Quaife LSD for C55
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From: City with Tall buildings!
C43/55,2k11 Volvo S60 T6AWD,2k Audi B5 S4,95 Eagle Talon Tsi AWD 500+awhp
Originally Posted by RLS
I got a price for the Kleeman LSD. The LSD was $2,200, installation 7 hrs. @$125 an hr. equals $875, shipping is around $50, plus tax of $154 for a total of $3,379!! That makes for one expensive LSD.
Last edited by ProjectC55; Jun 11, 2005 at 11:18 AM.
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Installation, tax and shipping will be roughly the same regardless of the manufacturer of the LSD, therefore, only the price of the LSD should be of concern for those seriously interested in purchasing one. You price for install is a little high but not out of line. I have seen and have paid closer to the $600.00 mark for install. Your labor rate is quite high and your seven hours is most likely book value labor.
Ever wonder why you are paying more for the install of brake pads than the pads themselves? It only takes ten minutes a side to do. When we price out pads, we don't include the cost of install which can vary shop to shop. We are only concerned the pad cost and where we can find the best deal. No different than with any part, and installation is always a seperate equation. Do you like to buy tires based on each tire's cost, or the total out the door cost of all four with mounting, balancing, tax, and disposal in determining the best price for a particular tire?
The Kleeman is $2,200.00 and that is a great parts price for an LSD. Unless there is a dozen or so willing to put 100% down on a Quaife, it won't be any cheaper.
Ever wonder why you are paying more for the install of brake pads than the pads themselves? It only takes ten minutes a side to do. When we price out pads, we don't include the cost of install which can vary shop to shop. We are only concerned the pad cost and where we can find the best deal. No different than with any part, and installation is always a seperate equation. Do you like to buy tires based on each tire's cost, or the total out the door cost of all four with mounting, balancing, tax, and disposal in determining the best price for a particular tire?
The Kleeman is $2,200.00 and that is a great parts price for an LSD. Unless there is a dozen or so willing to put 100% down on a Quaife, it won't be any cheaper.
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I have read Quaife's north american warranty, but will we be getting that even though we are doing a group buy? Apparently you need a registration form, receipt of purchase and proof of purchase to get any warranty work done. It also says that this is limited to parts purchased legitimately through Quaife North America, or one of it's distributors. Will they extend this agreement to include you or are you a distributor? I guess my point is that I have researched the part more and have figured out I am comfortable with their warranty as long as they feel bound by it given the somewhat odd nature in which we are purchasing these. Thanks for the time.
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From: 40*-55'-44" N / 73*-24'-07" W
'98 C43/55 AMG Speedybenz Susp. & MBenzNL On Board -- '88 560SL -- '09 JCW MINI -- '97 Jeep TJ Sport
Originally Posted by smgC32
Several of you said that they would be willing to pay around $2,000.00 for a LSD. Why don't one of you buy the Kleeman and report back to us on its effectiveness in a C32/55 as it is available right now for about that price?
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There is no warranty issue or problem because the units will be sold directly by Quaife North America who will back them. We cannot buy a Quaife LSD here in the state through England as they will not sell to us since there is an American representative. You could buy black market, but there is not a MB unit made for our cars. My suggestion of providing parts to England for fitment is just to expedite the process of making the part. Parts given to Quaife North America will just be sent anyway to England for fitment. The deal is with Quaife North America and the group buy is with Quaife North America, not me or anyone else, unless someone wants to fund an entire order and then re-sell them, but I am not proposing to do that, just set up the channel for all interested parties to order directly with Quaife North America and have all deposits made directly to them. When they get enough deposits and our group agrees on the unit price depending on how many interested parties sign up, Quaife North America puts through the order. If not enough people are interested and the price is too high, Quaife North America refunds all monies to all parties. This is the conversation I had with them some time ago.
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From: MA
'24 Porsche Macan
Sorry if this has been covered already but would this be a straight swap of diff internals or does some modification need to be done to get it to fit in the existing housing? A related question is, once the mod is done, could it be put back to stock later just as easily?
Rgds,
Norm
Rgds,
Norm
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From: City with Tall buildings!
C43/55,2k11 Volvo S60 T6AWD,2k Audi B5 S4,95 Eagle Talon Tsi AWD 500+awhp
Originally Posted by noka
Sorry if this has been covered already but would this be a straight swap of diff internals or does some modification need to be done to get it to fit in the existing housing? A related question is, once the mod is done, could it be put back to stock later just as easily?
Rgds,
Norm
Rgds,
Norm
Is the install easy to do as far as taking apart the pumpkin and putting it in yourself or are special tools needed for install?
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From: MA
'24 Porsche Macan
Originally Posted by coolcarlskiC43
That's a good question. Is the install easy to do as far as taking apart the pumpkin and putting it in yourself or are special tools needed for install?
Is the install easy to do as far as taking apart the pumpkin and putting it in yourself or are special tools needed for install?Rgds,
Norm
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That makes me feel very comfortable with the process. Though Kleemann has a great parts price I am not completely impressed by their design. I have already heard of people having to use their cars gently in some situations, which contradicts the point of getting an LSD for me. Quaife seems to have a try to break it kind of attitude, you know..... we dare you. That gives me more confidence, plus their racing experience probably means they have thought a lot about durability under extreme loads. The part that really grabbed my attention though was the continuously variable torque bias, which to me makes it worth the money. The idea that it starts as an open differential and smoothly biases the torque as needed seems better to me than simply having a spring that puts maximum output of sixty percent to either wheel.
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From: detroit, MI
S63, 560SL
Originally Posted by smgC32
There is no warranty issue or problem because the units will be sold directly by Quaife North America who will back them. We cannot buy a Quaife LSD here in the state through England as they will not sell to us since there is an American representative. You could buy black market, but there is not a MB unit made for our cars. My suggestion of providing parts to England for fitment is just to expedite the process of making the part. Parts given to Quaife North America will just be sent anyway to England for fitment. The deal is with Quaife North America and the group buy is with Quaife North America, not me or anyone else, unless someone wants to fund an entire order and then re-sell them, but I am not proposing to do that, just set up the channel for all interested parties to order directly with Quaife North America and have all deposits made directly to them. When they get enough deposits and our group agrees on the unit price depending on how many interested parties sign up, Quaife North America puts through the order. If not enough people are interested and the price is too high, Quaife North America refunds all monies to all parties. This is the conversation I had with them some time ago.
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From: Central Florida
1980 928S Porsche, 1965 T-Bird Conv., 2006 C55
OK, I had e-mailed Mr. Vanos to see if we could be doing this and he informed me to back off on a group buy for awhile till they get things organized on what is allowed. This is good since I also contacted Quaife again and they also said to wait. Quaife will not divulge who they are working with, but they did say it should not be long before it is avalible.
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From: Sacramento
AMG C43, 1999
I do have a Kleeman LSD in my C43 that I use for daily driving and track days. It works seemlessly. You don't even know it's there except that the ESP light come on much less and you have lots more traction on wet pavement.
At the track it really helps traction coming off the corners. It also seems to allow the car to hold a line through the corners a little better.
Jeff
At the track it really helps traction coming off the corners. It also seems to allow the car to hold a line through the corners a little better.
Jeff
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From: Abingdon, MD
Grrrr.... if someone would just make me a damn LSD for under 5K I would be more than willing to put 100% down and chip in on the used/ test parts. I've got the C230 (small differential) so I am stuck up *****s creek unless I swap out the entire rear subframe 
Tom "My kindom for a Limited Slip" Miller
Tom "My kindom for a Limited Slip" Miller
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From: OC
C32
Originally Posted by speedybenz
I do have a Kleeman LSD in my C43 that I use for daily driving and track days. It works seemlessly. You don't even know it's there except that the ESP light come on much less and you have lots more traction on wet pavement.
At the track it really helps traction coming off the corners. It also seems to allow the car to hold a line through the corners a little better.
Jeff
At the track it really helps traction coming off the corners. It also seems to allow the car to hold a line through the corners a little better.
Jeff
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From: Sacramento
AMG C43, 1999
My LSD is the Phantom Grip type of unit and it makes no noise as of yet. I have been to a road course with the LSD and it worked very well, much less tire spin and more control. However my unit is fairly new and I do not do drag race type starts with my car.
I do drive my car hard enough to spin the tires coming off corners on some of my weekend drives so the LSD does get a good workout.
So far so good!
Jeff
I do drive my car hard enough to spin the tires coming off corners on some of my weekend drives so the LSD does get a good workout.
So far so good!
Jeff
Last edited by speedybenz; Jun 14, 2005 at 01:09 PM.
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Originally Posted by My_C55
I'd be in for under 5k...If we could get them for 3k...well then I'm sure there are a few folks i know up here in MI that would want one.
keep us posted.
keep us posted.
By the way, in Dyno mode it is fully disabled - but for some reason, so is the driveability of the car, i.e. WOT and throttle-based downshifts. Anyone know a workaround?
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RLS, any luck so far??
Driving in Dyno mode is not safe for most drivers. The C32 is very unpredictable and dangerous if you are not highly skilled. Attempt at your own risk, especially when trail braking.
Please support WE NEED AN LSD campaign!
Driving in Dyno mode is not safe for most drivers. The C32 is very unpredictable and dangerous if you are not highly skilled. Attempt at your own risk, especially when trail braking.
Please support WE NEED AN LSD campaign!
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From: Central Florida
1980 928S Porsche, 1965 T-Bird Conv., 2006 C55
smgC32,
Here is What they said back in July when I checked:
"Bob,
I can definitely say that it will not be ready in short of time. We are
looking more like towards the end of the year for an arrival date. We are
still hashing out a few things with our dealer that is slowing the process a
bit.
Jason Alvarez
Quaife Aftermarket Manager"
Here is What they said back in July when I checked:
"Bob,
I can definitely say that it will not be ready in short of time. We are
looking more like towards the end of the year for an arrival date. We are
still hashing out a few things with our dealer that is slowing the process a
bit.
Jason Alvarez
Quaife Aftermarket Manager"
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All - please forgive me for resurrecting this thread, but I don't want to let this issue dry up and be forgotten. I think it's clear that MANY of us C32/C55 owners would be willing to cough up deposits for a group buy on LSDs. Is there any new info available?
