alternative helical type LSD for M100

[kmckmc]

Helical type LSD for Elan M100.

My local helical type LSD specialist, HT, makes many LSDs for Honda cars. Yesterday, he finally made a LSD for my M100 S2. In addition to this LSD transplant, my S2 will undergo a new clutch job at the same time. I will refer it as the HT-helical LSD.


There are several types of LSD. The main type is Torque-sensitive.
In this category, there are CLUTCH TYPE and HELICAL TYPE (Geared torque-sensitive differential).

CLUTCH type: This type requires regular maintenance. KAAZ LSDs are clutch type.


HELICAL type (Geared torque-sensitive differential): Geared LSDs are less prone to wear than the clutch type. Quaife LSDs belong to this type. It requires no additional maintenace.





Picture 1: HT-helical LSD with speed drive gear (A100F6264S) and bearing installed (ready for action)



Picture 2: stock diff vs. HT-helical LSD



Picture 3 and 4: stock diff vs. HT-helical LSD (different angle)




Picture 5 and 6: HT-helical LSD (so far, so good); IT FITS.



Stay tuned....

[ailwyn]

Let us know how it works out.

[kmckmc]

Side by side: Quaife LSD vs. HT-helical LSD



Picture 1 and 2: (LHS: QUAIFE LSD vs. HT-helical LSD: RHS)




Picture 3: (LHS: HT-helical LSD vs. QUAIFE LSD: RHS)

[Enright]

VERY interested. Do you mind revealing the cost each?
And if it works out, how much would your supplier be able to do 5 or even 10 for?

[kmckmc]

The specialist would be happy to do 5 units.
He had done more than 400 units of helical LSDs. He told me that if I am satisfied with his work, he would be happy to help out other Elan M100 owners.

Cheers,

[londoner]

Care to educate the newbs what a LSD is for? Thanks

[bobbrown]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limited_slip_differential

Bob

[Enright]

I have been exchanging PM's with Michael (kmckmc) on this subject.

He has spoken to the supplier and has advised me of a price for 1 off, which is about £170 less than the equivalent Quaife, and that's without considering shipping for the Quaife.

We are still awaiting prices for 5 off and 10 off, because I recognise that these are still expensive parts and we are unlikely to get more takers than that.

However, in theory, if we were looking at a price of somewhere VERY roughly around the £400 mark, who would be interested?

[Elanlover]

Can anyone describe the benefits from such an upgrade? I understand the theory. I'm just curious if someone can really describe what they actually felt after it was installed and what the differences, in real life driving, are.

[dapinky]

Yeah......... another list to join!

1) Enright
2) Dapinky (subject to all usual caveats/disclaimers)
3)

[dapinky]

Blair,

I'm sure someone who has fitted onr to an Elan will be along in a minute, but until then, here are my thoughts....

I have only used LSDs on RWD cars, and the thoughts here are limited to such cars (i assume the FWD cars have the same tendancies, with obvious differences between standard FWD and RWD).

I have had them as standard fitting on a couple of cars (Jaguar and Scorpio), upgrades from the factory (Work Senator), and my own fittments (Dolomites).

The main difference is that there is less (no) spinning of the unladen wheel during fast cornering, so there is always traction to the road surface, so 'better' grip.

This reduces the chance of oversteer caused by slowing during cornering when the drive is suddenly lost with a lifting wheel (similar to lift-off oversteer).

The benefits are mainly on uprated cars on a track or loose surface, but there are benefits to road use, depending on your driving style. On some cars they can make it feel a bit 'twitchy' (in the dry), and some people don't like it.

[Matt RI]

I have been looking for one for a while now... If he will ship to the US and if they are providing a similar warranty (compared to Quaife) for their work- then I would certainly be on board at this price point...

1) Enright
2) Dapinky (subject to all usual caveats/disclaimers)
3) Matt RI (US)

[Elanlover]

Blair,

I'm sure someone who has fitted onr to an Elan will be along in a minute, but until then, here are my thoughts....

I have only used LSDs on RWD cars, and the thoughts here are limited to such cars (i assume the FWD cars have the same tendancies, with obvious differences between standard FWD and RWD).

I have had them as standard fitting on a couple of cars (Jaguar and Scorpio), upgrades from the factory (Work Senator), and my own fittments (Dolomites).

The main difference is that there is less (no) spinning of the unladen wheel during fast cornering, so there is always traction to the road surface, so 'better' grip.

This reduces the chance of oversteer caused by slowing during cornering when the drive is suddenly lost with a lifting wheel (similar to lift-off oversteer).

The benefits are mainly on uprated cars on a track or loose surface, but there are benefits to road use, depending on your driving style. On some cars they can make it feel a bit 'twitchy' (in the dry), and some people don't like it.

Thanks Dave. I wonder what the difference would be like in a FWD car? Would we get less understeer instead of less oversteer in a RWD car for example? I know we have a few Quaife drivers here so perhaps someone will share

[Enright]

I have been looking for one for a while now... If he will ship to the US and if they are providing a similar warranty (compared to Quaife) for their work- then I would certainly be on board at this price point...

1) Enright
2) Dapinky (subject to all usual caveats/disclaimers)
3) Matt RI (US)

Matt, I was thinking of asking kmckmc to send them all to the UK in one package to begin with to reduce the overall shipping cost by sharing.
However, if they arrived in time for Donington and anyone from the States was coming over, they might be able to take one back with them so that you only had internal shipping to consider.

I have to ask now - what guarantee do Quaife offer?

[RayD]

Can anyone describe the benefits from such an upgrade? I understand the theory. I'm just curious if someone can really describe what they actually felt after it was installed and what the differences, in real life driving, are.

Blair, there's some more views on here

Ray

[RichardK]

Michael as per PM, with the additional power upgrades makes sense to do this with a clutch change.

1) Enright
2) Dapinky (subject to all usual caveats/disclaimers)
3) Matt RI (US)
4) Richard K

[kmckmc]

Hi guys, my local specialist would be happy to know that his quality helical LSD is well received by LEC members.
I am happy with the LSD so far.
As the specialist told me that he would sell another Elan m100 LSD for an introductory price 410gbp + shipping to a Uk/USA Elan m100 driver. I believe shipping fee is no more than 50gbp. He intended to sell another LSD for 450gbp. I paid 430gbp equivalent for mine.
He could also install speed drive gear and bearings at no extra charge, provided u sent them over here. If u could give me the exact spec of those 2 bearings, I can find out their cost here locally.

I suggest that one person test this LSD first before every one jumps in.
He told me that if one is not satisfied with it. He will refund,but shipping fee, from/to Taiwan, he is not responsible.u

[Enright]

Michael, please excuse me if my post to gauge interest was too early before we had worked out all the details. I can only blame it on how excited I am about this product. I hope my eagerness hasn't caused you any discomfort in having to discuss prices openly before you were ready to.

From my point of view, as I already have a spare gearbox and am reasonably mechanically minded, I would not need your mechanic to install the speed drive gear and bearings - I can do it myself. I also am fairly comfortable that if you are happy with his product, then further test units may not be necessary, although it would be good to find out how long the guarantee will last.

However to make sure, one question that may be necessary to find out the answer to is "what power/torque figures these units have been tested to?"

[Exbury]

LSD - feeling' I know when I had my RWD Isuzu piazza with LSD and went round corners like 90deg T-junctions too fast, the clutch type LSD made the car handle far better and safer as well as allowing more grip and a faster rate of cornering without loss of control. On my Manta A series RWD I find the tail shakes out too quickly and it feels much less safe even with the battery relocated to the boot and full roll cage fitted, and its only compounded in the wet. At some point the LSD is going into the Manta (the isuzu had been spun into crash barriers on a track day so was a complete write off).

However this is just some of the 'feelings' I had from a RWD car, FWD I imagine has differences.

[Matt RI]

Matt, I was thinking of asking kmckmc to send them all to the UK in one package to begin with to reduce the overall shipping cost by sharing.
However, if they arrived in time for Donington and anyone from the States was coming over, they might be able to take one back with them so that you only had internal shipping to consider.

I have to ask now - what guarantee do Quaife offer?

Quaife offers a lifetime warranty on the Elan LSD: http://www.quaife.co.uk/Lotus-Elan-SE-T ... fferential You are right, the power/torque figures tested to is an important question...

Their price (once VAT is added) is probably going to be a solid $300 more also, though! Yes, if we went ahead I would think that having a separate shipment to the US would be better than shipping them all to the UK and then forwarding mine to the US- unless of course someone is going to the UK for Donny from the US and would not mind being a courrier!