CLK-Class (W209) 2003 on: CLK 270 CDI, CLK 200K, CLK 200 CGI, CLK 240, CLK 320, CLK 350, CLK 500, CLK 550 [Coupes & Cabriolets]

rear differential

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Old Nov 8, 2015 | 09:26 PM
  #1  
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rear differential

So everyone says the rear diff in a clk is an open rear. Was there an option for a lsd?
This is my car an i havet touched the rear diff yet, upgrading it next year
Attached Thumbnails rear differential-rear-diff.jpg  
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Old Nov 8, 2015 | 09:35 PM
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CLK500
I have the 2004 clk500. It burns both tires also. As far as I know its a stock rear end. If it only spun one tire I wouldn't see this car hooking very well. 300 horsepower, but it will still spin if you peg the gas hard enough.
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Old Nov 8, 2015 | 09:43 PM
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oh, i'm not concerned about the tire spin, well i do want it to hook, but i've read allot of people talking about upgraded the carrier to a quafie because the stock benz unit isnt an lsd.
So was there an option for an lsd? because apparently both of ours are then.
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Old Nov 8, 2015 | 09:45 PM
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i'm changing my rear gear ratio over the winter, i was going to by a wavetrack or quaife but im not seeing a reason to
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Old Nov 9, 2015 | 12:06 AM
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It has been my understanding that the clk uses traction control really well and is actually pulsating the brakes, one side then the other, to get traction. As opposed to either locking both wheels or distributing the torque between the two based on the amount of slippage.

So you will see two tracks. I suspect they would be shorter with a thicker deposit of your money (rubber) with a lsd or tsd. Which would be a quicker hook up.

Rodney may be able to clarify.
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Old Nov 9, 2015 | 02:53 AM
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you can do a burnout no problem in my clk320, you dont need an LSD to do that.
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Old Nov 9, 2015 | 01:30 PM
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daniel, my point isnt the burn out, many people on here stat that the clk doesnt have an lsd, so it would be a 1 wheel burn out. that you have to upgrade the rear diff for both wheels to spin
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Old Nov 9, 2015 | 01:32 PM
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Originally Posted by Fatz
It has been my understanding that the clk uses traction control really well and is actually pulsating the brakes, one side then the other, to get traction. As opposed to either locking both wheels or distributing the torque between the two based on the amount of slippage.

So you will see two tracks. I suspect they would be shorter with a thicker deposit of your money (rubber) with a lsd or tsd. Which would be a quicker hook up.

Rodney may be able to clarify.
def hope rodney responds,

that burnout was of course with the traction control off, other wise like you said it cuts engine power also so it doesnt spin more than a couple feet.

but i was going to buy an lsd from quafi or wavetrak not seeing the reason to
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Old Nov 9, 2015 | 01:52 PM
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I don't think the traction control is completely off when you press the button on the dash. It just let you slip more before exercising a bit of control, and does not retard the engine.

An lsd also behaves differently on curves, as the rotation differential between the rear wheels is less. That is at least the case with a torque sensing diff. Been a long time since I drove a lsd equipped car. When I was driving one hard on occasion, it was in a straight line.
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Old Nov 9, 2015 | 02:14 PM
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you are correct the button on the dash only shuts off the engine part of the traction control, the abs part will still work. you can put the car in dyna mode and shut it all off completely. Thats what i do on track days.
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Old Nov 10, 2015 | 01:56 AM
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ok guys let me help you out on this, as i do a lot of drifting (safe drifting, on closed roads). when you press the button on the dash it shuts off the esp but not completely, it still is working a bit, also you have stability control that cant be shut off. ABS has nothing to do with this, in some cars it does(BMW uses the ABS system as a kind of brake applied limited slip, though its pretty weak but it does help in snow) 2 wheel burnouts don't need a LSD, as i said i can do that in my car (gixxerboy, i'm supporting you on that, wasn't against you ) though believe me as Fatz stated, you can do MUCH better burnouts with an LSD, though thats not the point of an LSD, in fact if you know how to handle your car correctly you will get much better traction taking off from a stop with an LSD. Also it will be great if your drive in snow better handling on turns as the car's end will be much more manageable (until you pass the point where the tires just cant handle it and the end comes out, then its just a nice manageable drift). Probably the only downside to an LSD would be a smaller turning circle, which i think isn't even a problem with the newer LSD's available.
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Old Nov 10, 2015 | 02:38 AM
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Thanks Daniel. That makes sense to me and aligns with what I have experienced.

Would you agree that what you said about better snow performance also applies to taking turns/curves?

And in a straight line would an lsd or tsd give less rear end "wiggle" on hard acceleration?
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Old Nov 10, 2015 | 02:52 AM
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Lets see, i'm going to be very specific and use different scenarios

with the first question you asked me, taking curves slowly and calmly an open diff will better as you will have a car with the rear wheels that "bends its will" so the front wheels can do its job.

But if your driving fast and you need traction and control coming out of the turn at speed a limited slip will provide that in the same way it can provide traction in snow.

In a straight line slamming your gas down all the way will cause beautiful sweet "wiggle" with an LSD.

But if you know your car and your torque curve and you know how to throttle correctly an LSD will give you much better traction and less "wiggle" then an open diff, as the power is being put down correctly.

Take into consideration the e63 amg and the e63 amg "s" the s model with a limited slip. 0-60 time (if i remember correctly) dropped from 4.2 to around 3.8 seconds.
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Old Nov 10, 2015 | 09:59 PM
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well i took off the cover of the clk55 rear diff i have for my car, its definitely an open rear diff, going to have to buy an lsd for it before it goes in
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Old Nov 10, 2015 | 11:59 PM
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There is no factory LSD option on the W209. I have no clue as to why it burns rear tires. I have just learned to live with it. And it does nto seem to matter whether I drive gently or aggressively - my rear tires last at most 20K miles, but my favorite tire, the Michelin AS/3 only lasts about 12K. They come with a 22.5K mile warranty, so I "enjoy" them.
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Old Nov 11, 2015 | 08:26 PM
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Rudney, im not worried about tire wear, just traction,
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Old Apr 13, 2020 | 08:02 PM
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2006 CLK500 cabriolet
Hello. Thank you in advance for your opinion/advice.

I have a 2006 CLK500. I'm planning on replacing the fluid.

Do I need to use any additive with the fluid I put in? I'm planning on using Mobil 75w90.
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