Life Span of KAAZ clutch plates

[Sandro]

I have a KAAZ in my Rabbit.

I broke an axle and after it broke the car was not able to limp under its own power. With a KAAZ it should correct? thats the whole point of the diff, transfer the power to the wheel with grip correct?

I am assuming the clutch plates must be worn. The diff has 6 weekends on it, would that be time for new clutch plates already or does that seem a little soon?

How long are your clutch plates lasting?

[Greg Amy]

It also has a lot to do with the breakaway torque, Sandro. Depending on how your diff is set up, there may not be THAT much torque bias in the spring plates. In fact, most retail-available LSDs are intentionally setup with minimal spring pressure so that they're streetable (think the logical extreme: the welded diff). My NX's clutch-type LSD would always spin free when I hopped curbs; your recent experience simply affirms that limitation to be expected from street LSDs.

For racing applications, it's very important to consider re-springing your clutch packs to better suit the racing environment, assuming you have the knowledge/experience base.

[Sandro]

Greg its starting to make sense.

I was looking at some data from when the diff was 3 weekends old(first time with data logger) and noticed going through a chicane hopping curbs the data was showing a small jump in RPM.

Plus the weekend when the axle broke, I actually set my fastest lap time at the track so it would seem a little odd if my fastest lap time was with an almost open diff.

I guess I was just assuming it would provide enough bias to drive.

by re-springing the clutch packs do you mean installing clutch packs that are thicker?

[Greg Amy]

by re-springing the clutch packs do you mean installing clutch packs that are thicker?

I don't know the Kaaz design specifically, so I suggest you contact them. The NisMo LSD i was running I *think* is a comparable design, and it relies in differing springs/spring rates...

[bonespec]

No springs in a Kaaz LSD, just ramps.

Without torque on the other axle it won't lock up, sorta like a Quaife.

My Kaaz lasted 50k miles on the street, autox, and drag racing when I finally broke both drive plates on one side.



I don't have any pics of when I tore it apart, but might be rebuilding it over the winter to sell to a ITB/ITC Honda Racer.

From KaazUSA website

[Greg Amy]

Ah, then that makes perfect sense. Yup, without springs there's no way that a LSD will "LS" without some sort of torque bias. Which is *exactly* why I believe the Quaife - and now, the Kaaz - is the wrong design for racing.

I'm a "sprung-clutch LSD" man - or spooler - for auto racing, all the way...