For those with PP GT, how's the Torsen diff?

[WestRace]

I've just finished reading Top Gear article on the GT and they kept ranting on the Torsen diff being too noisy, too "loose", too gruff and rough at street pace. Typically the friction plate LSD diff at least in theory are a little bit more refine being not having the gears engaged and disengaged. With clutch-like plates of the LSD diff, when engaged or disengaged, are not as disruptive as the gear-like of the Torsen, so in effective it's a little smoother.

With the Torsen, everything is geared, so one can imagine when those gears banging against each others, they are not quite as seamless as the LSD. They are great for track (hence the PP), but not quite as polished for everyday street use.

For those been driving the GT PP, what are your opinions? I believe the non-PP has the lower spec LSD diff which may not stand up to track conditions.

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[minicobra]

This is my first car with a Torsen. All I can say is that this thing can really exit a corner, the way it puts down the power is hard to explain, but it feels more connected compared to the LSD that was in my 12 GT500.

As far as normal street driving is concerned, I don't think there is any difference in the feel, I don't notice any harshness, and wouldn't even know that it was different then my old LSD if someone hadn't told me, or until I took my first tight corner.

One thing that I will say, is that when it is cold, and I'm first starting off in the morning I can hear a slight click or feel a skip if I"m making a slow tight turn. (parking lot speed)
Sometimes while making a u-turn in a parking lot, it will do this. I'm assuming that's the gear noise, or binding that they are referring too? IDK, if that's normal? :shrug:
I had to ad some friction modifier to my old LSD because it moaned when making slow turns. (solved the problem) Maybe the Torsen could benefit from the friction modifier at low speed turns as well.
That's only at slow speeds, and I don't consider it to be detracting or a problem, as long as it is a normal attribute of a Torsen, I can live with it.

 

[Five Oh Brian]

I believe the non-PP has the lower spec LSD diff which may not stand up to track conditions.

The Torsen diff is awesome for getting power down coming out of corners and is superior to the Limited Slip diff in that respect. Get the Torsen diff is you plan on doing a lot of cornering (road racing, autocrossing, etc.).

The Limited Slip diff excels in straight line, drag strip style launches, however, while the Torsen is not nearly as strong at the drag strip. Drag racers (like me) prefer the Limited Slip for this reason.

 

[Tubalkayne]

The Torsen diff is awesome for getting power down coming out of corners and is superior to the Limited Slip diff in that respect. Get the Torsen diff is you plan on doing a lot of cornering (road racing, autocrossing, etc.).

The Limited Slip diff excels in straight line, drag strip style launches, however, while the Torsen is not nearly as strong at the drag strip. Drag racers (like me) prefer the Limited Slip for this reason.

dumb questions I suppose but is the Torsen differential posi?

 

[Bucky69]

I don't have a lot of miles on my ride yet, but I'm liking how the Torsen can put down the power without any fuss at all. I do get the "sounds" on tight slow turns like backing out of the driveway on a cold morning but it's no big deal and not there once at speed. It kind of reminds me of a Detroit Locker but not as harsh.

 

[Rubedog]

This is my first car with a Torsen. All I can say is that this thing can really exit a corner, the way it puts down the power is hard to explain, but it feels more connected compared to the LSD that was in my 12 GT500.

As far as normal street driving is concerned, I don't think there is any difference in the feel, I don't notice any harshness, and wouldn't even know that it was different then my old LSD if someone hadn't told me, or until I took my first tight corner.

One thing that I will say, is that when it is cold, and I'm first starting off in the morning I can hear a slight click or feel a skip if I"m making a slow tight turn. (parking lot speed)
Sometimes while making a u-turn in a parking lot, it will do this. I'm assuming that's the gear noise, or binding that they are referring too? IDK, if that's normal? :shrug:
I had to ad some friction modifier to my old LSD because it moaned when making slow turns. (solved the problem) Maybe the Torsen could benefit from the friction modifier at low speed turns as well.
That's only at slow speeds, and I don't consider it to be detracting or a problem, as long as it is a normal attribute of a Torsen, I can live with it.

+1

 

[OppoLock]

The Torsen diff is awesome for getting power down coming out of corners and is superior to the Limited Slip diff in that respect. Get the Torsen diff is you plan on doing a lot of cornering (road racing, autocrossing, etc.).

The Limited Slip diff excels in straight line, drag strip style launches, however, while the Torsen is not nearly as strong at the drag strip. Drag racers (like me) prefer the Limited Slip for this reason.

A torque sensing diff is a type of LSD, FYI.

 

[TNcoupe]

I don't have a lot of miles on my ride yet, but I'm liking how the Torsen can put down the power without any fuss at all. I do get the "sounds" on tight slow turns like backing out of the driveway on a cold morning but it's no big deal and not there once at speed. It kind of reminds me of a Detroit Locker but not as harsh.

I was gonna say the same thing about a Detroit. Sounds just like my early Bronco with a Detroit when its cold.

 

[Tony Alonso]

dumb questions I suppose but is the Torsen differential posi?

I liked these video illustrations of the difference between a limited-slip and Torsen differential. "Posi" is a brand name reference to a limited-slip configuration, similar to how people say "Kleenex" when they mean "faciral tissue"

Torsen differential - [ame]
limited-slip differential - [ame]http://youtu.be/WeLm7wHvdxQ

 

[Rob00GT]

I would not put any friction modifier chemicals designed to help clutches slip appropriately into a mechanical diff. It is a geared, high performance part. A little noise is the penalty you pay.

 

[Stuntman]

^The base cars Traction-LoK diff does not have ramps like the second video you posted (which is a Salisbury clutch-type LSD).

I'm surprised to hear any noise complaints of torsens because they are typically very quiet and great for daily driver applications.

 

[TurboAg]

I have the EB PP (3.55 non-Torsen LSD). Let's just say I haven't been very impressed with the diff so far--although I haven't pushed the car very hard. My inside wheels does a weird spin/hop under modest acceleration out of a corner on slick roads. Kind of feels like an open diff on a pick up truck TBH. My previous car was a 2013 STI. Very impressive AWD set up with 3 LSDs (front, center, rear). You could go WOT out of a corner on a slick road and it would still put the power down. Very impressive. Before the STI I had a 2008 BMW 135i. It had an electronic open diff and felt much better than my 2015 EB PP with LSD. The electronic traction control and e-diff were very impressive. Very seem-less and non-intrusive.

 

[DickR]

Factory Service Manual CD does not "differentiate" (pun intended) between lubricant and friction modifier for the Traction Lock and the Torsen limited slips. Friction modifier specified for both. The owners manual also makes no distinction. In searching the owners manual I noticed an interesting warning on page 12.

Material : Motorcraft® SAE 75W-85 Premium Synthetic Hypoid Gear Lubricant / XY-75W85-QL (WSS-M2C942-A) 3.15-3.30 pt (1.49-1.56 L) – Traction-Lok®
Material : Motorcraft® Additive Friction Modifier (U.S.) / XL-3 (U.S.) (EST-M2C118-A) 3.0-3.5 oz (0.089-0.104 L) – Traction-Lok®

Road course use per page 12 of owners manual: Again, no distinction between types of limited slips.

Additional Warranty Information
Your vehicle carries the same warranty as
other Ford models. This information is
covered in its entirety in the Ford Warranty
Guide. You can obtain warranty service for
your vehicle at any authorized dealer
nationwide.
We design and build our vehicles for our
customers to drive as delivered from the
factory. The Ford Warranty Guide
discusses vehicle use and the installation
of aftermarket parts and their effect on
warranty coverage. See the Ford Warranty
Guide for complete information.
Using your vehicle on a dedicated road
course may result in degraded function
and failure of major systems such as the
engine, transmission and rear axle due to
the overheating of these systems. If you
intend to use your vehicle on a dedicated
road course, we suggest that you equip
your vehicle with racing-type coolers to
protect these three systems.
In addition, if the vehicle is subjected to
dedicated road course use, we recommend
the following vehicle durability
maintenance:
• Change your axle lubricant and friction
modifier after the initial (first) hour of
high-speed operation; thereafter
change the axle lubricant and friction
modifier every 12 hours (under these
conditions).
• Change your transmission oil after each
event where your vehicle is subjected
to individual on-track sessions
exceeding 15 minutes.
• Change your engine oil and filter after
each event.
Additionally, perform a multi-point
inspection on items specified in the
scheduled maintenance section of this
owner guide before and after dedicated
road course use. See General
Maintenance Information (page 414).
See the vehicle service manual for removal
and installation procedures. Replace with
Genuine Ford and Motorcraft™ service
parts as needed.
These actions may not necessarily protect
your powertrain from damage in dedicated
road course use. Subjecting your vehicle
to dedicated road course use even with
these proposed precautions may render
repairs non-reimbursable under the
warranty.

 

[Rob00GT]

Material : Motorcraft® SAE 75W-85 Premium Synthetic Hypoid Gear Lubricant / XY-75W85-QL (WSS-M2C942-A) 3.15-3.30 pt (1.49-1.56 L) – Traction-Lok®
Material : Motorcraft® Additive Friction Modifier (U.S.) / XL-3 (U.S.) (EST-M2C118-A) 3.0-3.5 oz (0.089-0.104 L) – Traction-Lok®

Traction-Lok is Ford's name for a clutch-type limited slip differential. What we called a posi-trac back in the day. The specs shown here do not mention the Torsen.

 

[DickR]

Traction-Lok is Ford's name for a clutch-type limited slip differential. What we called a posi-trac back in the day. The specs shown here do not mention the Torsen.

Correct on both points. Note, however, that they don't indicate any difference in lubricant/friction modifier specs either.

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