Traction Control vs. Limited Slip Differential

BDawg

Lifer
Oct 31, 2000
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Do they essentially perform the same function through different means? If not, what's the difference?
 

Demon-Xanth

Lifer
Feb 15, 2000
20,551
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Not really.

Limited slip differential only has control of the two wheels in relation to eachother. You can still burn both of the tires off. (been there, done that). Traction control keeps them from sliding at all by applying the brakes and changing the amount of power being applied. Traction control and limited slip differentials don't replace eachother.

Firebird w/ traction control on: 17 second quarters
Firebird w/o traction control on: 12-13 second quarters
 

Triumph

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
15,031
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Different companies have different ideas of traction control. A LSD is a mechanical device that mechanically transfers the torque between the wheels through real connections. Many "traction controls" actually just have the computer apply the brakes when a wheel is spinning too quickly. Therefore you are losing that power through heat instead of actually transferring that power anywhere. Traction controls also handle the throttle on drive-by-wire cars, pulling back on the throttle when too much wheel slip is detected.

Mechanical LSD's are "better", but they have drawbacks in that they sap power just through drivetrain losses, and they add weight.
 

BDawg

Lifer
Oct 31, 2000
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w
Originally posted by: Triumph
Different companies have different ideas of traction control. A LSD is a mechanical device that mechanically transfers the torque between the wheels through real connections. Many "traction controls" actually just have the computer apply the brakes when a wheel is spinning too quickly. Therefore you are losing that power through heat instead of actually transferring that power anywhere. Traction controls also handle the throttle on drive-by-wire cars, pulling back on the throttle when too much wheel slip is detected.

Mechanical LSD's are "better", but they have drawbacks in that they sap power just through drivetrain losses, and they add weight.

But there are some TCS that do vary the ammount of torque to wheels? In this case, a TCS would perform similarly to an LSD, but not as efficiently?
 

Demon-Xanth

Lifer
Feb 15, 2000
20,551
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Triumph: Actually, they really don't sap power when they aren't being called on to work any more than a normal differential does. They work by a difference in axle shaft speeds not a function of the input shaft speed.

"Better" depends on where you're using it. Best is having both (but the ability to turn off the traction control). For just driving around in the rain, traction control helps alot. For launching a car or off roading, limited slip is god (for rock crawling, look into lockers. For high end drag racing, look into spools)