Kimo

Hi,

I'm trying to understand the exact meaning of LSD (Limited Slip Differential). From what I understand the purpose of LSD is to provide equal output of power on the wheels. For example, if I have a FF with LSD and one of the wheel got stuck in a ditch and hanging, while the other wheel is on the road & on the round, when I accelerate, I should be able to get out of the ditch because the wheel on the ground will move due to the LSD. On the other hand, if I don't have LSD, I will not be able to get out because wheels are not getting the same power.
Is this correct?
Also, in order for me to check if I have an LSD, I can jack my car up and put the car in neutral. When I turn my one of my wheel, my other wheel should turn the opposite direction if I have LSD right? In this case, do majority of the newer cars have LSD already? What's the advantage/disadvantage of having aftermarket LSD? and what's the 3.52 thing for the LSD?

Lastly, can someone explain what a flywheel is?

Thanks! I'm greatly appreciated for your time in helping me out!!! I'm a newb in modding car, I'd like to understand things before I begin.

zerocover

If you jack up your car and spin one wheel to have the other spin opposetly you could have a open differential.

The LSD basicly works just like a normal open differental exept it doesnt let all the power go to just one wheel. The way an open diff works is the wheel that can spin more freely gets more power the LSD works like this but only to a point, it only allows one wheel to get a max percentage of the total power instead of all.

If you had an open diff and one wheel was opn ice the other on ground then you woulnd move much because its much easier to send power to the wheel on ice. If you had a LSD then like 90% of the power would go to one wheel and the other would get 10 alowwing you to move.

kyllc

Positraction = both wheels spinning

the pistol

Both of these posts are correct. Just to add, jacking your car up and turning on wheel won't so you much because the power difference is insignificant to cause the limited slip to lock up. Limited slip ensures that one wheel is not spinning excessively compared to the other one. It is most beneficial taking sharp corners when the inside tire wants to spin, and when doing a burn out.

The number you refer to 3.52 is probably the gear ratio for the differential. So the number indicates that if the transmission output is spinning 3.52 revolutions for every 1 revolution of your tires. For my '99 1.8L I believe the gear ratio is 4.11, and most other protege's are in this area (maybe 3:89 to 4.30 but I'm not sure exactly).

Aftermarket LSD's are good if you are concerned with your power delivery and are currently spinning your tires on turns etc. LSD's are more capable of controlling power.

As for the flywheel, this is a spinning metal disk between your engine and the transmission which is used to provide a clamping surface for the clutch. It's weight is also used to smooth out the running of the engine. Because power pulses from the pistons only account for about 110 degrees of revolution for every 360 degrees of revolution the flywheel provides momentum for the time when no piston is firing to keep the engine spinning smoothly.

Hope this helps.