Jef Pauly

Hi everyone, and for those reading this on the day of posting, happy fourth!

khoahtran

donR

Also interested. LSD is a great idea.

Didn't know about the Guards, looks like a good LSD but I assume expensive? Says Torque biasing is best for autocross, other type for track and can be customized.

I've heard the helical type LSDs such as Quaife are also a good budget option.

You know the 718 also has an open diff so it is not better, PTV seems to be an option that hardly anyone gets on their Cayman. Perhaps just enthusiasts.

Only the 718 GTS has PTV as standard.

djm68

The Guard LSD is vastly superior to the Porsche OEM LSD in terms of durability and function; Guard is arguably the best LSD available for your application. The cost to install will vary but figure in the $1200 range; the Guard LSD itself is around $3000. There are many thread here and on P9 detailing there experience with the Guard LSD. It is on my list of mods for my Cayman R.

DJM

GTgears

Jef Pauly

@GTgears, well that's unfortunate. Could those be in stock somewhere? I got a call back from a shop with a quote for installation for a Guards so I'm wondering where they are getting or hoping to get the parts from.

Tidybuoy

What is TBD?

manifold danger

The question has to be asked if it's actually necessary.

Depending on the track application, my guess is no.

If you're going to do the occasional DE or autocross, I really don't think you're missing anything without PTV. If you're trying to set a blistering TT lap or be ultra-competitive in high-level autocross (or a professional drifter), maybe then you'd consider an aftermarket LSD.

Overall from all the research I've done on this topic, lack of PTV is not a deal breaker but to the most hardcore of the hardcore track rats... and even amongst those types it's still arguable. These cars were engineered for balance, and traction really isn't a problem unless they're pushed to the absolute limits. I'm sure there are some instances where a PTV would be preferred, but a lack of one certainly won't detract from the experience. Especially on the street.

PorscheAddict

Torque biasing diff. A type of LSD.

PorscheAddict

Agree with this 100%. I'm a certified track rat with 100+ days in a variety of cars and an (expired) SCCA license, and I've never felt that the traction out of corners with the open diff at stock power levels is holding me back. The cars are very well balanced, not very high torque, and already have good rear end grip. I would take a LSD if someone wants to sponsor a DE car, but it's far down the list of mods I'd prioritize.

Jef Pauly

Thanks guys, I understand that the 981 gts is not a torque or power monster so I can see the point of the LSD/TBD not being absolutely necessary, but I'll also say that I feel moderately enthusiastic about getting out there (on the track) with an open diff. The cars that I've taken to the track (including my e46 m3 track car) all have definitely benefited from the added traction of some kind of limited slip diff., especially at more technical tracks (like Sonoma, Streets of Willow, for those I know well). That said this car will not be a dedicated track car by any means (at least not yet..), so I will have to ponder on this.

manifold danger

Counterpoint: Have you taken a mid-engine car out on the track? I haven't driven an E46, but my E36 was absolutely tail-happy by comparison and I'd have to say a limited-slip was an absolute necessity for that car. I can't imagine an E46 would be any different; my F82 if anything was even more tail-happy (but in a good way...). You could feel that car rotate mid-turn and you just knew that you needed all the grip you could get... the 981 is nothing remotely close to that. Again, not saying it wouldn't be beneficial but you'd probably have to do some sort of before and after to even really notice it.

The data seems to be there as well; assuming GTgears is a Guards representative, you have it directly from the source that the demand just isn't there; factor in the fact that PTV was a relatively rare option and it seems the market has determined that it's just not necessary for these cars.

The sport suspension, however (i.e., X73), IS probably a mandatory option for consistent track use. Or at least, you'd see a wider margin of benefit with the X73 than you would with PTV.

I do think that it should have been included as standard in the GTS package for the 981 though, as it rightly is with the 718.

Also; I'm jealous of how many great raceways you West Coast guys have in relative proximity.

Jef Pauly

I definitely appreciate your counterpoint - they are very different animals indeed. I wish I could compare the two options on track but alas I may have to toss a coin on that one.
Regarding the current standard GTS equipment, maybe I should have kept with the 718 GTS! 😜
(and enjoy the stock lsd while it lasted)

We are absolutely spoiled in California - between Laguna Sonoma, Buttonwillow, Big Willow, Streets of Willow, and Thunderhill, we really have all kinds.

PorscheAddict

Agree MR cars are less tail-happy in general. For reference, my background was also E36 M3 and then E92 M3, which benefitted greatly from a race diff in the E36 and the trick e-diff in the E92. The 981 is a different beast. Even with -2.5 front camber and -1.8 rear it is very neutral. Power oversteer is doable, but only when you want to.

GTgears

You are drawing a conclusion off a misunderstanding. I said I discontinued the TBD. We are a motorsports LSD manufacturer. The TBD is a street tuner item and doesn't fit our product portfolio. We have droppped ALL TBDs from the our product offerings as we are selling out on them. About 8 of the 14 Porsche platforms we support have sold out, but I still have some, like 5spd Cayman and G50. When they are gone they are gone.

I sell a couple hundred Cayman LSDs a year. The demand is there. I would guess that in the Cayman market, 60-65% of buyers are DE guys and not racing.

Here's what I tell people about whether or not they are ready for an LSD. If you have started burning up rear pads and rotors, and maybe your calipers have even changed color from the heat; then you are driving the car hard enough to warrant an LSD. Doesn't matter if the car has PTV or not. The OEM street LSD is useless on track. They shed the friction pads in half a dozen events if they are driven hard. And then it's just a big heavy open diff with extra parts.

Jeff, if you want to PM me the name of who quoted you, I will help you figure out what you've been offered. It's possible someone somewhere has a TBD sitting on their shelf. It's more likely you were quoted an LSD. I'm not a vendor here and don't sell directly to the public anyway, but I'll get you pointed in the right direction.

Regards,

Matt Monson
Guard Transmission LLC