LSD install?
 

ok how hard is it to up grade a regular rear to a LSD? and besides buying a $1200 plus unit what other options do I have. any thing else I should replace/check while in there?
thanks

I don't know about the degree of difficulity, but it is not as simple as bolt on. It can be done ; some of the internals need to be changed. I beleive it shims.

I would contact George at 944 Ecology.

is there any point to lsd on a 944, unless its a turbo? cause i dunno bout u but me i never loose traction or spin rear tires even in rain, i loose traction in front if anything lol

There is a tech article in an old issue of Excellence about installing a LSD into a non LSD equipped box. Reading that and the factory manual would probably be enough to get the handy do it yourselfer through the process (IE, someone like me). However setting the shims correctly is still something i would be nervous about doing myself even with the right tool which is just a fairly large caliper to fit around the assembly. Personally i would not want to experiment on a $1k+ diff and my gearbox locking up... i would just pay someone (Kevin Gross!) to do it :D. Ill see if i can find that old issue and post it up.

The only situations you would really need a LSD is on the track. They do help with traction in the snow, but only to a point. And odds are if your driving on the street and spinning an inside wheel you are driving like an idiot.

Jon is right. Kevin Gross rebuilt mine, I have an LSD trans (from the factory)in my 83. He did a great job. LSD is useless in winter unless you have the right tires.

The bigger question is why?

I'm assuming it's because he wants to beat me at autocross.

Carful what you put in, or it will change your class. You can only have an oem one if you want to stay in the production class. Tires (spare set with Hoosiers) and suspension will get you a lot more in autocross than a LSD.

lsd in snow
 

I have driven my 944 all winter here (6 months) on new snows, no studs, open diff. No need for a LSD. I did drive my 1985 5.0 LSD Capri in winter. Not too bad for traction, but when it is icy, the LSD makes it dangerous. A crowned road means the rear is sliding sideways the second you lose forward traction. I far prefer a manual trans and an open diff for the worst of winter conditions, as I like to know what is going on.

Our ice racers all use locked (spool or welded) diffs. Better traction, but it requires different driving tactics, whether on snow tires or bolted ones.

An LSD is of increasing benefit with more power. All our cars have too much power in 1st gear on a tight autocross course.

David

You guys that have no need for an LSD need to try harder! I can't keep the ass of my NA hooked up on a set of RA1s at autocross. I would kill for an LSD in that car.

Not a question of "wants to beat me" but a question of "will beat you"...lol, spring is coming and so am I, I just want this car as good as I can get it, looking at new rims a real good tires.

+1!

Its a bit of work but overall not that bad of a job. I've rebuilt 3 or 4 trans and installed 1lsd unit. As long you understand backlash and bearing preload you can get through it

call ssi in baltimore at 410 668 1100 ask for sloan they have the porsche 385 ring and pinion tools to check the correct running clearence for the ring and pinion. most people do not have the master kit vw 385 because of the cost and hard to find tools. when you change the carrier assy. (lsd) you must check all those specs. pinion depth,backlash,bearing preload to ensure proper operation.plus they can check and rebuild your lsd unit to make sure that the unit is in proper condition . before installation . no guessing better to do it one time then to do it again. they are a full service porsche shop and have many 944 turbo and 911 racers come there for chassis dyno set up for racing (dyno pak dynometer) but most of all they are honest and back up what they do. not easy to find in this era.see ad in excellence magazine