Nissan Comp LSD vs Quaife

[EricB]

Given the choice, but not necessarily assuming that $$s are equal between the two, I'd like to get some opinions between the Nissan Comp LSD and a Quaife unit. Preferences, gripes, praise, complaints, etc

Thanks,

-e

[2ManyZs]

Well, here's my 2 cents.

Street car only-LSD

Street car once in a while autocross-LSD

Purpose built autocross/race car-Quaiffe

Reason? Quaiffe is a full lockup diff, the LSD will always have a little slip unless you shim the clutch packs. Better to not have a full lock up if you are driving on the street in the rain, the Quaiffe is not like a Detroit locker but it will lock up solid in certain circumstances, the LSD should not.

Besides the LSD should be a little cheaper. I just saw on Arizona Z cars site where they were selling R-200 LSD diffs from Japan for 775, that's a couple hundred less than the Quaiffe unit itself.

[EricB]

I found a Nissan Comp R180 lsd for roughly half of the price you listed 2ManyZs so I guess it's a given I should go for that then...

And yes you are right, a lot of spirited driving, on track events once a month or so, and only the occasional autox unfortunately...

I had a clutch-type lsd in my last (FWD) purpose built car and it was an absolute dream. Looking to repeat that for the Z.

-e

[shock96]

I disagree! The Quaife is a torque sensing diff. Not a locker. It spreads power back and forth along the axle as needed. In a straight line with best traction, the Quaife will send the power 50% to each wheel.

As you turn, the diff will send torque to the wheel with the most traction. This is the ideal way to get around on the street and the track.

Many cars are using the Torsen LSD unit (Subaru, Volvo etc) in their cars from the factory. The Torsen unit is what the Quaife is modeled after.

If you have a choice, I would go for the Quaife every time. No maintenance, should never wear out, and great traction. Standard LSD's wear out and lose their ability to control the wheels. They also are essentially "locked up" until you reach the breakaway spec for the diff. Most R180/200's are setup at around 45ftlbs of breakaway.

That means that essentially you are freewheeling most of the time when you are on the power.

With the Quaife, all the power is being transferred to both wheels, just in different amounts.

Mike

1973 240z with R200 Torsen LSD

[2ManyZs]

shock96 you didn't read my post right, or I didn't word it right. Yes, the Quaiffe is a torque biasing diff, but like the Torson it is done with gears, not clutch packs that use friction for lock up. When the Quaife or Torson are transferring power from one wheel to another it is done mechanically, there is no slippage inside the differential, therefore it does lock up mechanically. The LSD will never truly lock up since it is made to slip to a certain extent. Shimming the clutch packs limits the amount of slippage, but like a clutch there will always be frictional loss. In a straight line the Quaiffe will transmit power to each wheel in a 50-50 split given there is no loss of traction, but in a straight line the LSD will not divide the power equally since there will be slippage in the differential itself.

[shock96]

Right! It sounds like we are talking about the same things. I guess I am just making sure to clarify the difference between a torque biasing differential, a standard clutch type differential and a locker type differential (Detroit Locker, Brute etc)

From what I have seen, the Quaife/Torsen diff is worth 2-3 seconds per lap over a standard LSD, once you are used to its way of transferring power. Also, they seem to work great on the street as well. I have several friends that have them installed on their 914/6's and 911's and they love em!

Mike