my ss has the torsen option on it what is it and how does it work. I have no clue what it is or how its better than a posi.

 

Sorry I can't completely expain HOW it works, but I've seen both types (Auburn and Torsen) apart, so I have an idea.

The Auburn works like a traditional "posi-traction" diff. In between the 2 spider gears are a couple plates with springs putting pressure on the spider gears (the ones the axles go through) to try and hold them from turning separately from each other. However, one side can move quicker/slower than the other (ie: while going around corners, there can be some slippage between the axles).

The TORSEN on the other hand.....confuses me. What it has are a bunch of "worm gears" in the middle of the unit, and these worm gears normally try to keep the axles "locked" together so they turn the same speed. I *think* that if one wheel gets locked up, or going around corners, then those worm gears will spin to one side or the other to allow the axles to turn separately, but then once you get straightened out, they lock the axles together again? I could be totally wrong on that, but all I know is that's what they've got in them. HOW it works?? Beyond me.

 

An Auburn differential uses several clutches on each side of the spider gears, that act as loads so that the torque traveling from the driveshaft into the differential splits evenly down both axles. In this type of situation, both tires have a near 50/50 split of torque going to them. To go around turns, the tires must overcome the friction in the clutches, causing them to rotate against each other. The Auburn is the best set up for drag racing, but begins to have problems in autocrossing. When going around a turn, it still applies a 50/50 split or torque to both tires, causing the outside tire to be underpowered while the inside is getting too much. Take it too far and it will slide out on you. Also in incliment weather, when turning the tires may not always have enough traction to overcome the friction in the clutches, causing one of the tires to lose traction intermittently. I'm sure most people with Z's have felt this at one time or another in the rain. It would be apparent in the snow but then all 4 tires are sliding allover.

A Zexel-Torsen? rear end uses gears to produce limited slip, and I'm not really that familiar with those, kind of confuses me, but they're a more expensive type. They apply more torque to the tire with the most traction. This is extremely beneficial on autocrossing because the outside tire will receive more torque than the inside, keeping the vehicle in the turn and less likely to slide out. It of course will have the same benefits on the street. It isn't quite as good in a straight line & on the dragstrip as a traditional posi because it does not split torque 50/50. I don't think straight line traction suffers a lot, but most dragsters prefer a clutch type for a street car, or a locker, and of course a spool for anything they trailer in...

 

That's actually not true. That IS true of the old posi's (what came in 1st & 2nd-gen F-bodies) but I've got an Auburn in my car right now, and there are no clutch packs.

 

The Auburn uses a tapered cone metal/metal friction surface. These surfaces will get scorched and fail with repeated hard cornering (autoX) and once they are burned up, the whole unit is junk. My Eaton is a clutch pack type and rebuildable. The torsen, have no clue other than it uses worm gears to split the torque.

 

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/differential10.htm

I thought that link had a lot more picture and details about the design, but i was thinking of one of my textbooks. That gives you a good general description though.

 

^^^ Hey, good info! I found this link on the next page. Even MORE info, and good sketches!

 

Forgot about the whole cone thing.

 

The Auburns can be rebuilt now, but you have to send it to them.

http://www.auburngear.com/aftermarket/drex/