Lsd In The Winter

[DECwakeboarder]

Quick question...would a limited slip differential be better in the winter than an open one? The reason I ask is because my v6 Mustang currently has an open diff and being a fairly tourqey motor, it has a tendancy to just sit there spinning one wheel. I figured that a limited slip diff would help that and give me better traction, but I wanted to ask and see what you all think first.

 

Reason I ask is because my parents are looking for something to get me for christmas and since I just put new tires on my car, I think I'll be keeping it for quite some time. Also, having a grandpa that owned an auto garage for 20+ years and an uncle who has put 2 new ones on his truck in the past 2 years, I figured that installing a new diff couldn't be too hard (if you think differently... please say so now).

[bigred]

what year (generation) mustang is it? that would dictate how hard it's going to be, if even possible.

 

 

 

also I'm not a big fan of just throwing something like onto a car... little training on how to drive in snow goes a lot further. it'll help... but not that much.

[Bosco]

A really good set of tires might be a better purchase especially on a Mustang.

[Verran]

I'd also be concerned about the installation. That's a little more than just a "bolt on" project. I think a set of great snow tires (even just two for the rear) would be a better buy.

[DECwakeboarder]

I just got a new set of all season "performance" tires which seem to be holding up really well and give me quite a bit of traction. I was just thinking that having an LSD would give me a little more traction and help keep me from getting stuck. I have no problem driving in the snow, it's the getting going from a stop part that can be tricky sometimes.

 

The mustang that I have currently is a '98 v6 with a manual tranny. I've seen the 7.5" rear diff on Ford's site as well as at RPMoutlet for about $200 and was told that I could reuse the current gears from what I have now (would be great if I could, need the highway gas mileage)

[ccokeman]

You should be able to pull the rear end out of any 94 to 98 Mustang GT( Not Cobra That would be to much of an install). It should be an easy drop in affair. Gear wise check the mustang shop manual to see what they came with and if similar just dont worry about swapping gears. The limited slip rear will help but as Bigred put it you will also need to learn how to drive in the snow. One tip is start out in second gear so you dont have the increased gear multiplication of first gear. I have a 2000 convertible for my son and with the tires on it the snow is gonna be dicey at best.

[94Camaro]

Since you've got a manual, 2nd gear starts can be useful in limited traction situations.

 

Edit: dang you ccokeman.

Edited December 4, 2006 by 94Camaro

[DECwakeboarder]

I did that my first year driving in the winter, but find it easier now to just use the clutch and stay off the gas for getting started in slick places. I was looking at just swapping a new rear end from a GT, but it seems like that would be too expensive for what I'm looking to spend.

[Verran]

As kind of a side note.... Back when I used to have my 91 Dakota Sport (318ci, 2WD), I would wait for the first big snow of the season, then take it to an out-of-the-way parking lot and do donuts and various "routes" for a few hours. Sure, it was a blasty for myself and a passenger, but it also got me very confident in being able to predict how and when it would slide. I got a lot better at recovering a slide without losing control. It was pretty beneficial.

[DECwakeboarder]

I was just about to say that but had to leave for work...I think that going out and drifting (in a closed off parking lot, not out on open streets) has made me a much better driver. Now whenever I start to slide, I just countersteer it and turn it into a controlled drift to recover