al503

If my inside rear is off the ground, I really can't think of a situation where I would be wanting to put power down on the ground as I probably have my foot firmly on the brake pedal.

Coming from a 350z/G35 background, Nismo, Cusco, Carbonetics, and at least on other company (can't think of it off the top of my head) offer clutch type LSD's for the G/Z.

If it's identical and as you say 'applying the brakes is identical to a clutch-type LSD without the downside.' How many race cars do not have an LSD? Obviously, you know something that they don't...

Irishman06

What? No tripod mode? Lifting the inside rear in an off-camber turn is EASY.

Its not that he knows something they don't, its a matter of racecars being a no-compromise machine. Its ALWAYS going to have enough fluid in the diff and be properly tuned. (That's why race teams hire engineers and mechanics...) In this case, its more advisable to use a clutch-type LSD than to "waste" power on both braking and trying to drive a braked wheel. Additionally, all that hardware is asking to get fried during a hot day at the track, or from the vibrations, etc.

Any way you slice it, differentials and biasing power to the wheels with the most traction is for wussies. Real men drive shifter karts .

lobuxracer

iTrader: (2)

If your inside wheel is off the ground, you need the outside wheel to be driven more than anything to help the car turn. That's the whole point of the LSD in the first place.

Those spools are ALL aftermarket. There isn't a single OEM putting a clutch type LSD in a car because they ALL wear out quickly and have difficult to maintain fluid requirements.

Race cars have their parts built and inspected typically before every race. Even serious autocrossers will check their LSD before an event, and they'll service it if it needs it. Top level competition has a newly rebuilt gearbox and newly rebuilt differential at the start of every race weekend. There are also rules against active devices that pretty much preclude using this same technology in most racing classes. It's really a shame too, because if it were allowed, we'd have alot better technology now than we do.

As a for instance - RaceLogic make an absurdly wonderful traction control. It beats ALL the OEMs hands down. If you drove an OEM traction control equipped car, you would say they basically suck ***. For sure the early versions of TRAC did. But put that RaceLogic unit in a Supra, and OMG! What an improvement. The same could be done with limited slip using brake inputs instead of fixed ratio gear units or fixed slippage clutch units. Just because the OEMs aren't spending a lot of money to do this right doesn't mean it can't be done right.

You're running out of excuses.

flipside909

Hehe you must have not read my story yet...it's still on the front page of our site:

"F" Marks the Lexus Spot!

uschardcor

That is posi-traction, not LSD

and the IS350 has a quasi-LSD. i forget the specific name of it, but we aren't completely without one.

if you want a funny about traction, watch the 3rd (i think) episode of Top Gear this season when they test the Brabus Rocket. They make note of how the car originally had over 1000 ft/lbs of torque, but they reduced it to ~800 because the car would sit there motionless w/ trac on as the computer said "um, this is impossible" and with trac off, well you get the idea. Funny part is even with the decreased torque the car is still practically worthless. "You have to invent a new way of driving with this car. You take your turns veeeerry sloooowly, then step on it." You won't win many races, but you'll have a grand time doing it

lobuxracer

iTrader: (2)

Posi-traction = clutch type LSD.

Technique

Once you fully disable VDIM on the IS350 and IS-F (Hold down the button for 5 seconds) though, won't/will you lose this benefit? (And I assume all magazines doing the testing will disable the VDIM for testing purposes)

lobuxracer

iTrader: (2)

Yes, with VSC fully disabled, you will lose this feature.

josephdoc

Thanks, Lobuxracer!
I always learn some on your posts here and there. Not sure if I can adapt and apply with your knowledge on my driving (granny speed), but I enjoy reading your posts.

You are my hero!

blk06is350

i could do donuts if i had a true lsd! lol..