Question regarding LSD
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Instructor
Joined: Jan 2015
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Question regarding LSD
Please help. I am the owner of a c7 with a regular LSD (non-z51 car). I was parked with both of the wheels on snow/ice. Leaving the parking spot, my right wheel was slipping and could not grab any traction, i assumed since i have a LSD, that the power would just transfer to the left wheel and the car would move, but it didn't. The right wheel kept spinning and the left would not move. I remember when i had a solstice GXP with a limited slip and one wheel would never slip without the other turning. Is it possible that there was too much weight transfer over the left wheel and thats why it wouldn't turn or should i start worrying (based on some new threads) that my differential seal couldn't handle the weather and leaked out all the fluid. I appreciate any feedback.
Last edited by c7v; Mar 3, 2015 at 11:41 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 2,204
Likes: 17
From: Fayetteville North Carolina
St. Jude Donor '15
That's where the "slip" in limited slip differential comes from. It's not a locker, which would deliver equal power to both wheels all the time. The differential has a series of clutch plates in it to allow one wheel to spin faster than the other (like when you are turning) and if you are on a very slippery surface like mud or ice you can see a big differential in wheel speeds. Many times even cars doing a burnout at the track will only spin one tire even if the differential is working properly.
Don't worry.
Don't worry.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 109
Likes: 2
That's where the "slip" in limited slip differential comes from. It's not a locker, which would deliver equal power to both wheels all the time. The differential has a series of clutch plates in it to allow one wheel to spin faster than the other (like when you are turning) and if you are on a very slippery surface like mud or ice you can see a big differential in wheel speeds. Many times even cars doing a burnout at the track will only spin one tire even if the differential is working properly.
Don't worry.
Don't worry.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,074
Likes: 309
I'm not so sure that it's working the way it should. LSD's do fail. You could jack up one rear wheel with the car in neutral (make sure you chock enough of the wheels to keep it from rolling, preferably on level ground) and try to turn the raised wheel by hand. After a small amount of rotation, it should give you a lot of resistance and prevent you from rotating the wheel.
Is it possible that the wheel not rotating was frozen to the surface?
Is it possible that the wheel not rotating was frozen to the surface?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 109
Likes: 2
I'm not so sure that it's working the way it should. LSD's do fail. You could jack up one rear wheel with the car in neutral (make sure you chock enough of the wheels to keep it from rolling, preferably on level ground) and try to turn the raised wheel by hand. After a small amount of rotation, it should give you a lot of resistance and prevent you from rotating the wheel.
Is it possible that the wheel not rotating was frozen to the surface?
Is it possible that the wheel not rotating was frozen to the surface?
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 109
Likes: 2
So it's possible that there are times when the differential would not transfer power to the wheel with grip? I was under the impression that although there might be some differences in rotational speed, I didn't expect it to just not transfer any power at all, the other wheel did not move. Appreciate your help.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
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From: Land of the free, home of the brave...
Question regarding LSD
Lysergic acid diethylamide is a psychedelic drug of the ergoline family, well known for its psychological effects, which can include altered thinking processes, closed- and open-eye visuals, synesthesia, an altered sense of time and spiritual experiences, as well as for its key role in 1960s counterculture. It is used mainly as an entheogen and recreational drug. LSD is non-addictive, and is not known to cause brain damage.[Haaaaa!] However, acute adverse psychiatric reactions such as anxiety, paranoia, and delusions are possible - such as seeing some wheels spinning while others are not.
You may experience strange colors such as Torch Me Red, Laguna Beach Blue, Shark Tank Gray, Cyrstaline Red, etc.
"Man what long strange trip its been..."
You may experience strange colors such as Torch Me Red, Laguna Beach Blue, Shark Tank Gray, Cyrstaline Red, etc.
"Man what long strange trip its been..."
Last edited by Crossed Flags Fan; Mar 4, 2015 at 12:04 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 2,204
Likes: 17
From: Fayetteville North Carolina
St. Jude Donor '15
So it's possible that there are times when the differential would not transfer power to the wheel with grip? I was under the impression that although there might be some differences in rotational speed, I didn't expect it to just not transfer any power at all, the other wheel did not move. Appreciate your help.
Race Director
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 10,742
Likes: 629
From: Manheim Pennsylvania
I thought that we had what used to be called; Positraction = power would transfer from the wheel that slipped to the wheel with grip. This would happen automatically, driver would never know it happened. Evidently c7v's car didn't accomplish this?
Last edited by Larry/car; Mar 4, 2015 at 10:36 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 2,074
Likes: 309
I don't quite understand why the assumption is that it's working normally. This is one of the situations that the limited slip is supposed to prevent.
If the clutch pack is allowing that much slip, then you might as well
be driving a car with an open differential. With that situation, you'll have all kinds of trouble getting power to the ground on launch and corner exit.
I would make them prove to me that it's working correctly.
If the clutch pack is allowing that much slip, then you might as well
be driving a car with an open differential. With that situation, you'll have all kinds of trouble getting power to the ground on launch and corner exit.
I would make them prove to me that it's working correctly.