The Advantages of an Electronically Controlled Limited Slip Differential 2004-01-0861

Limited slip differentials offer significant performance benefits over standard differentials. Depending on the style and design, mobility and/or handling can be improved. Oftentimes, one must be improved at the expense of the other. For a speed sensitive limited slip differential, mobility can be improved by aggressive tuning. This would normally give adverse handling effects, due to the aggressiveness. If the differential is tuned for handling characteristics, mobility will be compromised, due to the moderate tuning. To optimize the performance, tuning must be adjustable according to the vehicle's input parameters. This paper will show the benefits of adjustable tuning in handling, mobility, and compatibility with other vehicle systems, such as ABS, Traction Control, and Stability Control.