Date:         Mon, 2 Nov 2009 21:36:54 -0800
Reply-To:     Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: Peloquin torque biasing differential
In-Reply-To:  <c280e73b0911021801k54f9a5b0n61df543a3d0b0a69@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

  I can chime in from personal experience with the LSDs.  My racecar started
out with what was for all purposes a computer controlled full locker rear
end.  I had a 928 Porsche GT that started as a street vehicle and morphed
into full out racecar.
  With the original computer controlled PSD (Porsche Stability Drive, or
some such) the car had marvelous traction but it handled for crap.  When I
would take the car onto a race track I would have to turn off the PSD
because I could not get the car to turn reliably..With an Open Differential
(PSD turned off) it cornered fine but had little acceleration from a corner,
because the inside wheel would simply spin in the air..
  The next try was a LSD differential put together by my race mechanic and
that was excellent..Trouble free, good traction and very durable.  Yes, I
did get stuck once, when one wheel was up in the air (a very stiff chassis)
going diagonal through a dip onto a race track...embarassing...I had to get
a corner worker to come sit on the fender..no emergency brake by then..
  A full locker would be great for when you did get stuck...but the limited
slip diff is so much more drivable and you would never get stuck in the
first place...well...
  Don Hanson

On Mon, Nov 2, 2009 at 6:01 PM, miguel pacheco <mundopacheco@gmail.com>wrote:

> Troy, if it brings you happiness, well that's more than you could ask.
> I love the idea of limited slip. I'm with you there, but I think
> what's going to happen here is a sword fight over which is better,
> limited slip or locker, when the two are different and should not be
> compared, though they are close........
> I do want to point out that 'most lockers' do not lock up from lack of
> use, but rather, it is the vacuum actuator and related linkage that
> locks up from lack of use (not without exception, of course, as we are
> talking about moving, mechanical parts.)
>
> Miguel
>
> > I can say that I researched the differential before purchase, so was
> pretty well aware of what I was getting into. A locker would be wonderful in
> some situations, but not very practical around town. I think most lockers
> cease up from lack of use-- very common from what I understand. Generally,
> one of the back wheels has a little bit of traction and if it doesn't, a
> trick I learned and that has been mentioned on the list as well, is to pull
> up on the emergency brake a few clicks and you would be amazed at the
> situations you can get out of. So far, I have not found a spot where I've
> been stuck. Granted, I'm not doing a lot of off road stuff. Considering the
> age of these vehicles, to have this option available I think is wonderful.
> Yes, it would be nice if the differential would completely lock, but I'm
> just glad this option is available. $1200 is expensive I guess, but in the
> grander scheme of what I've put into the van, not all that much. I think
> anyone who has a roadworthy vehicle that is reliable is up around 20 grand,
> and I'm sure quite a few list members are above that figure. I love this van
> and it brings me and my girlfriend lots of joy every summer, so I think it's
> money well invested. No regrets at this point.
> >
> > Cheers,
> >
> > Troy
> >
>