first off, thanks jdm sam for the link posted in in your thread "LSD failure LIST"
Here it is again
http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showt...failure+thread
My diff is not broken. From what I've read there seems to be poor design in the weld that hold it together. Please correct me if i'm wrong. 03blkmicaSPD mentions that it is three spot welds that break. I weld/fit for a living and what several people posted is correct: that's really, really stupid.
The fact that the list started by sam is so big leads me to believe that the issue is not isolated to those who use their car for driving enjoyment (as if the welding wasn't enough.) Hard launches will wear things out faster, regardless of the quality. The same goes for coming off a cone hard on the throttle. Being familiar with proper driving techniques will go a long way in preserving the longevity of your components. Read "Bob Bondurant on High Performance Driving" for a great start on the subject.
I think the evidence suggests that everyone needs to be a little careful, regardless of driving habits. However, every LSD car needs to be driven a little differently by both sorts of drivers as well. All cars benifit from skilled driving, but diff cars (esp. awd ones) will suffer more from abuse because more traction means more load on the components. When I say "abuse" I'm refering to exceeding or nearly exceeding the intended operating range of a component, whether intentional of not. Like hitting a pothole, exiting a corner with massive understeer, banging off the rev limiter or accelerating full speed over a rail crossing and getting a foot of air.
Gentle inputs are always the order of the day in that regard. When I say "gentle" I don't mean "sissy"; just be fluid. Steer smoothly into corners, squeeze the brakes without overbraking, roll on the throttle pedal to accelerate, balance the throttle over bumps and tracks, and most important (in my opinion) shift smooth, not fast; it's faster. Just like bogging is faster that wheel hopping; try it at your next solo or drag.
I drive the pants off my car regularily. I do it in bits throughout the day. Maybe not every day, but most. I drive through the country a fair bit and when there's a section and I've got the sightlines... (sssh) My best friend and I also autocross as a team and we touge once or twice a month (he drives a rarely broken SRT-4). We both drive well; not first place nat'l event quick, but we keep the competition honest.
What is important to both of us is to make our equipment last as long as possible. There is only one way to do that: Maintain it. I change my oil at regular intervals in the winter and as my schedule dictates during the competition season. If I run a touge, I change the oil. Same goes for a solo event. I've had the car less than a year and I've probably changed it 12 or 13 times. I've done the tranny fluid twice. The antiswaybar bushings have been greased 5 times; they squeaked once the week I bought it and that's the last time I heard them.
To many this seems excessive and for the most part they are right. Unless, of course, you are like me and you drive the pants off your car. By all means folks, DRIVE THE THING! It's a great car to drive and the proof to me is that I never lose a touge unless it's got a lot of straight in it. That's because 240hp and 250lbs.ft is more than 170hp and 155lbs.ft. The point is that if you are going to ask a lot, you've got to give a lot. (yes, my wife taught me that)
I have had some issues with the car, the most serious being a cracked exhaust manifold, a broken BOV fitting on the hot pipe, and a pooched alternator. I have the clunk fix kit, a steedspeed manifold, forge BOV and hard pipes. I recently learned that the former owner of my car was a bit abusive and had some heavier mods done (removed before he sold it to a dealership.) I don't really care; I can't do anything except take care of it better than him.
If the car has defects that the joke is on us really; we're the owners and the factory warranties are expired. Knowing and being pissed about it is still better than not knowing. Driving with skill and maintaining it in proportion to it's use will make it last longer, of this I am sure. The problems will still come, but they'll be fewer. As for my diff, I'll be welding it myself.
I'll do yours too; I work for premium fuel
Here it is again
http://www.msprotege.com/forum/showt...failure+thread
My diff is not broken. From what I've read there seems to be poor design in the weld that hold it together. Please correct me if i'm wrong. 03blkmicaSPD mentions that it is three spot welds that break. I weld/fit for a living and what several people posted is correct: that's really, really stupid.
The fact that the list started by sam is so big leads me to believe that the issue is not isolated to those who use their car for driving enjoyment (as if the welding wasn't enough.) Hard launches will wear things out faster, regardless of the quality. The same goes for coming off a cone hard on the throttle. Being familiar with proper driving techniques will go a long way in preserving the longevity of your components. Read "Bob Bondurant on High Performance Driving" for a great start on the subject.
I think the evidence suggests that everyone needs to be a little careful, regardless of driving habits. However, every LSD car needs to be driven a little differently by both sorts of drivers as well. All cars benifit from skilled driving, but diff cars (esp. awd ones) will suffer more from abuse because more traction means more load on the components. When I say "abuse" I'm refering to exceeding or nearly exceeding the intended operating range of a component, whether intentional of not. Like hitting a pothole, exiting a corner with massive understeer, banging off the rev limiter or accelerating full speed over a rail crossing and getting a foot of air.
Gentle inputs are always the order of the day in that regard. When I say "gentle" I don't mean "sissy"; just be fluid. Steer smoothly into corners, squeeze the brakes without overbraking, roll on the throttle pedal to accelerate, balance the throttle over bumps and tracks, and most important (in my opinion) shift smooth, not fast; it's faster. Just like bogging is faster that wheel hopping; try it at your next solo or drag.
I drive the pants off my car regularily. I do it in bits throughout the day. Maybe not every day, but most. I drive through the country a fair bit and when there's a section and I've got the sightlines... (sssh) My best friend and I also autocross as a team and we touge once or twice a month (he drives a rarely broken SRT-4). We both drive well; not first place nat'l event quick, but we keep the competition honest.
What is important to both of us is to make our equipment last as long as possible. There is only one way to do that: Maintain it. I change my oil at regular intervals in the winter and as my schedule dictates during the competition season. If I run a touge, I change the oil. Same goes for a solo event. I've had the car less than a year and I've probably changed it 12 or 13 times. I've done the tranny fluid twice. The antiswaybar bushings have been greased 5 times; they squeaked once the week I bought it and that's the last time I heard them.
To many this seems excessive and for the most part they are right. Unless, of course, you are like me and you drive the pants off your car. By all means folks, DRIVE THE THING! It's a great car to drive and the proof to me is that I never lose a touge unless it's got a lot of straight in it. That's because 240hp and 250lbs.ft is more than 170hp and 155lbs.ft. The point is that if you are going to ask a lot, you've got to give a lot. (yes, my wife taught me that)
I have had some issues with the car, the most serious being a cracked exhaust manifold, a broken BOV fitting on the hot pipe, and a pooched alternator. I have the clunk fix kit, a steedspeed manifold, forge BOV and hard pipes. I recently learned that the former owner of my car was a bit abusive and had some heavier mods done (removed before he sold it to a dealership.) I don't really care; I can't do anything except take care of it better than him.
If the car has defects that the joke is on us really; we're the owners and the factory warranties are expired. Knowing and being pissed about it is still better than not knowing. Driving with skill and maintaining it in proportion to it's use will make it last longer, of this I am sure. The problems will still come, but they'll be fewer. As for my diff, I'll be welding it myself.
I'll do yours too; I work for premium fuel
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