Thread: diffs
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Old 16-11-2007
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bigred5765 View Post
a ball diff is supposed to act as a limited slip diff, so it should feel slightly notchy/stiff
Don't agree with you at all there. There is no functional reason for a limited slip diff to feel notchy.

It is pressure on the balls that stops the slip (in this case, too much difference in output speed on either side, a limited slip diff on a real car does not actually "slip" in the everyday sense). Notchiness is caused by wear, poor material choice or poor design.

Frankly the ball diffs in most cars are not up to the job now. Which is why people spend aeons messing around with different material balls, different greases and different settings instead of just building them and running them.

When Cecil Schumacher designed the ball diff and started an RC legend he made it for a lightweight Mardave on-road car with a silver can motor! And the same design is expected to be reliable in car with 1/2 hp that is running in all conditions, with the diffs exposed to dirt in half the cars on the market?

Stiff - yes. Notchy - no. Smooth - absolutely always.
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