C43 LSD options
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Joined: Apr 2011
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c430 amg
C43 LSD options
Hello C43 owners ,
I recently bought very nice 99 C43.
Car is almost spotless , drives great , doesn't leak , everything works exept one wheel in the back
Otherwise great vehicle .
I'm planning to keep it for couple of years .
I read a little before purchasing it and found out that AMG decided not to install LSD in to c36 and c43 . What is wrong with those people ???!!!
I read couple threads about lsd installation. Very confusing info.
Is there a direct "ham" swap with like a wagon version or I need to gut old case and try to squeeze something from a totally different model?
I have no problems with doing mechanical work, don't be afraid to throw part numbers at me .
thanks for any kind of help.
BTW crossfire 6 speed would be a nice upgrade too.
I recently bought very nice 99 C43.
Car is almost spotless , drives great , doesn't leak , everything works exept one wheel in the back
Otherwise great vehicle . I'm planning to keep it for couple of years .
I read a little before purchasing it and found out that AMG decided not to install LSD in to c36 and c43 . What is wrong with those people ???!!!
I read couple threads about lsd installation. Very confusing info.
Is there a direct "ham" swap with like a wagon version or I need to gut old case and try to squeeze something from a totally different model?
I have no problems with doing mechanical work, don't be afraid to throw part numbers at me .
thanks for any kind of help.
BTW crossfire 6 speed would be a nice upgrade too.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,152
Likes: 29
From: Sydney, Australia
190D 2.5 (x2), 190E 2.6, W202 C240,W202 C43 (C55), W210 E55, W212 E250CDI
There are 3 easy options. Quaife, Wavetrack and Kleemann. The Kleenmann was a stopgap option when there was nothing else available. I wouldn't consider it these days.
That leaves you with the Wavetrack and the Quaife. Both are straight forward bolt in options. There are both of a similar design, both high quality, the Wavetrack does have better torque transfer when one wheel is off the ground.....a minor difference when you're fitting it to a car with ESP, it would be a bigger benefit to a car without traction control. Whichever you choose you'll be happy with. I have a Wavetrack in the C43 (55) and a Quaife in the E55, they are both performing perfectly.
Whichever you buy, take the diff housing out, buy a set of diff bearings from a MB dealer and give it to a diff shop to install. It'll be easier and better in the long run than doing it yourself.
That leaves you with the Wavetrack and the Quaife. Both are straight forward bolt in options. There are both of a similar design, both high quality, the Wavetrack does have better torque transfer when one wheel is off the ground.....a minor difference when you're fitting it to a car with ESP, it would be a bigger benefit to a car without traction control. Whichever you choose you'll be happy with. I have a Wavetrack in the C43 (55) and a Quaife in the E55, they are both performing perfectly.
Whichever you buy, take the diff housing out, buy a set of diff bearings from a MB dealer and give it to a diff shop to install. It'll be easier and better in the long run than doing it yourself.
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Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,649
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From: New Jersey
1999 AMG C43
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 424
Likes: 13
From: Grand Rapids, MI
99 C43 AMG, 2001 CLK55 AMG
just out of curiosity...
are you guys tracking your cars or autocross? i do a lot with mine and the MAJOR issue i have is overall weight of the car and understeer/lack of traction in the front wheels during cornering. i have gotten much better at keeping the car balanced but thats still the main drawback by far.
i have never had any issues with too much rear wheelspin coming out of corners. im sure an LSD would help but its seems like a big undertaking that does not address the main performance issues with this car that i have experienced.
On a side note i have found that the biggest mistake drivers make with these cars or ones like it is running too much rear tire pressure, causing the rear tires to VERY easily lose traction and make the driver assume its an oversteer and rear traction issue. (this doe not apply to the 5.4 swap cars who probably DO have much more rear traction issues than a 43). when tracking or autocrossing i run about 31psi cold/35psi hot in the rears. anything higher than 37 in the rear and im sideways in the corners without trying, haha.
do any of you who have installed the LSD have track times or 1/4 mile times to quantify the performance gains of the LSD?
are you guys tracking your cars or autocross? i do a lot with mine and the MAJOR issue i have is overall weight of the car and understeer/lack of traction in the front wheels during cornering. i have gotten much better at keeping the car balanced but thats still the main drawback by far.
i have never had any issues with too much rear wheelspin coming out of corners. im sure an LSD would help but its seems like a big undertaking that does not address the main performance issues with this car that i have experienced.
On a side note i have found that the biggest mistake drivers make with these cars or ones like it is running too much rear tire pressure, causing the rear tires to VERY easily lose traction and make the driver assume its an oversteer and rear traction issue. (this doe not apply to the 5.4 swap cars who probably DO have much more rear traction issues than a 43). when tracking or autocrossing i run about 31psi cold/35psi hot in the rears. anything higher than 37 in the rear and im sideways in the corners without trying, haha.
do any of you who have installed the LSD have track times or 1/4 mile times to quantify the performance gains of the LSD?
Last edited by Dziner82; Dec 30, 2014 at 07:54 PM. Reason: typo
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 453
Likes: 76
From: london
Mercedes C55 AMG
just out of curiosity...
are you guys tracking your cars or autocross? i do a lot with mine and the MAJOR issue i have is overall weight of the car and understeer/lack of traction in the front wheels during cornering. i have gotten much better at keeping the car balanced but thats still the main drawback by far.
i have never had any issues with too much rear wheelspin coming out of corners. im sure an LSD would help but its seems like a big undertaking that does not address the main performance issues with this car that i have experienced.
On a side note i have found that the biggest mistake drivers make with these cars or ones like it is running too much rear tire pressure, causing the rear tires to VERY easily lose traction and make the driver assume its an oversteer and rear traction issue. (this doe not apply to the 5.4 swap cars who probably DO have much more rear traction issues than a 43). when tracking or autocrossing i run about 31psi cold/35psi hot in the rears. anything higher than 37 in the rear and im sideways in the corners without trying, haha.
do any of you who have installed the LSD have track times or 1/4 mile times to quantify the performance gains of the LSD?
are you guys tracking your cars or autocross? i do a lot with mine and the MAJOR issue i have is overall weight of the car and understeer/lack of traction in the front wheels during cornering. i have gotten much better at keeping the car balanced but thats still the main drawback by far.
i have never had any issues with too much rear wheelspin coming out of corners. im sure an LSD would help but its seems like a big undertaking that does not address the main performance issues with this car that i have experienced.
On a side note i have found that the biggest mistake drivers make with these cars or ones like it is running too much rear tire pressure, causing the rear tires to VERY easily lose traction and make the driver assume its an oversteer and rear traction issue. (this doe not apply to the 5.4 swap cars who probably DO have much more rear traction issues than a 43). when tracking or autocrossing i run about 31psi cold/35psi hot in the rears. anything higher than 37 in the rear and im sideways in the corners without trying, haha.
do any of you who have installed the LSD have track times or 1/4 mile times to quantify the performance gains of the LSD?
I should of said with the lsd the car still brakes traction when in s as im pulling away with any more than quarter throttle
I do track my car and have more traction closer to apex but understeer is never to far away.. The lsd helps keep more constant tyre temp.
now I have the KW when I go back to the ring this year ill try in dial out understeer as much as I can. iam going to corner balance soon
Last edited by raw1879; Jan 1, 2015 at 04:09 PM.
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 949
Likes: 47
From: San Diego
2004 E55
just out of curiosity... are you guys tracking your cars or autocross? i do a lot with mine and the MAJOR issue i have is overall weight of the car and understeer/lack of traction in the front wheels during cornering. i have gotten much better at keeping the car balanced but thats still the main drawback by far.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,152
Likes: 29
From: Sydney, Australia
190D 2.5 (x2), 190E 2.6, W202 C240,W202 C43 (C55), W210 E55, W212 E250CDI
Having a LSD will improve track times, more so for circuit than 1/4mi. For circuit I found it helped greatly on corner exit and allowed you to use the throttle to help turn the car as well. It did remove a little understeer for the car too.
The biggest benifit I found was actually being able to drive the car in the wet without the usual disco lights on the dash
The biggest benifit I found was actually being able to drive the car in the wet without the usual disco lights on the dash
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Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 424
Likes: 13
From: Grand Rapids, MI
99 C43 AMG, 2001 CLK55 AMG
yea im running the default 18" staggered size:
225/40/18 fronts
255/35/18 rears
looking to get the KMAC bushings this spring to be able to run more negative front camber to help alleviate the outside shoulders taking such a beating on track days and help a little more in autox. i have the crash bolts in the front now and run almost -2* but thinking i need to get to 1.5 or possibly 3. supposedly the KMACS are adjustable so i could tun 3 at the track then adjust back to 2 or less on the street (?)
225/40/18 fronts
255/35/18 rears
looking to get the KMAC bushings this spring to be able to run more negative front camber to help alleviate the outside shoulders taking such a beating on track days and help a little more in autox. i have the crash bolts in the front now and run almost -2* but thinking i need to get to 1.5 or possibly 3. supposedly the KMACS are adjustable so i could tun 3 at the track then adjust back to 2 or less on the street (?)
