Wayne Smith

Per the book Porsche 911 (997) All models 2004 to 2012 Your only guide to buying and owning a Porsche 997, page 134, second column ...

The standard diff typically lasts about 15 - 20K miles, but it can be much shorter on cars that see many trackdays.

Seems short. I figured it was s misprint!

scorcherjf

My car has the P17 sport PASM option but I picked it up CPO'd with ~30k miles. Is it safe to assume my LSD is pretty much worn into an open diff? Is there an easy way to check besides attempting to do a burnout? And is it also safe to assume it would be treated as a wear item and not covered under warranty/CPO?

DC911S

Unless it was tracked heavily I doubt it has worn out.

Wayne Smith

Jack up the back. With the car in neutral you should have a very hard time turning one wheel if the other is not turning.

ltcjmramos

Mine has 42k, never tracked, LSD is working fine.

snake eyes

I've read that all Carrera 4s 997.2 come with a limited slip differential. Also seen this on offical Porsche published articles.

It appears this is an option on the rear wheel drive models?

Wayne Smith

My 2010 C4S drives like it has LSD, but I've always credited this to the fast transition splitting the power between front and rear.

Last Saturday, when I was putting on the second rear wheel (other wheel was back on the ground) the wheel off the ground acted like LSD (very hard to turn). I didn't really think much about it then ... the PDK was in park ... doh!

LSD is not mentioned on the options list.

I've got almost 42K on her and she is running great. I've assumed that I did not have LSD, but upon reflection, maybe I do.

Not sure if I'm happy about this or not! Anybody else have support data?

destro

2 years ago I searched daily for a 997.2 with S-PASM + LSD, it only took me 6 months to find the right car. I only came across two other Carrera S models with S-PASM prior to finding mine.

There are basically 3 options.
030 - Sports suspension (S-PASM), lowers the car 20mm over a standard carrera. You can only get this on the Carrera 4 models at an extra cost. Its free on the Carrera 4S models, but has to be requested.
220 - LSD. Standard on all 4WD models, extra cost option on 2WD models
P17 - Which was only available on the 2WD Coupe models, its LSD + Sport Suspension

So Targa and Cabriolet cars could not be equipped with the sport suspension in anyway.

And on top of that... in North America these options were only available on the 997.2 generation.
I am pretty sure the 997.1 cars were not available with P17 in North America or so I read, and I know for a fact the 997.1 Turbo had an LSD as an option... now finding a Turbo with an LSD is like finding an unicorn.

Old Guy

The website kicked me out. I just lost an entire drafted Post. That ticks me off. Otherwise: summarized: our 2011 GTS w/PDK has the Sports Suspension per the pricing sheet. Not until I got a more detailed build sheet from the dealer did I see this: "P17 Sports Suspension (-20mm) including Mechanical Rear Differential Lock."

TheLex

My GTS has SPASM and P17 the sports suspension. Does this mean I have the limited slip? But what good is it if it I track the car a few days and then it wears out? If it does wear out do I need to replace it or is it driveable for a while like that?

Old Guy

As for having the mechanical LSD, I think the answer is yes: you have it. As for wearing out: WTF??!! No way should this happen. Every car I've had with "posi-traction" (as we used to call it in the 60s) had a LSD diff that would last the life of the car. Our Jeep has LSD and no matter how much I 4WD it I'm not expecting anything to fail. Let's see what others on the forum have to say. What does "wear out" mean? What does "drivable" mean? I don't have the answers.

DC911S

If the LSD is based on plates and discs, then yes it can wear out, well the discs can anyway. If its all gears (Quaife) then it's not going to wear out but will need the diff fluid changed. If it purely viscous based, like my Nismo Z...when it gets too hot it turns into an open diff. For a plate/disc based LSD like on my CTS-V, when it gets too hot.....the car goes into limp mode and your lapping sessions are over till it cools off.

ltcjmramos

As I note above, my GTS with P17 has 40k + miles, no tracking, and LSD is good still. My GT3 needed a replacement about 30k with 10 days on the track.

(Old Guy, when did you get a GTS. Last I recall, you were in an S, no?)

Old Guy

Just to Jumpin' Joe's "S" question, no. The Euro '85 (via a Deal made in Heaven) fell into our possession 2.5 years ago. Acquired the GTS last April. One of our son's had a 2006 Carrera S up until a few years ago, and a neighbor recently acquired a 2011 Carrera S, but for us: coulda, woulda, shoulda...but finding the GTS led to a plans change.

ltcjmramos

I think I see where I am

"Old Guy" you vs. "OldGuy" Paul G. Very similar screen names.