LSD Brainbuster
 

Alright folks, I know this subject has been beat to death and there are countless topics about it. Yes, I've searched. I'm genuinely stumped on if the car I'm looking to buy has an LSD or not. My new to the forum flame shield is up. The car in question is a 2000 Miata.

I've checked in many threads and even called Mazda with the VIN, but the person I spoke with told me that the car did NOT come fitted with a Torsen 2 unit.

Everything I've been reading online says the opposite.

The main reasons I'm asking is because the car...

• Has a tan top
• Has a leather interior
• Has a Bose 4 speaker sound system
• Has Cruise control (if I remember right)

Now, my question for you guys is... Was the Mazda Rep I spoke with out of her mind?

In the defense of my confusion, the carfax report also came back with the car listed as a LS, and I can't really get underneath of it to look at it either. Pulling the car apart to look is totally out of the question for now.


I really appreciate any input, in advance.

This may help.

Differential Spotters Guide

I'm not sure how spotting a 1.6 VLSD will help him...

Unless the dealership lets you take off an axle.

The easier method would be to floor it and drop the clutch on the test drive...

Pull over to the shoulder with one side in the dirt. Give it the beans. Just spin and sit makes a sad face. Car pulls away makes happy face.

I was afraid you guys were going to say just juice it and see what happens.

See, the dealership wont let me take it out on my own. :crx:

...so take it out with a salesperson. Tell them what you're trying to do. If you do the test with one tire in dirt and one on pavement it won't even really abuse the car.

Are you prepared to buy the car if it has a torsen? Chances are good that it's got the LSD. They won't be mad if you end up buying the car. If you don't, not much they can do about it anyway.

--from a car salesman

Simpler way is to turn all the way right or left and slowly pull backin reverse as if u were to back up from a parking spot. If it has a torsen you'll feel the car snap as it locks the tires together.

Can't test for LSD don't buy the car. Don't let a dealer squeeze you.

So it locks going in reverse direction of gears and not-torque?

I don't really see how it would lock going in reverse????

Seriously, tell the dealer to get in the passenger's seat - go to an empty parking lot or an empty part of the dealer lot; stop; turn the steering wheel all the way to the left; gas it to break the tires loose. (Pro-tip: you don't have to do a 7k rpm clutch dump to make this happen.)

If the car willingly spins around without a fuss, you have a winner. If the car acts like it wants to spin around and then stops, and then tries to go, and then stops.....you have a loser.

Let the dealer know: If you can't test it, he's not selling the car to you.

If mazda says no based on the vin then it doesnt have it.

can't you jack the rear tires off the ground to test for the LSD? if both tires are off the ground, you turn one by hand, the behavior of the other tire will tell you if it has LSD.

If they don't want you to test it by driving, surely they will pick the car off the ground for you.

Stock LSD is a torsen, that doesnt work.

Just be careful with the burnout test.. I have an open diff, and if you put enough power to it, both wheels will go. Getting on something slippy (like the gravel idea) would be your best bet.

I'm reminded I have an open diff every single time I try to start on icy wisconsin roads.

With my '99 with LSD, when I accelerate from a dead stop, somewhat hard, with steering turned full, the inside rear wheel will chirp due to the Torsen wanting it to rotate at the same rate as the outside wheel. I would doubt that this would occur with an open differential at the torque level available. Not going fast enough for G-forces to lift the inside wheel. This can be done in a parking lot.

On the '99, if you have leather package, you have LSD, 15" wheels, etc. I think it is the same with '00. Per the miata.net FAQ '99 Miata FAQ the leather should do it. Otherwise, see the table of NCXX numbers. This number is found on the PASSENGER side door pillar, not the driver's side.

Chirping while turning = welded maddrifto differential.

Are you from Pittsburgh? or is slippy also in the Wisconsin vernacular?


Would it work if you used to parking brake to preload the diff?

Somebody called in from New York and put a hold on the car, so I am hoping that the deal falls through tomorrow.

It wasn't one of you guys was it? >:l

+1 to donut test, should spin like this:

(52 seconds in)
Miata 1.8L OBX Catback and 4-1 Header Ebay Stylee - YouTube

Its not fully locked. It locks on intervals. it would feel almost like "locked, open, locked, open". When you're turning, because of the big difference in turn radius you definitely feel it when the tires both try to spin at the same rate but can't.