LSD (Limited Slip Differential)

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by DDustiNN

From Wikipedia:



Can someone explain this in layman's terms? Thanks

A normal diff sends power to the easiest wheel to turn, a wheel with no traction gets all the power while the other gets none. One wheel will be spinning but not the other. An LSD limits the speed difference between the two wheels so you will always have some power to both wheels.

[DDustiNN]

Originally Posted by Robert91RS

On a dry road LSD is good because it sends power to both wheels and gives you better traction. On wet or slick roads LSD is bad because the one wheel that otherwise would have kept the rear end centered in your lane is spinning out of control with the other wheel.

Originally Posted by Parker

your rear end is composed of two axles and a differential. A standard differential allows for the two wheels to spin at different rates for turning because the outside wheel will be faster the inside. The problem is when one wheel has no traction the differential will put all power on that wheel.

When its a limited slip differential the two axles will only be allowed two turn at different rates so much before it tries to even out the power to the wheels.

Or you can watch "My Cousin Vinny" which is a great movie and explains this.

Originally Posted by DGthe3

A normal diff sends power to the easiest wheel to turn, a wheel with no traction gets all the power while the other gets none. One wheel will be spinning but not the other. An LSD limits the speed difference between the two wheels so you will always have some power to both wheels.

Does this mean my 2SS will not do well in rain/snow? Or is there something else that will make up for it? I'm hoping it handles well in most conditions, cuz it is going to be my daily driver, and I live in MI :(

[Parker]

Originally Posted by DDustiNN

Does this mean my 2SS will not do well in rain/snow? Or is there something else that will make up for it? I'm hoping it handles well in most conditions, cuz it is going to be my daily driver, and I live in MI :(

If you leave the stabilitrak on it should take care of it. When you lose traction on a wet road it was probably user error/shouldn't have been driving that fast.

I've lost traction a couple times on ice and water. When I was in Wyoming wind gusts pushed me side ways off the side of the highway on some ice, and once I came off a freeway a little too fast and fishtailed through a left turn in a down pour. Fishtailing is interesting, but not recommended. Ice blows and theres not much to do about it other than chains or spikes.

[Robert91RS]

Originally Posted by DDustiNN

Does this mean my 2SS will not do well in rain/snow? Or is there something else that will make up for it? I'm hoping it handles well in most conditions, cuz it is going to be my daily driver, and I live in MI :(

It means if you have a manual v6 or a v8 and you bump the gas pedal on a slick road you need to be mindful of nearby curbs and poles because with both wheels spinning there is nothing to keep your Camaro's arse where it belongs. It's like learning to drive a rear wheel drive car after always driving a front wheel, it's not more dangerous but requires a different stile of driving. Make sense?

[Zabo]

Originally Posted by Robert91RS

It means if you have a manual v6 or a v8 and you bump the gas pedal on a slick road you need to be mindful of nearby curbs and poles because with both wheels spinning there is nothing to keep your Camaro's arse where it belongs. It's like learning to drive a rear wheel drive car after always driving a front wheel, it's not more dangerous but requires a different stile of driving. Make sense?

Hell, get a truck and leave it in two wheel in snow. That's how I've been training myself for MONTHS to drive straight rear wheel (Exploder has a really flipping short wheelbase too). People think I'm an idiot, but I think saving the Camaro over the Exploder is a good thing in the long run.

And it's actually more fun, in a juvenile, stupid kind of way. <_<

Also, of note. RWD to FWD for a weekend, is asking for trouble. I realized how awkward the transaxle was on a mid 90s Monte all over again, in the snow. IMO RWD is just easier all around to work out. FWD is just..wat.

[DDustiNN]

Originally Posted by Parker

If you leave the stabilitrak on it should take care of it. When you lose traction on a wet road it was probably user error/shouldn't have been driving that fast.

I've lost traction a couple times on ice and water. When I was in Wyoming wind gusts pushed me side ways off the side of the highway on some ice, and once I came off a freeway a little too fast and fishtailed through a left turn in a down pour. Fishtailing is interesting, but not recommended. Ice blows and theres not much to do about it other than chains or spikes.

Originally Posted by Robert91RS

It means if you have a manual v6 or a v8 and you bump the gas pedal on a slick road you need to be mindful of nearby curbs and poles because with both wheels spinning there is nothing to keep your Camaro's arse where it belongs. It's like learning to drive a rear wheel drive car after always driving a front wheel, it's not more dangerous but requires a different stile of driving. Make sense?

I've had 2 trucks with RWD, and 2 cars with FWD... definitely used to the FWD as it's been about 6 or 7 years since the trucks. But all have been V6, so this will be my first V8. I just want to keep her safe

So maintain reasonable speeds for the weather conditions, and don't floor it, and I should be good? Kinda what I was thinking... we'll see how it goes

[Zabo]

Actually, if you've driven something like a smaller Explorer or a Sport, it's no bigger than the Camaro. Wheelbase is about 10 inches longer (101.7" Explorer) on the Camaro (112.1") (O_O) but yeah. I'll just enjoy the fact that I won't be reefing on the wheel to keep the truck centered on the road in high winds, due to the Camaro's lower center of gravity.

So

-Keep it slow
-Dont take corners too fast until you feel confident (Or if your batshit crazy like me and do it in the Exploder almost rolling it every damn time XD)
-Don't floor it to get out of a jam, just goose it lightly and she'll come out fine
-Remember the rocking method to get unstuck (forward to reverse, forward to reverse until you roll free of a rutt)
-Coasting is your friend in hazardous road conditions.
-Coasting is your friend.

Yeah, about that cornering thing.. I've actually had people beg me to buy a Camaro because of my driving habits. They say the vehicle will be more likely to survive.

[DDustiNN]

Originally Posted by Zabo

Actually, if you've driven something like a smaller Explorer or a Sport, it's no bigger than the Camaro. Wheelbase is about 10 inches longer (101.7" Explorer) on the Camaro (112.1") (O_O) but yeah. I'll just enjoy the fact that I won't be reefing on the wheel to keep the truck centered on the road in high winds, due to the Camaro's lower center of gravity.

So

-Keep it slow
-Dont take corners too fast until you feel confident (Or if your batshit crazy like me and do it in the Exploder almost rolling it every damn time XD)
-Don't floor it to get out of a jam, just goose it lightly and she'll come out fine
-Remember the rocking method to get unstuck (forward to reverse, forward to reverse until you roll free of a rutt)
-Coasting is your friend in hazardous road conditions.
-Coasting is your friend.

Yeah, about that cornering thing.. I've actually had people beg me to buy a Camaro because of my driving habits. They say the vehicle will be more likely to survive.

hahaha, nice...

all sounds like common sense to me... luckily, i actually have some of that

[CamaroSpike23]

Originally Posted by zebra

so if you look over your shoulder in first, do you still stall?

lmao!

under the radar

Originally Posted by Robert91RS

I'm not sure but I did notice it's a clutch setup. Oh and the housings are different on the posi vs no posi diffs. The possi diffs are reinforced and appear much stronger.

and larger
you'll all find out soon enough. ive been informed to zip my lip for the moment.

Originally Posted by DDustiNN

hahaha, nice...

all sounds like common sense to me... luckily, i actually have some of that

common sense.... so rare its a damned superpower

[DDustiNN]

Originally Posted by CamaroSpike23

common sense.... so rare its a damned superpower

Yes... it is very rare indeed, unfortunately :(

[Zophet]

So, do we know what kind of LSD this car have?
If its a geared clutch, is it 1, 1.5, or 2way?

[wylde1]

Originally Posted by Parker

If you leave the stabilitrak on it should take care of it. When you lose traction on a wet road it was probably user error/shouldn't have been driving that fast.

I've lost traction a couple times on ice and water. When I was in Wyoming wind gusts pushed me side ways off the side of the highway on some ice, and once I came off a freeway a little too fast and fishtailed through a left turn in a down pour. Fishtailing is interesting, but not recommended. Ice blows and theres not much to do about it other than chains or spikes.

haha Listening to Americans describe driving in snow makes me

no offence. It's just funny. I actually prefer an LSD in snow because you have power at 2 wheels instead of 1. with a peg leg you can get stuck real easy if 1 tire is in an icy spot, whereas an LSD will power right through.

Funny unrelated story: I was in Houston last december when they got that snow... haha I was visiting a friend I went to school with that was working down there and we never had so much fun listening to how terrified people were about snow that didn't even stay on the ground haha. Sorry it sounds mean but you gotta understand where I live in winter it'll hit -50*C on a regular basis and we probably have snow a good 6 months of the year... if we get lucky. We were having a drink at the hotel bar and the bartender came in and threw his keys on the table and was all mad. Here's how the conversation went:

bartender - "I can't F***ing go anywhere!"
me - "why?"
bartender - "My windows are iced up and I can't see a damn thing!!"

me - "come with me"

grabbed his keys. he took me to his car. I started it up and moved the heater to DEFROST... in 30 seconds the ice is clearing from his windshield.

bartender - "holy hell... that never even occurred to me. but how do i clear the back window?"

I hit the rear defrost button...

bartender - "THATS WHAT THATS FOR???!!!!"


and he bought me a beer haha

[tangorover]

Originally Posted by Parker

If you leave the stabilitrak on it should take care of it. When you lose traction on a wet road it was probably user error/shouldn't have been driving that fast.

I've lost traction a couple times on ice and water. When I was in Wyoming wind gusts pushed me side ways off the side of the highway on some ice, and once I came off a freeway a little too fast and fishtailed through a left turn in a down pour. Fishtailing is interesting, but not recommended. Ice blows and theres not much to do about it other than chains or spikes.

Off topic completely but as Californian that has not seen snow or a major storm yet, it is absolutely terrifying That gust could make you slide off. I can just picture being at a stoplight and a gust just sliding my car into oncoming traffic

[wylde1]

Originally Posted by tangorover

Off topic completely but as Californian that has not seen snow or a major storm yet, it is absolutely terrifying That gust could make you slide off. I can just picture being at a stoplight and a gust just sliding my car into oncoming traffic

again haha sorry I just love the turn this thread took mabye I need a break from work haha


another funny one: I was driving with our mill manager in the winter, who is from Florida. clear february day, -25 or so, a little windy but it's the prairies. We're on a highway with a bit of snow on it, and I"m doing mabye 80 km/hr at most. And trust me, that was not dangerous on that road. and I notice he's clutching the door pretty hard. I ask him what's up?

he goes - "so on a scale of 1-10 how scary is this highway to you right now?"

me - "well i guess a deer could jump out.... mabye a 2"

he says - " I was thinking more like 13-14...." haha