as john says, the LSD itself will cause more understeer... the inside wheel
is getting more torque which tends to straighten the car. a similar effect
occurs under braking with ABS, along with very similar arguments. i really
only noticed it in a miata once, where the ABS would cause the car to
straighten under braking. (horrible feeling :-))
james
----- Original Message -----
From: "John F. Kelly Jr." <76067.1750@compuserve.com>
> -------------------- Begin Original Message --------------------
>
> Message text written by "John J. Stimson-III"
>
> "The LSD increases the freedom to adjust the car's handling balance
> without inducing wheelspin. A car with no LSD needs a stiffer front
> swaybar to avoid wheelspin than a car with LSD, and the stiffer front
> swaybar may create an undesirable amount of understeer. Without the
> LSD, you have to decide which area to give up. With the LSD, you may
> not have to."
>
>
> -------------------- End Original Message --------------------
>
> Let's get on with the discussion.
> My point is the contact patch on any given wheel and tire combo is only so
> big.
> How much power can you send to that wheel when the magic LSD does its
> limiting thing?
> I sincerely doubt it amounts to double of what was there before.
> It is my contention the ultimate goal is to have BOTH wheels
> driving forward and also to have the FRONT wheels (on a rear-drive car)
> aimed dead ahead (as much as possible) to prevent drag in that area.
> (A front driver also needs to be aimed straight ahead to provide
> maximum power on (the ground without understeer. It is a delicate
> balance, to be sure.)
> Bear in mind an LSD that locks up causes a distinct amount of understeer.
> The sharper the turn the more understeer you're liable to get.
> That's why an open rear end allows a car to make sharper turns.
> But the key point is putting power to the ground. That's why
fixing
> the spinning wheel problem must be solved first before spending any money
> on an LSD.
> Of course after installing the LSD you are liable to be confronted
> with an understeer problem in turns that wasn't there before.
> So move slowly in making adjustments.
>
> --John Kelly
|