To the high hp FWD guys...

[97DSModded]

My car will be on the road this week, so just now finishing the build (FP3065, FP2 cams, 9:1 CR, .30 over pistons etc.) This car will be seeing between the 400-500whp range, depending on how much boost I want to run.

Just a few weeks ago, I discovered that the Shep. tranny that's in the car (came with it when I bought it) does NOT have a LSD. I had some solid mounts made for the car, so the wheel hop is eliminated....but I'll still be spinning like crazy.

I was just wondering if anyone was in my same situation that doesn't have a LSD with a FWD car, and was wanting to know how bad the torque steer was? My car put down 270whp, and I had no trouble with with it then...but this is a HUGE hp increase over the old setup. Any insight on this?

 

[danl]

The problem with the front LSD is the spider gears. Wheel hop a little at nearly any power level and you will take the spider gears out. Those hardened little buggers will then serve to take out the whole trans. Are you 100% SURE you have a shep trans without an LSD? John usually warns the customer repeatedly that this is a bad idea. I got a stage 2 fwd trans from him in 2006 and it has a LSD in it.

Front diff tech:
Jacks Transmissions LLC — LSD Inserts

I run about 130mph in my FWD, so whatever HP level that is at. I will not run my car without a gear type LSD in it. I recently went to an AWD trans so I have my old shep trans with LSD around if you need one. It would be the LSD that shep was selling in 2006. It is for the "small" 1g axles.

 

[donniekak]

I really don't know why you guy's do it, to each his own. My talon broke a rear axle a couple weeks ago, so i was fwd, i have a welded center diff, so it's not a problem. With drag radials on the car i couldn't get traction in 1-3. This was on a full tilt 16g e85 setup, fully built engine. I can imagine what a large turbo would do.

 

[97-gst]

i dont see why anyone would get a shep trans without lsd. I had solid mounts on my car and it would wheelhop and shoot gear through the case. twice. I guess it depends on what your wanting to do with the car. are you just driving it on the street or are you drag racing? If your gonna run it at the dragstrip lsd is what you need to get, defenitly at motormile. when i was on the t25 i would spin 1st 2nd and a little in third, that was with stock differential, then after i broke that trans i bought another trans with lsd it hooked a little better but it really made my car wheelhop

 

[97DSModded]

i dont see why anyone would get a shep trans without lsd. I had solid mounts on my car and it would wheelhop and shoot gear through the case. twice. I guess it depends on what your wanting to do with the car. are you just driving it on the street or are you drag racing? If your gonna run it at the dragstrip lsd is what you need to get, defenitly at motormile. when i was on the t25 i would spin 1st 2nd and a little in third, that was with stock differential, then after i broke that trans i bought another trans with lsd it hooked a little better but it really made my car wheelhop

This. I have no idea either.

The guy I bought it off of got the car in North Carolina off a guy that installed the shep. trans before he bought it, and that's been 3 years ago. As far as I know, that guy in NC was running a FP green...but I don't know why you would skip putting a LSD in it if you're going to put that much money in it??

I'm planning on running low boost until I can afford a good LSD for this tranny. I don't feel like endangering myself and others just because the car wants to pull to one side (or mess up my car for that matter)

The problem with the front LSD is the spider gears. Wheel hop a little at nearly any power level and you will take the spider gears out. Those hardened little buggers will then serve to take out the whole trans. Are you 100% SURE you have a shep trans without an LSD? John usually warns the customer repeatedly that this is a bad idea. I got a stage 2 fwd trans from him in 2006 and it has a LSD in it.

Front diff tech:
Jacks Transmissions LLC — LSD Inserts

I run about 130mph in my FWD, so whatever HP level that is at. I will not run my car without a gear type LSD in it. I recently went to an AWD trans so I have my old shep trans with LSD around if you need one. It would be the LSD that shep was selling in 2006. It is for the "small" 1g axles.

I've heard the LSD inserts are dangerous, and can destroy your tranny. I was trying to save up for a Quaife...but they're outrageous! OBX has them for cheap, but I don't trust them.

 

[97-gst]

yeah that dont make much sense, unless he just got on it in 3-5th gear.

 

[talon187]

im making 400-500 whp in my fwd...few diffences tho. first its a 99 mirage. second im running a built awd trans. why you ask? simple i had the built when i had my awd 1g i also got the car as a shell and last but not least ive also got a twin disk clutch that i love. my car also spins like nuts 1-3 4th hold on nothing but traction. im running 25psi at the moment im hoping to go to the track in the next week or two and toss some race gas slicks and 30psi and it should go mid 10s

 

[danl]

I've heard the LSD inserts are dangerous, and can destroy your tranny. I was trying to save up for a Quaife...but they're outrageous! OBX has them for cheap, but I don't trust them.

Thats why I offered up my LSD. Its a Kar King, good quality and cheaper than a quife. I bought a quife for my AWD trans because the Kar King is no longer made and Kaaz (which can still break) and quife are the only ones making front diffs for the AWD. Quife, Kaaz, and OBX are your only choices for a new FWD unit.

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm280/dsmdano/FOR SALE/000_1433.jpg

 

[97DSModded]

Thats why I offered up my LSD. Its a Kar King, good quality and cheaper than a quife. I bought a quife for my AWD trans because the Kar King is no longer made and Kaaz (which can still break) and quife are the only ones making front diffs for the AWD. Quife, Kaaz, and OBX are your only choices for a new FWD unit.

http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm280/dsmdano/FOR SALE/000_1433.jpg

You have a PM sir

 

[97-gst]

where is E85 around here? I can't find it anywhere.

 

[hawaiifiveoh]

It's pretty much a judgment call, do you want to risk it?

 

[toofast82]

With slicks, 2step launch and some type of boost control system that will allow different settings in different gears or a high/low setup if needed should net you some good track results.
With normal street tires, you're gonna experience major wheelspin no matter what you do.

 

[97DSModded]

Honestly, it's not the spinning I'm exactly worried about. I can deal with that no problem, it's just the torque steer I'm concerned with. Like I said, I have solid mounts so I'm not worried about destroying the transmission or anything, because wheel hop should now be eliminated. I'm more worried about drifting into the wall because of torque steer at the track

 

[habitatguy187]

Honestly, it's not the spinning I'm exactly worried about. I can deal with that no problem, it's just the torque steer I'm concerned with. Like I said, I have solid mounts so I'm not worried about destroying the transmission or anything, because wheel hop should now be eliminated. I'm more worried about drifting into the wall because of torque steer at the track

You won't even notice torque steer on street tires, you'll be spinning too much. I don't know if they make them for 2g's but I've read and heard a lot of good things about the phantom grip lsd insert, I guess they re-designed it and it supposedly works well and you don't have to worry about it blowing up. This is all just hearsay though, no personal experience.

 

[97DSModded]

You won't even notice torque steer on street tires, you'll be spinning too much. I don't know if they make them for 2g's but I've read and heard a lot of good things about the phantom grip lsd insert, I guess they re-designed it and it supposedly works well and you don't have to worry about it blowing up. This is all just hearsay though, no personal experience.

Ok, that's good to know. I'm a newb to a high horsepower fwd car, and needed some insight.

No offense, but I refuse to put a LSD insert in my car. I've heard wayyy too many horror stories to cheap out on buying a true limited slip for the car. It has too much money invested in it to risk something like that

 

[dsm-onster]

They can't redesign the sideload they put on the gearset that's not intended for so much sideload . . . The lsdinsert will be in good shape, but the spider gears will spit out of the diff and into the tranny.

With that said, I ran a SBR insert for YEARS! It never caused the diff to come apart. small 16g hit or 60-1 pull. . . It was one of the most effective budget traction mods I ever installed on my old fwd.

 

[fatt6903]

TRE claims you cant break his lsd insert, if you let him install it.

 

[dsm-onster]

But like I said one post above yours, the lsd insert will still break the spider gears. . . Their proper intended function itself puts stress on the spider gears of which was not accounted by engineering of the differential.


So you have an insert that will not fail. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . to put too much load to the spiders in the wrong direction. Spider gears love dsm transmissions. Then eat them while they die, their last best meal.

 

[wranglerunner22]

Very true about spinning too much to notice too much torque steer. I do notice it somtimes, but I guess it could be that im spinning like a mofo too..

 

[black_gst]

Im running E85 25psi on my fwd and i get torque steer like a mofo... in 3rd at 80mph also i break the tires loose if i down shift from 4th to 3rd and get on it hard im running a stock trans

also you wont get torque on the track i thought i would too, but you just smoke the tires through 1st and 2nd and spin through part of 3rd too

 

[97DSModded]

I just want to hit the 12's without hitting the wall . Thanks for all the info guys. I think I'll take her to the track here soon and see if I can get better than a 15.1 like I ran last year

Edit: I'm hoping the taller gear ratios from the tranny will help. I should be able to run 80+ in 2nd gear

 

[Boostdclips99]

where is E85 around here? I can't find it anywhere.

Closest place is Charlottesville.

As far as the LSD. Probably wouldn't chance the insert even though it is the cheapest route. It is definitely a Shep because I emailed him with the previous owner's information and he verified it. I can see if I can find the email.

Your going to need slicks on the track. Until you get the LSD I would stick to the street tires and avoid any launch.

 

[97DSModded]

Closest place is Charlottesville.

As far as the LSD. Probably wouldn't chance the insert even though it is the cheapest route. It is definitely a Shep because I emailed him with the previous owner's information and he verified it. I can see if I can find the email.

Your going to need slicks on the track. Until you get the LSD I would stick to the street tires and avoid any launch.

I take your word for it man

If I don't get rid of the car in the next few years, I wanna try an AWD swap...but that's a long time coming . I was also able to tell that the gears are slightly taller in this tranny, which should really help out

 

[Kolat]

Torque steer was negligible on my 94 with the equal length halfshaft swap.

30 psi on a 56 trim with 100 shot of bottle, no idea on the hp but trapped 129 on drag radials.

I could'nt drive back then though so I was spinning thru half track.

 

[habitatguy187]

Torque steer was negligible on my 94 with the equal length halfshaft swap.

I don't think there is an option to do this for 2G's, correct me if I'm wrong.