Weir Performance Maxgrip LSD Kit
Jul 31, 2011, 04:18 PM
#1
Weir Performance Maxgrip LSD Kit
Review: Weir Performance Maxgrip LSD Kit
It is no secret that our Evos came to the US with an improper rear differential setup. Most of us have experienced severe understeer and pushing effect during corner exit. There has also been extensive information sharing about correcting our rear differentials, primarily through sending our cores to a company and purchasing the upgrade https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/ev...ound-here.html. However, I wanted to have the performance benefits of a 12-plate rear differential upgrade without sending in my core and having downtime while my daily driven Evo was up on jack stands. Most importantly, I wanted it at a fraction of the cost! Weir Performance offered the Maxgrip LSD kit for the individuals wanting improved performance out of their rear differential. My autocross comrades and I got together one Sunday and performed the upgrade in a true, grassroots, and “Do-It-Yourself” manner.
My rear differential was in good condition to start. The rear differential has withstood over 113k miles of commuting, spirited drives, and of course, autox. The following link(s) will take you through the removal of the rear differential and assembly of the Weir Performance Maxgrip LSD Kit:
https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/ev...tial-diff.html
https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/ev...rear-diff.html
Suspension Setup:
Fortune Auto 500 Series Coilovers 12kg front/15kg rear with 4kg helper springs
Front Camber—3.5* Rear Camber—1.5* Toe—0* all around
Whiteline Rear Sway Bar—full soft setting
BBS MR wheels wrapped with 255/40 Hankook R-S3’s
Before the Weir Performance Maxgrip LSD Kit:
Exiting corners, I would experience understeer, having to feather the throttle. Trying to force the steering wheel would be futile, as the car would continue to push and tires squeal. If a descent straight away were ahead, I would be losing valuable time due to the inability to get on the throttle sooner. Or worse, the understeer would knock me off my line and affect how I reacted to the remainder of the course, and essentially be playing catch-up. I’ve tinkered with tire pressures and was on the medium setting of my rear sway bar and still would experience considerable understeer, pushing out of corners and unable to get on the throttle.
After the Weir Performance Maxgrip LSD kit:
Right after installation, I drove around in a parking lot, performing several figure 8’s. I then started to get a little antsy and took some tight turns in the parking lot while adding boost. Wow . . .the rear tires started spinning their wheels and the evo was suddenly in oversteer!
I had an autox event Sunday, 7/31, and wanted to put it through a more appropriate test suited for our cars and the rear diff upgrade. Holy cow, oversteer came on command!! Gradual and precise throttle, coupled with appropriate countersteer enabled me to be much faster coming out of corners. I took a long sweeping turn and was able to apply just enough throttle and countersteer to remain on my line and mash the throttle once I straightened out. Be warned though, it will take a bit of getting used to gradually getting on the throttle and not stabbing it. Before, I tried getting on the throttle and would only keep pushing outward. Today, I tried the same approach and spun out! So, practice is definitely needed to get that balance of throttle and countersteer. Damn it was fun, though, even when I had too much oversteer!
Bottom Line:
For those wanting more performance out of their Evo in the area of handling and achieving oversteer to power through corner exiting, the Maxgrip LSD Kit by Weir Performance is a worthy solution at a very affordable price. Most people who track or autox here may or may not be all out gear-heads; however, the procedure to perform the upgrade yourself is well within the individual willing to perform a DIY. Most importantly, you will be able to achieve upgraded rear differential performance compared to other name brand rear differential units without the downtime and at a fraction of the cost. Please keep in mind, I am in no way refuting the efforts and detail other companies have put toward their rear differential units. I am reporting the comparative performance observation of the Maxgrip LSD Kit and increased oversteer that is also claimed by other companies.
It is no secret that our Evos came to the US with an improper rear differential setup. Most of us have experienced severe understeer and pushing effect during corner exit. There has also been extensive information sharing about correcting our rear differentials, primarily through sending our cores to a company and purchasing the upgrade https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/ev...ound-here.html. However, I wanted to have the performance benefits of a 12-plate rear differential upgrade without sending in my core and having downtime while my daily driven Evo was up on jack stands. Most importantly, I wanted it at a fraction of the cost! Weir Performance offered the Maxgrip LSD kit for the individuals wanting improved performance out of their rear differential. My autocross comrades and I got together one Sunday and performed the upgrade in a true, grassroots, and “Do-It-Yourself” manner.
My rear differential was in good condition to start. The rear differential has withstood over 113k miles of commuting, spirited drives, and of course, autox. The following link(s) will take you through the removal of the rear differential and assembly of the Weir Performance Maxgrip LSD Kit:
https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/ev...tial-diff.html
https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/ev...rear-diff.html
Suspension Setup:
Fortune Auto 500 Series Coilovers 12kg front/15kg rear with 4kg helper springs
Front Camber—3.5* Rear Camber—1.5* Toe—0* all around
Whiteline Rear Sway Bar—full soft setting
BBS MR wheels wrapped with 255/40 Hankook R-S3’s
Before the Weir Performance Maxgrip LSD Kit:
Exiting corners, I would experience understeer, having to feather the throttle. Trying to force the steering wheel would be futile, as the car would continue to push and tires squeal. If a descent straight away were ahead, I would be losing valuable time due to the inability to get on the throttle sooner. Or worse, the understeer would knock me off my line and affect how I reacted to the remainder of the course, and essentially be playing catch-up. I’ve tinkered with tire pressures and was on the medium setting of my rear sway bar and still would experience considerable understeer, pushing out of corners and unable to get on the throttle.
After the Weir Performance Maxgrip LSD kit:
Right after installation, I drove around in a parking lot, performing several figure 8’s. I then started to get a little antsy and took some tight turns in the parking lot while adding boost. Wow . . .the rear tires started spinning their wheels and the evo was suddenly in oversteer!
I had an autox event Sunday, 7/31, and wanted to put it through a more appropriate test suited for our cars and the rear diff upgrade. Holy cow, oversteer came on command!! Gradual and precise throttle, coupled with appropriate countersteer enabled me to be much faster coming out of corners. I took a long sweeping turn and was able to apply just enough throttle and countersteer to remain on my line and mash the throttle once I straightened out. Be warned though, it will take a bit of getting used to gradually getting on the throttle and not stabbing it. Before, I tried getting on the throttle and would only keep pushing outward. Today, I tried the same approach and spun out! So, practice is definitely needed to get that balance of throttle and countersteer. Damn it was fun, though, even when I had too much oversteer!
Bottom Line:
For those wanting more performance out of their Evo in the area of handling and achieving oversteer to power through corner exiting, the Maxgrip LSD Kit by Weir Performance is a worthy solution at a very affordable price. Most people who track or autox here may or may not be all out gear-heads; however, the procedure to perform the upgrade yourself is well within the individual willing to perform a DIY. Most importantly, you will be able to achieve upgraded rear differential performance compared to other name brand rear differential units without the downtime and at a fraction of the cost. Please keep in mind, I am in no way refuting the efforts and detail other companies have put toward their rear differential units. I am reporting the comparative performance observation of the Maxgrip LSD Kit and increased oversteer that is also claimed by other companies.
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fostytou (Jul 30, 2022)
Jul 31, 2011, 07:14 PM
#3
Evolving Member
Jul 31, 2011, 08:03 PM
#5
Nice review. Can't wait until I get my car fixed up with pretty much the same setup as you. 
Yes but you can add friction modifiers to combat the noise. The biggest problem is that friction modifiers does just that, modifies the friction of the plates to make them more slippery. You need friction in order for those plates to grab and give you the LSD effect. I run straight Amsoil without any modifiers on my 12 plate and yes, it makes noises but that's a small price I will pay for performance.
Yes but you can add friction modifiers to combat the noise. The biggest problem is that friction modifiers does just that, modifies the friction of the plates to make them more slippery. You need friction in order for those plates to grab and give you the LSD effect. I run straight Amsoil without any modifiers on my 12 plate and yes, it makes noises but that's a small price I will pay for performance.
