Limited slip differentials

[chris.richard]

For anybody that was interested, the recently advertised Quaife ATB LSD is out of stock with no production planned unless at least 20 orders are forthcoming.

[Stratos]

If anyone needs an LSD, I can arrange one.

Another batch of 5 will be produced soon at Gripper Diffs. I will be confirming prices with them in the next couple of weeks.

My Allora has been fitted with one of their diffs for all the 2002 season.

[STR470S]

Chris,
I too enquired about a LSD from Quaife before Christmas, the chap I spoke to said they would require 10 orders before they would make up a batch.

Interestingly though, I also spoke to Addie at AHMotorsports and he recommends the Gripper diff as used by Dave.

Dave,
Will you pass the orders on to DR Engineering or would you prefer us to deal direct?. Also, do you know if the speedo drive can be retained and what ramp angle you are using.

Cheers,
Chris

[Stratos]

I remember speaking to Tom about a takeoff for the speedo when the design work was being done, but can't remember what happened. Don't have the speedo connected on my car, so I wasn't worried about that aspect. (If the speedo was connected, I probably would have stopped rallying some time ago :rolleyes: )

Regarding orders, I'm not sure. I don't really want to be responsible for it, but it might end up that way. I'll post more info after I've spoken to Tom again in about 2 weeks time.

[Steve Strain]

Hi Guys

I am interested in obtaining an LSD for my Alfa conversion but am rather new to the idea.
Could someone explain what the differences are between the Quaife and Gripper diffs? I presume there is more to it than just the spelling. Also an indication of cost

Does anyone have any pictures or can explain how they work?
I understand the principal but have never seen one in the flesh.

For mostly road but with the occasional sprint and intermarque event would it be beneficial?

regards

Steve

[chris.richard]

http://www.quaife.co.uk/product/atb.htm

gripper £(UK)750, Quaife £600+, I think.

[Sando]

How different is a Beta diff to the Alfa?
Are they totally different and I'm being very stupid, or do they have anything in common?

It would be great if I could get an LSD for blasting about with the Volumex in and then re use it again for a V6............

Perhaps just too much wishful thinking

Rob
:)

[guy mayers]

Hi Dave, timing is terrible - I've got to MOT the Stratos and the Alfa, insure both, and tax the Stratos and Fiat, all in March. Plus I've always wanted a slippy diff........... Please let me know prices as soon as they are available and I'll go see the bank manager if I can justify it.....
Guy

[chris.richard]

Originally posted by Sando
How different is a Beta diff to the Alfa?


I'm pretty sure the similarities are restricted to the name and the function, sorry:rolleyes:

[rutthenut]

Besides the aftermarket lsd units mentioned, has anyone looked into the price and availability of the Fiat/Alfa factory units?

The Fiat Coupe (some models, at least) has a viscous diff unit, which would be very good on a road car. It might not be up to the stresses and strains of motorsport though (not loose surface rallying, for sure).

The 156 GTA also has a limited slip diff - doesn't it? (147 GTA too) That would probably work fine, since it already copes with a fairly high level of torque in that installation.

I have a feeling that there are some Lancia Thema variants that had an lsd fitted too, but have no knowledge of them.

Having said all of that, I can imagine the dealer prices being quite a bit higher than the specialist aftermarket units. And there is the possibility that the factory units aren't quite as effective, but that's just a supposition and not based on any known facts!

There are some Fiat Coupes appearing in breakers yards now though, which also raises the option of a six-speed gearbox if you want it. Again, at a price.

Cheers all

[STR470S]

Originally posted by Sando
How different is a Beta diff to the Alfa?
Are they totally different and I'm being very stupid, or do they have anything in common?

It would be great if I could get an LSD for blasting about with the Volumex in and then re use it again for a V6............

Perhaps just too much wishful thinking

Rob
:)

Rob,

The Beta diff has different output shafts compared with the Alfa/Thema unit, which are not interchangeable, but other than that they are basically the same.

I'm actually running a Thema Turbo gearset and diff in a Beta casing. The gears from the Thema/Alfa/Integrale are stronger and have better final drive ratios, plus added advantage of being able to run a 'cheaper' LSD than one from, say Coletti.

There are a few mods required to the Beta casing, one of the selector forks and the intermediate driveshaft, but other than that, everything fits perfectly.

Email me off the forum for details if you or anybody else is interested in going this route.

[rutthenut]

Originally posted by chris.richard
the recently advertised Quaife ATB LSD is out of stock

Was this item ever in stock?

It has been in their brochure for a couple of years, but whenever I asked them about it they didn't seem to ever have made any of them. That would fit in with the '20 orders before production' story, I guess.

[David May]

I looked closely at the A-R 6-speed gearbox but they have different mounting points and a totally different gear-shift mechanism made for twin cables. The standard ratios are none too clever either (low first) and nobody was selling alternative ratios a couple of years ago so I stuck with the old 5-speeder.

Dave May

[Stratos]

Originally posted by rutthenut


Was this item ever in stock?

It has been in their brochure for a couple of years, but whenever I asked them about it they didn't seem to ever have made any of them. That would fit in with the '20 orders before production' story, I guess.

I spoke to Quaife before i decided to get Gripper Diffs to produce the batch about 18months ago, and the person I spoke to at Quaife said that they hadn't ever produced it.

After I have spoken to Tom Seal later this week, I will post some details here.

[Stratos]

Originally posted by David May
I looked closely at the A-R 6-speed gearbox

Dave May

I have enough trouble coping with 5!!!:eek:

[David May]

I know what you mean. On slow tracks I seldom use more than 1st and 2nd but I'm always in the wrong one at the wrong time!
If I didn't have a belly-full of car electronics at work all day, I might have been tempted to fit the Alfa 'Selespeed' hydraulically-controlled system! Those paddles behind the steering wheel impress the PlayStation generation and it would get rid of all that nasty exposed linkage inside (at the cost a a large number of pipes at the back.)

Dave M

[Stratos]

Originally posted by David May
If I didn't have a belly-full of car electronics at work all day, I might have been tempted to fit the Alfa 'Selespeed' hydraulically-controlled system!
Dave M

I've often wondered about whether that would select gear quicker or slower than a normal manual box.

And, what about dropping from 5th direct to 2nd under braking?

[David May]

The Alfa system is a bit tame and probably no faster changing than a competent driver, although it does give you less to think about and a useful spare foot to brake with.
The same system applied to the Ferrari 360 is blisteringly fast (150mS) and great fun. You can 'double-click' to jump gears, but it won't let you jam in a ratio too low for the road speed (which is not a bad thing with a red-line at nearly 9000!)

I'm not sure the price (of a small car!) is justified, but then I'm not a Ferrari buyer.


Dave M

[chris.richard]

They must drain a fair bit of power to drive the hydraulics though don't they?

[David May]

I think the current pump uses about 35A while its charging up the hydraulic accumulator, but its only on for very short periods (after changes) and is hardly felt by a modern 130A alternator.
It's the bulk and weight of all those hydraulic bits that put me off.

Dave M

[Matt No VAT]

Going back a bit I know but the Thema Turbo Phase 3 is the one with the Visco-Drive LSD fitted as standard.