Re: confusion on limited slip differentials

["ra rabmw" <rabmw@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

           James;
                You have two seperate things confused as one.A Limited Slip 
Differential refers to the TYPE of differential.The ratios question refers 
to the different gearing ratios available in your car or anyones,whether it 
is a LSD type or an "open" rear.The LSD has clutches added in it's design 
that will sense wheel spin, and transfer power to the wheel that isn't 
slipping,thus giving the car more usable power and traction in high speed 
cornering or bad weather and road conditions.There are more than one types 
of limited slip differentials,and they may also have a different pecentage 
of ability to affect wheel spin etc.Most limited slips come in 25% to 75% 
ratio of SLIP adjustment(clutches),and that "ratio" has nothing to do with 
the actual "gearing ratios" in your car,which refers to the actual size of 
the gear sets transfering power from the driveshaft into the two rear 
axles.Clear so far?
                BMW factory LSD's installed in new cars have a clutch system 
that over the years has been mostly 25%,and many in a hurry or in 
competition have them changed to about 50/75%.OPtional GEAR ratios are 
rarely if ever offered by BMW when you pick up a new car,unless you may be 
in the "Individual"program that allows you to build your own car on paper 
before the factory does it on the production line.
               For faster acceleration you need to change the GEAR  RATIO of 
your diff.,not it's type,which may already be an LSD>
                  I changed ratios on  my 5'series from 3.25 to 3.73,and the 
other from 3.45 to 3.91. In both cases my acceleration went up close to 25% 
when combined with a computer "chip" change.
                  You may be able to find a good,used diff.that has lower 
gear ratios to add to your acceleration,and also is an LSD for added 
traction.You may already have the LSD in the present diff.,as I would think 
they are in most "is" cars.check with the dealer,as your VIN# will probably 
tell.Hope this is clear enough;left a few things out but this should clear 
it up for you.
                                        "RA"/Bob G.


>From: ISsEyM328@domain.elided
>To: bmw@domain.elided
>Subject: confusion on limited slip differentials
>Date: Thu, 18 May 2000 04:20:31 EDT
>
>Hi ppl,
>
>    I've been reading about the lsd and i'm kinda confused. Is there two
>different products using the same name? I read about one lsd that deals 
>with
>the gears and improving acceleration and one lsd that deals with the wheels
>and improving the wheel traction. Or are they talking about the same 
>thing??
>I went to the korman website http://www.kormanfastbmw.com/e36drive.htm and
>they have two products: the lsd conversion and the automatic torque biasing
>limited slip units.  And under the products there is a chart that tells you
>about the optional differential gear ratios. For the 328 they recommend a
>3.46 ratio. Which product is the ratio chart for?? the lsd conversion or 
>the
>automatic torque biasing limited slip unit? i'm pretty confused.
>
>  I'm looking for a product that would give my car faster acceleration and 
>i
>think this might be it. But i'm not exactly sure what is what. If you guys
>can help me out that would be great.
>
>james
>'99 328is
>
>--
>to be removed from bmw, see /bin/digest-subs.cgi
>or email "unsubscribe bmw" to majordomo@domain.elided

________________________________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com

------------------------------