. if the opposite rotates opposite u have an open diff.
if its a bastard to turn its a lsd or u need to change your oil
Or you left the handbrake onjohnono wrote:with a slipper 2 yes, but can also be done with an open.
good if u can jack the back up and out of gear, turn a wheel by hand. if the opposite rotates opposite u have an open diff.
if its a bastard to turn its a lsd or u need to change your oil
Yes like johnono said it is possible in certain situations to spin both wheels even with an open diff. If you do it that way try putting one wheel off the road on the dirt and one on the bitumen then check to see if both spin. In that situation an open would probably only spin the one on the dirt. You can also just lift up one side at the back and try to turn that wheel (handbrake off and out of gear) and if it turns easy it is open, if it is hard to turn then it might be an LSD but probably not working as well as it could, and if you can't turn it at all (or without using a LOT of strength) then it is probably an LSD. I can't turn 1 wheel at all with my LSD.
But the best way is like people have said, lift the whole back up and turn one wheel, LSD would mean the other will turn the same way.
Aston
BMW E30 323i with some stuff
1:05.17 @ Queensland Raceway Sprint track
1:10.09 @ Queensland Raceway Clubman track
1:21.67 @ Morgan Park Raceway
1:05.17 @ Queensland Raceway Sprint track
1:10.09 @ Queensland Raceway Clubman track
1:21.67 @ Morgan Park Raceway
- stevetigger
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My sport had lsd, and when I had it on ramps the wheels turned in opposite ways!johnono wrote:with a slipper 2 yes, but can also be done with an open.
good if u can jack the back up and out of gear, turn a wheel by hand. if the opposite rotates opposite u have an open diff.
if its a bastard to turn its a lsd or u need to change your oil
Last edited by stevetigger on Tue Dec 20, 2005 3:01 am, edited 1 time in total.
- stevetigger
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Same with you, proven lsd turn in the opposite way!astondg wrote:Or you left the handbrake onjohnono wrote:with a slipper 2 yes, but can also be done with an open.
good if u can jack the back up and out of gear, turn a wheel by hand. if the opposite rotates opposite u have an open diff.
if its a bastard to turn its a lsd or u need to change your oil.
Yes like johnono said it is possible in certain situations to spin both wheels even with an open diff. If you do it that way try putting one wheel off the road on the dirt and one on the bitumen then check to see if both spin. In that situation an open would probably only spin the one on the dirt. You can also just lift up one side at the back and try to turn that wheel (handbrake off and out of gear) and if it turns easy it is open, if it is hard to turn then it might be an LSD but probably not working as well as it could, and if you can't turn it at all (or without using a LOT of strength) then it is probably an LSD. I can't turn 1 wheel at all with my LSD.
But the best way is like people have said, lift the whole back up and turn one wheel, LSD would mean the other will turn the same way.
Aston
Really? I have heard people say that before (that an LSD can turn opposite ways in that test) but it has never happened to me. Seems strange that the same type of diffs would act differently, unless you have a non-standard LSD? I presume you are sure it is an LSD and it is in good working order?stevetigger wrote:Same with you, proven lsd turn in the opposite way!
I guess then the best way is really to open it up and have a look, or try the first test I said. That test is actually recommended in some manufacturers owners manuals, put one wheel on the dirt and one on the bitumen/tarmac and try to spin them.
Aston
BMW E30 323i with some stuff
1:05.17 @ Queensland Raceway Sprint track
1:10.09 @ Queensland Raceway Clubman track
1:21.67 @ Morgan Park Raceway
1:05.17 @ Queensland Raceway Sprint track
1:10.09 @ Queensland Raceway Clubman track
1:21.67 @ Morgan Park Raceway
Cheers for the replies guys, but....
How can I tell using ETK???
Jacking the car up is a major pain because it is so low.
Also whilst a healthy slipper will turn both wheels, what if the wrong (cheaper) oil has been used in an LSD? Well silly things happen. I've seen it too often in Capris to trust that test alone.
I have been told about a tab attached to LSD difs, but I must admit I was very, very drunk...
How can I tell using ETK???
Jacking the car up is a major pain because it is so low.
Also whilst a healthy slipper will turn both wheels, what if the wrong (cheaper) oil has been used in an LSD? Well silly things happen. I've seen it too often in Capris to trust that test alone.
I have been told about a tab attached to LSD difs, but I must admit I was very, very drunk...
- darkslider
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The curtains will become alive and Mars bars will chase you down the street.
Why is that painting winking at just me?
Not done that since the early 90's and ended up causing a mini riot by all accounts. Threw a German student in the river for the apparent crime of 'pretending to be German'. I was not convinced you see....
Not done that since the early 90's and ended up causing a mini riot by all accounts. Threw a German student in the river for the apparent crime of 'pretending to be German'. I was not convinced you see....
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Globulator
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Just to add my 0.03 euros...
I confirmed the existence of my LSD when I jacked up one wheel in 5th to turn the engine for valve clearances.
If you get a mate to hold up the back you should get a trolley jack under the diff. Then get him/her/them to hold one wheel while you try to spin the other one. You should find it very difficult (1 person power vs 25% of 175BHP).
If it's almost like a solid (no diff) axle fine (as that is what is does). If it's easy or (worse, oh so much worse) and the back wheels freely move in opposite directions then there is no limited slip and you'd better be careful playing in the snow
Torsen diffs might be different (but that aint an LSD).
I confirmed the existence of my LSD when I jacked up one wheel in 5th to turn the engine for valve clearances.
If you get a mate to hold up the back you should get a trolley jack under the diff. Then get him/her/them to hold one wheel while you try to spin the other one. You should find it very difficult (1 person power vs 25% of 175BHP).
If it's almost like a solid (no diff) axle fine (as that is what is does). If it's easy or (worse, oh so much worse) and the back wheels freely move in opposite directions then there is no limited slip and you'd better be careful playing in the snow
Torsen diffs might be different (but that aint an LSD).




