LSD for snow, need advice before I get killed

[Red Handed]

I've been looking in the threads but nothing really applys to my situation. My talon is a DD, and it snows in winter, I've wiped out a couple times and I would like to install a front LSD before I kill myself....anyways what I really need to know is how a SBR LSD insert works as opposed to a Qualife front LSD???
Right now I know that the diff in the front is open, meaning that if one wheel loses grip, it spins faster, or only one of the front wheels are being powered so if you spin out, you KEEP spinning out, so what does a LSD insert do? and what does a Qualife LSD do?
Do they both make it so that if one wheel starts to slip, it will direct power to the wheel with more grip?? So far from what I've read the LSD insert is really ghetto...

 

[Red Handed]

Oh just one more thing, I was on some brand new winter tires when I spun out and I wasn't going that fast either just to add... And thanks for all your knowledge guys.

 

[TheClaw]

weird.. I've NEVER spun out in my 5 years of AWD DSM driving, and all 5 years had just crappy all-seasons on..

Driver error?!?! I dunno man..

 

[daren_p]

First off before you install a front LSD do you have a LSD in the rear? (they didn't all come with one) As for the insert not to sure exactly what they do, some say they work great others say they didn't notice any difference. Usually they only recommend them for lower hp cars and you can still explode the front diff with an insert (may apply to fwd cars & wheel hop). As for the Quaife it is a torque biasing LSD. Normally it tries to put power equally through both wheels, if it senses that one wheel is starting to slip it will direct the power to the other wheel with traction to prevent more slip. It can distribute power back and forth to the wheel with the traction. I can say the Quaife has made a huge difference for me.

 

[xveganxcowboyx]

It sounds like you either need some driving practice or an alignment.

Check on whether you have a rear LSD before doing the front. In my experience the rear tends to kick out easier and is the more dangerous spin out anyway.

I thought the inserts were an automatic locking type, not a true LSD which would actually make turning and poor weather driving more difficult.


*edit* I just read your profile. How far did you lower the car on those coil-overs and did you have it aligned afterwards? I'm thinking that is the culprit.

Also, did you instal them on stock shocks

 

[VicBoost]

I drove my talon in the winter and i loved it. The Awd is awesome for winter and the heat is awesome because these engine warm up fast. I dunno how you are loosing control in winter just don't drive like an idiot in the winter.

 

[mobythevan]

My talon was scaring the sh@t out of me on slick roads and it turned out to be the pssngr rear wheel was way out of alignment. Got it adjusted and it now drives great on slick roads. I nearly crashed twice before getting it in to the shop to have it checked.

 

[Red Handed]

It might have been driving error......But no I can't be THAT bad... it was just a simple and very gradual lane change on a highway on freshly fallen snow....I caught a strip of snow inbetween lanes, the car lost grip and I began to spin, I did a full 720, finally the wall stopped me. I don't think it was my fault....anyways I did have a couple alighnments, and yeah I think the coilovers are on stock shocks, I bought the car like that. I don't have much money. But in no way was I driving like an idiot, thats why I am so surprised, it did not act like a car usually does in the snow. I really just want to know how an LSD insert works compared to the Quaife one. And yeah there is a rear LSD.

 

[Red Handed]

First off before you install a front LSD do you have a LSD in the rear? (they didn't all come with one) As for the insert not to sure exactly what they do, some say they work great others say they didn't notice any difference. Usually they only recommend them for lower hp cars and you can still explode the front diff with an insert (may apply to fwd cars & wheel hop). As for the Quaife it is a torque biasing LSD. Normally it tries to put power equally through both wheels, if it senses that one wheel is starting to slip it will direct the power to the other wheel with traction to prevent more slip. It can distribute power back and forth to the wheel with the traction. I can say the Quaife has made a huge difference for me.

ok cool so an LSD insert is definitely not torque biasing is that right? because thats what I'm after.

 

[Red Handed]

I drove my talon in the winter and i loved it. The Awd is awesome for winter and the heat is awesome because these engine warm up fast. I dunno how you are loosing control in winter just don't drive like an idiot in the winter.

thanks buddy

 

[xveganxcowboyx]

I know it's been covered before. A search should yield answers for you.

Again, if you're spinning out under normal driving in bad weather some thing is wrong. New differentials all around isn't going to solve the problem. You need to figure out what is wrong before upgrading.

 

[PieEyedPiper]

In my opinion, having driven Tacomas, Imprezas and my GSX in the snow, this has nothing to do with the LSD.

scenario 1:
1996 toyota tacoma in 4x4 mode. handles the snow like a champ.

scenario 2: Impreza with AWD. handles well, but watch the back end it can do some pretty crazy stuff if you're not careful.

scenario 3: GSX with AWD. same as Impreza in the snow.

Conclusion? It's just the nature of the beast. You have to learn how to control it, cause the rear end's awkward behavior is actually very predictable.

Fine some huge lot with no speed bumps (with snow of course) and just go play for a bit. You'll soon realize how the rear likes to be when it lets loose and you'll most likely fine that it snaps you back to going in a straight line when it hooks up again.

 

[AndrewD5418]

How can you tell if you have rear LSD?

 

[PieEyedPiper]

How can you tell if you have rear LSD?

It's mentioned in EVERY thread that involves the topic of an LSD, so I guess it's now this threads turn.

Big bright yellow/orangey sticker on the inside of your door jam. Also, on the rear diff itself, there will be a number with LSD in it.

 

[onesicklaser]

i baught a 90 talon awd and in the drivers door jamb there is a orange sticker thats says Viscous LSD ive seen them before as aftermarket applications is this the stock rear diff or may it be a aftermarket one? i dont kno much about the car and who previously owned, all i knno is i payed 400 bux for an AWD talon

 

[MrBoxx]

On packed snow and icy roads, my car handles like a wet seal on a Slip'n'Slide, and I have the viscous coupling LSD. First, the rear end gets squirrelly, then the front end does, then the rear again. Viscious cycle. I end up turning the steering wheel just a little bit back and forth, like a little kid pretends to drive, just to keep the car going straight. On snow and in rain, the car handles fine; it's just on hard-packed snow and total ice that it gets interesting.

 

[destrux]

Not to state the obvious, but on ice it doesnt matter if your car is in perfect alignment with 3 LSD's and brand new high quality snow tires.... you will still slide. That's why they call them snow tires, not ice tires.

 

[FusionTalon]

you have to realize that since these cars are awd, they act like a rwd car in the snow becasue the back end wants to swing them around. AWD is NOT going to keep you on the road. AWD is ONLY to get you going and out of snowbanks (limited on your ground clearence also) FWD is the best possible handling car in the snow becasue its the most fogiving when you hit the gas. Also the gsx's have a one way awd, meaning when the gas is engaged, its awd, when you release the throttle its the front tires that are getting engine drag, and the rear wheels are freeflowing, something to think about also... If you spin out with 4 snowtires and a car, you need driving practice...also why the hell are you changing lanes when in a snow storm?

edit-spelling

 

[talonproject]

. Also the gsx's have a one way awd, meaning when the gas is engaged, its awd, when you release the throttle its the front tires that are getting engine drag, and the rear wheels are freeflowing, something to think about also... If you spin out with 4 snowtires and a car, you need driving practice...also why the hell are you changing lanes when in a snow storm?

Hehe it s good to actually hear it, i tought I was it was just me

But yea changing lanes in a heavy snowstorm could be dangerous because when u change of lane and try to get in the tracks, the tires are tryi to greep for a secod or 2 and that could be dangerous, the painted lines on the road makes it even more worst
Best thing is like in an inch or 2 of snow in an empty parking lot
After that u ll be able to drift for kilometers
but be careful on tthe streets, once u loose it forget it
Really good winter tires will make a very good difference

 

[Red Handed]

...also why the hell are you changing lanes when in a snow storm?

edit-spelling

?? dude I had to change lanes to get to where I was going, thats why I got in my car in the first place...to go somewhere.....anyways, thanks for all your advice guys.