LSD Drawbacks
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: El Paso, TX
'03 G500, '13 G63, '17 GLS63,
LSD Drawbacks
Well, I went to the track last night and had a blast. However, I think an LSD would make this car complete, even though I have decided to leave the engine stock for now. Are there any drawbacks to having the LSD installed? Potential for breakage? Anyone actually REGRET having it done? Just want to hear more feedback before I pull the trigger.
Super Member
Joined: May 2004
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From: Seoul, Korea
04 CLK55, IWC CLS55 AMG(one of 55), 07 Honda CR-V 4WD
getting mine done tomorrow.
I am getting LSD installed tomorrow. Will post my impression since i had too much problem launching the car properly with 19 inch wheel. I know they are supposed to help me with wider tires but they did not really make any differences. I expect a lot from this LSD along with my mods. I hope JAckpro1 is right.
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From: Salt Lake City (but not Morm)
2003 E55 & 2014 GL550
I hope JAckpro1 is right.
Just don't want you to pull out of the installers lot and punch it, then start cursing us. LSD is awesome and I would not trade it for the world...but wheel spin is just greatly reduced, not eliminated. You'll love it dude, don't worry.
It should have been standard on these cars....that was Benz's bad.
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2004
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04 E55
Locker vs Clutch type of LSD from Kleeman
Originally Posted by Jakpro1
Just so we are clear.....LSD does not eliminate wheel spin.....just greatly reduces it. I can still light up my PS'2s at will on the street. LSD basically "gives you a fighting chance" when you are pushing 600hp with mods.
Just don't want you to pull out of the installers lot and punch it, then start cursing us. LSD is awesome and I would not trade it for the world...but wheel spin is just greatly reduced, not eliminated. You'll love it dude, don't worry.
It should have been standard on these cars....that was Benz's bad.
Just don't want you to pull out of the installers lot and punch it, then start cursing us. LSD is awesome and I would not trade it for the world...but wheel spin is just greatly reduced, not eliminated. You'll love it dude, don't worry.
It should have been standard on these cars....that was Benz's bad.
LSD and K1/K2.
If I understood him correctly, then the Kleemann LSD is more like a Detroit Locker type of design whereas the AMG factory LSD is a Salisbury/clutch type of design.
Then I did some more on-line research and read that the Locker style,
while extremely robust, may have some drawbacks in the corners with
the ratcheting mechanism that allows the outer wheel to turn faster in corners. In American cars/trucks, some drivers complain about this
design as the diff transitions between on & off-throttle within a corner.
I have no real world driving experience with Locker style rear-ends, only
factory clutch-type diffs in muscle cars.
The advantage of the locker style is that there is no wear over time as there is with the clutch or Salisbury type.
Perhaps, Kleemann has refined the Locker design so that it is smoother
in transition in the corners ?
Jakpro, can you detect any handling drawbacks with your Kleemann LSD and/or any low speed maneuvering noise from the rear end when driving in the parking lot for example ?
Hopefully, Cory can correct me or shed some more info on the design
and handling characteristics of the Kleemann LSD.
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Super Member
Joined: May 2004
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From: Seoul, Korea
04 CLK55, IWC CLS55 AMG(one of 55), 07 Honda CR-V 4WD
I did some research and found some interesting and useful information about LSD in Merc. This is a test report and They used AWD M class to test it but it still applies to our RWD vehicles.
Here is the link:
http://www.emotionreports.com/downloads/pdfs/drivetekrwth001.pdf#search='limited%20slip%20diffe rential%20drawbacks'
Here is the link:
http://www.emotionreports.com/downloads/pdfs/drivetekrwth001.pdf#search='limited%20slip%20diffe rential%20drawbacks'
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MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Moscow, Russia
E55K
I think somebody esle on this board mentioned that Kleemann LSD made noise accelerating fast out of the corner...
Hmmm...now you guy talk about LSD agian and I thinking again...
LSD or MKB 540HP kit...for those who had mods without LSD, was really a difficult to launch the car???
Hmmm...now you guy talk about LSD agian and I thinking again...
LSD or MKB 540HP kit...for those who had mods without LSD, was really a difficult to launch the car???
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 282
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From: NYC
03 E55 k2; Ford GT
Originally Posted by JLee81
I don't hear anything. Inside or outside. Got it done right at the first time.
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From: Salt Lake City (but not Morm)
2003 E55 & 2014 GL550
The only thing I am interested in knowing is how the ESP reacted with my car and the LSD on cornering.
I am the one who posted that when I rolled around a 90 degree street intersection and punched it hard, right rear tire must have lifted enough to lose traction and then a sec later I heard a large CLUNK.....Kleemann was super cool bout it and explained in detail what was happening. I just wonder if when that happened .....ESP sensed it and put the brakes on one wheel....that would really mess with the LSD. Never happened again as I watch myself in those scenarios.
The ESP playing nice with the LSD is the true wildcard in these cars.
Again, soooooooo happy with mine....I just know it's limits.
I am the one who posted that when I rolled around a 90 degree street intersection and punched it hard, right rear tire must have lifted enough to lose traction and then a sec later I heard a large CLUNK.....Kleemann was super cool bout it and explained in detail what was happening. I just wonder if when that happened .....ESP sensed it and put the brakes on one wheel....that would really mess with the LSD. Never happened again as I watch myself in those scenarios.
The ESP playing nice with the LSD is the true wildcard in these cars.
Again, soooooooo happy with mine....I just know it's limits.
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From: Mason Neck, VA
the kleeman kit is a detroit locker type and is very cheap for them to produce, hence the $2,300 mb tax. but it does work well. it is simply 2 square pieces of metal with 4 springs that fit in between the stock rear axles. the strength of the springs are enough that theyll break loose with 60% of power applied to the rear. stronger or weaker springs will raise or lower the %. when you hear the clunk its the springs trying to hold the 2 metal squares together pushed out against the axles. its like holding two ends of a rubiks cube and twisting one side in one direction and the other side in the opposite direction. except you have powerful springs in between trying to keep them together. so when it gets twisted enough the springs break tractions against the axles and snap (clunk) back to its original configuration. the only wear is happening to the metal squares and many many many repeated clunks under heavy hp will wear these out, not the rear end though and youll essentially return back to the normal rear. i like but that is a rediculous price for no real technology, just some metal. been looking at sourcing some of these locker types for a few weeks now. they should be about $500 like on mustangs and camaros etc. its the same parts.
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From: strip bar in Oregon
211 E55(sold) & 80cc shifter kart
Originally Posted by Peter B
the kleeman kit is a detroit locker type and is very cheap for them to produce, hence the $2,300 mb tax. but it does work well. it is simply 2 square pieces of metal with 4 springs that fit in between the stock rear axles. the strength of the springs are enough that theyll break loose with 60% of power applied to the rear. stronger or weaker springs will raise or lower the %. when you hear the clunk its the springs trying to hold the 2 metal squares together pushed out against the axles. its like holding two ends of a rubiks cube and twisting one side in one direction and the other side in the opposite direction. except you have powerful springs in between trying to keep them together. so when it gets twisted enough the springs break tractions against the axles and snap (clunk) back to its original configuration. the only wear is happening to the metal squares and many many many repeated clunks under heavy hp will wear these out, not the rear end though and youll essentially return back to the normal rear. i like but that is a rediculous price for no real technology, just some metal. been looking at sourcing some of these locker types for a few weeks now. they should be about $500 like on mustangs and camaros etc. its the same parts.
Super Member
Joined: May 2004
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From: Seoul, Korea
04 CLK55, IWC CLS55 AMG(one of 55), 07 Honda CR-V 4WD
Originally Posted by saber
I have worked with many rear ends including full lock ratios for the track. If you really understood limited slip rears and how they work, you would know that some noise is expected with a 60% lock ratio that the Kleeman kit offers. Mine was done right at a great shop and under my direct supervision. Is it possible that your rear end is still stock?
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From: strip bar in Oregon
211 E55(sold) & 80cc shifter kart
Originally Posted by saber
I have worked with many rear ends including full lock ratios for the track. If you really understood limited slip rears and how they work, you would know that some noise is expected with a 60% lock ratio that the Kleeman kit offers. Mine was done right at a great shop and under my direct supervision. Is it possible that your rear end is still stock?
Last edited by BMWEATR; May 3, 2005 at 07:07 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Salt Lake City (but not Morm)
2003 E55 & 2014 GL550
Maybe it's that E55 has so much TQ than mine that it causes the noise?
This noise is somewhat inherent to the design of the mechanism in the
rear. The mechanism is always applying outward force to the two
planetary gears, the force is determined by the spring pressure in the
clutch mechanism. It is possible to overcome this pressure if the input
into the rear exceeds the clamping pressure. During this time one of
the wheels will slip in relation to the other until the the input force
becomes lower than the clamping force, then, clunk. The clunk comes
from the tolerance in the clutch mechanism and a large axle pin that
passes through it for the smaller planetary gears.
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From: Irvine, CA
07 M6, 05 Noble, 01 S4, Smart ForTwo
Originally Posted by JLee81
I am getting LSD installed tomorrow. Will post my impression since i had too much problem launching the car properly with 19 inch wheel. I know they are supposed to help me with wider tires but they did not really make any differences. I expect a lot from this LSD along with my mods. I hope JAckpro1 is right.
Stock, the car comes with 265/35... so you haven't really increased contact patch at all (based on your sig). It will really be a difference in the compound of the tire and overall outer diameter changes.
I am pretty sure you need larger rear tires.
Last edited by Brav; May 3, 2005 at 07:40 PM. Reason: sp
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From: Irvine, CA
07 M6, 05 Noble, 01 S4, Smart ForTwo
Originally Posted by M5 RUS
With larger tyres the overall diameter increases and thus affect acceleration times... 
