From my understanding, from searching, both 03 and 04 (aside from the RS) Evo VIII's have an open front differential and the 05 VIII and 06 IX came with helical front diff's standard . My questions are:

-Are the LSD equipped TC's in the latter years inherently "stronger" (i.e can take more abuse at a drag-strip) than the previous years?

-Is the only difference was just the limited slip and ACD or are the ring/pinion were beefed up as well in the 04 RS and 05-06's?

-Are there a lot of folks still running open front diffs at the track, and more importantly has anyone noticed any drop in ET by adding LSD to the front diff?

thanks

 

bump for a newb, anyone?

I'll be happy for some previous topics with these answers, however I did search.

 

The reason the front LSD makes the transfer case stronger is not because the components can take more strain but rather that the LSD helps prevent wheel hop during really hard launches. When wheel hop happens there is a rapid transfer of power from the right to the left front tires, this rapid fluctuation of torque ultimately causes the spider gears in the open differentials to explode or fracture.

 

And that is correct.

I have an EVO VIII, which obviously came with an open front diff. These cars are 3-wheel drive, not awd. When I made a recent engine swap, I also had the tranny and TC redone. When I did this, I had the LSD unit installed in the TC. I recommend the same to anyone who has a reason or opportunity to pull the TC from the car. As they say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

 

^^^ nice info there. what type of lsd do you recommend for the front diff?
where can I get them?
TIA

 

You can get the mitsu front lsd from TRE.it is a lot cheaper than the quiafe. I just swapped mine and it is not a bad install at all with an impact gun availible. There is a front lsd install how to in the how to forum section.

 

I blew my tc and tranny to pieces on the strip with wheelhop. I have an 06 RS with the Mitsu LSD. This was only my 3rd trip to the track. Granted I was on 18" low profile Z-rated tires. I think its unwise to believe that the mitsu lsd is much stronger.
$5k later I will stay away from high rpm track launches. I"ll just make it up on the top end with a bigger turbo

 

were you dumping the clutch?

 

no, wheel hop. Hard, low profile tires. Lots of guys drag racing there cars on are stock rims/tires or larger sidewall tires that give. That's a very important detail that I was not aware of when I took my car to the track. Its not possible for my car, I have 14" brakes. Plenty of evos run 18" wheels, these cars are more susceptible to wheel hop.

 

Which is stronger? The RS Transfer Case or the ACD Transfer case?

 

Pretty sure they are one in the same.

 

I have an 06 on stock tires, stock clutch, stock rims..... I get wheel hop if I don't let air out of the tires. Wheel hop can kill even properly built xfer cases and trannies. Its best to let off immediately.

I installed the ralliart front LSD in my 2003. It didn't make any difference for straight line short times but it made an absolutely HUGE difference at autox and lapping days.

As for which one is stronger..... I would guess the ACD xfer case can take more of a beating because it has clutches and extra mass to absorb more abuse. But the difference between the two LSDs are probably minimal.

I can tell you this.... I liked the unadultrated feel of the non-acd LSD xfer case than this intrusive ACD crap. I'm a purist. I don't like ACD, AYC, and ABS even if it does make you faster.

 

ya there the same acd has nothing to do with the TC.

 

well, we blow apart a Mitsu lsd that i purchase from shep with the very first 11.4 pass on evo9 turbo and drag radials,it broke the cast housing that hold the helical gears.now waiting for a Quaife from Shep that had been in backorder for a long time.

 

Agreed, I hate it when the track is too sticky (the street is oh so much nicer). Do you have engine/tranny mounts installed?