If I set the LSD to the lowest position on the dashboard indicator, is it supposed to increase the over-steering tendency? I test-drove a 2-door WRX Type-R STI (1999-model) today, and scared the **** out of the salesman when I sped into a moderate turn, slammed on the brakes before the apex, and turned the steering wheel - the rear end just snapped out, and I was lucky (and a little bit skilled LOL) to make a quick correction, or have an encounter with the road railing. It was God-damn fun (I didn't buy the car yet), but before I make the plunge, can you guys tell me if that's how the LSD works?
I mean, if I put the setting to the highest position on the indicator, is the car supposed to understeer heavily? Cos' that seems the case with today's test-drive.
Any help would be appreciated.

 

You should not put the centre diff forward more than one click on tarmac, to do so will just cause the transmission grief, what yu experienced is lift off oversteer, welcome to the club, this is a trait of all the turbo scoobs, never lift off in a bend, rather keep the power on to avoid, if you find yourself in circumstances where you have no choice then watch out !!

 

Hmm, Another Top find of a post! This would explain the creaking/groaning coming from one of the Diffs/Prop when I accidently drove with the dial up two notches (Orange Setting). Must of happened when cleaning the car!!
It wasnt a pleasant sound and was noticed when I was turning at a Junction, took me a sec to realise what it was too. Is that normal for this noise of protest or has someone done this to death before I had the car and only now ive realised its fecked?
Anyway
If its not I cant wait for the snow to have some fun with it, and the way things are going its not gonna be long.

 

Being a type R you will have fun if you get it, they have 65% drive to the rear wheels making for a very different driving experience. And they can be made to drift quite nicely when needed to!!!
A local doctor had a new type R, returned it to the dealer cause it drove like a pig!! Diff lock on 50/50!!!

 

Mines not a Type R but just the same probably, Sti RA Ltd with adjustable Diff.

Welcome to Donutville

 

Actually the LSD was set at the rearmost setting - is that the setting to have the most rear-wheel bias, thus making it so tail happy?

 

With the diff setting fully open (light on green on dashboard) I think it is 67% to the rears and 33% to the front. But setting it to lock on anything other than snow or mud will cause the front and rear diffs and gearbox serious damage.

 

I own a type R and after driving other Scoobies think thst they are defiantely more tail happy than other Scoobs which have the standard 50/50 power split. On the lowest setting (first green notch) this can be pretty hairy when you first try a few quick corners but once you get used to it, it is very good. If you want to lessen the effect slightly I think it is Ok to go up on notch to the second green in the dry. However you should not be going any higher than this. In wet or damp conditons you can go up one or two notches and in the snow even more. In the dry if you go up too many notches you will hear some noise from the diffs. The noise is normal howver I wouldn't recommend doing this too often as you can damage the diffs and the gearbox.

I usually drive on the first setting in the dry. Just do all your braking before you go into the corner and power out with the throttle when exiting if you want to keep the car stable. Alternatively if you like some tail out action brake a bit later into the corner. It's the braking which seems to unsettle the back so how late\hard you brake determines how unsettled the car tends to feel. This is in my experience anyway.

In the wet I usually drive with the diff one step forward.

 

Great! Thanks for all the er.... informative information!