Sup guys,

I've been hearing from few people that one of the weaknesses of an S2000 is the rear diff. (axle or diff. breaks). I was wondering how many of you experienced a poor diff. in your S2k? Is it built strong (launching, hard shifting) or is it best to get an aftermarket one?

 

Bad launch would kill the LSD, just like any other car

S2000's LSD isn't particularly weak, but it's not particularly strong either

 

What kind of launches can it handle? I see some people at the track always launch above VTEC (unless they've got an aftermarket diff)

 

^^^ He's right, with sane driving the LSD will be fine, but if you start abusing the car the LSD will be one of the first things to go, along with the clutch and halfshafts

 

you can launsh above Vtec, but the difference comes in on how you depress your clutch pedal, you can feather it a little and depress it not too fast, or you you can move the left leg to the side and drop the clutch...see what happendes..

 

So as long as the clutch isn't dropped, any RPM launch should be ideal on the LSD, correct?

 

Actually, if you are doing a high RPM launch you will want to sidestep the clutch. You want to break the wheels free and get some wheel-spin. This puts less overall stress on the drivetrain.

 

Torsen LSDs are great for road racing, but arent particularly strong for drag launches. Upgrading to a clutch type LSD would be better suited for that (still very capable in track racing, depending how you set up the clutch pack), but aftermarket units plus installation will run you an easy $1000+, which at that point it would be better to just get an inline pro R200 diff setup and get a stronger/larger case and ring and pinion as well.

 

Seriously, you want to drop the clutch *quickly*, as quickly as possible, and side stepping the pedal is the surest way to achieve that goal. You also want to be sure that you drop with sufficient revs to break the tire stiction cleanly and keep the tires spinning. This generally means dropping the clutch hard, at 6k or better, depending on how grippy the surface is. Too much grip or sudden grip as you attempt to launch can and will destroy the differential, but it's the case and gears that fail, not the LSD itself. Lots of people have trashed their diffs trying to launch the car hard, while others among us have done hundreds or thousands of burnouts without any problems. Stock tires and a good clean clutch drop at high revs, on surfaces that don't deliever unusually high grip, is what lets some of us get away with what others can't, but there may be other factors too, so if you decide to do burnouts, you do so at your own risk. The best advice you'll ever get on this matter is this; If you can't afford to replace the diff if you break it, then don't put it at risk.

I have a KAAZ LSD and Comptech reinforcement now, but neither one makes a huge difference in strength. A number of other, more robust, differentials can be fitted to the car, but it's an expensive proposition, and something I haven't needed. If you're going to be installing stickier tires and/or making over 300 RWHP then the stock diff isn't apt to deal with burnouts well.