Date: Tue, 26 Dec 2006 10:23:58 -0800
Reply-To: aatransaxle <daryl@AATRANSAXLE.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: aatransaxle <daryl@AATRANSAXLE.COM>
Subject: Re: Limited Slip v. Syncro
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I keep asking my customers to give me feedback..both good and bad...esp
about the LSD's...I have installed 15 or 16 or? of them...4 or 5 in 2wd
vans...no feedback yet.
I tried the first one I did in a 2wd up my hill on rough, loose gravel and
was immediately sold..no hopping or slipping..noticebly better
traction...Can't say 100% about the snow traction...Anythings gotta be
better than the stock setup though...they are pigs in the snow. There were a
very few clutch pack type limited slips in Europe..Those are undoubtably
better, but the kids with their hotrod tuner cars all use the torque biasing
type like Peloquin builds with great satisfaction...(till they break the
next weakest link that is)
My F250 and Ranger both have lsd's and its a world of difference in traction
in 2wd mode, so all I can say for sure is that the LSD is an improvement...
Daryl of AA Transaxle
Subject: Limited Slip v. Syncro
> We're presently in vehicle reassessment mode and need some advice.
> Recently
> I asked whether it was possible to convert a 2wd Van to Syncro, but a
> number
> of list-killjoys pooped on my parade, so that doesn't appear to be in the
> plans. I haven't entirely ruled it out, but for now...
>
> I really like the look and options found on our '89 WE, but my wife's
> alpine-related program activities (snowshoe, x-country ski, hike, etc.)
> require that she have a traction capable rig. I've been seriously
> considering installing a Peloquin torque biased differential, which
> coupled
> with aggressive Nokians mounted on 15" Mercedes rims, should greatly
> improve
> the traction, eh? But, how much of an improvement...enough? My '67 bus
> was
> hands down, the best snow/off road rig I've ever driven, but the Vanagons
> have never impressed me with their traction prowess. I've never owned a
> vehicle with limited slip, except perhaps my old '73 Thing with steering
> brakes, but that's another story altogether.
>
> Anyone have real-world experience with a limited slip diff in a 2wd
> Vanagon? We're not talking serious offroad stuff, just old logging roads
> with potholes and/or snow. I'm in AA Transaxle's neighborhood, so
> they're
> obviously the source.
>
> TIA
>
> Casey
> Olympia, WA
> Biodiesel: "I drive in a persistent vegetative state"
> '87 300TD intercooler/propane #22 0-60mph 7.3sec (220k)
> '84 300D (218k)
> Gashuffer:
> '89 Vanagon Wolfsburg Edition (187K)
> http://users.zhonka.net/zeitgeist/Misc/IMG_0171.JPG
>
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