Phantom grip LSD

[frogstar7055]

Thought I'd ask about this here.
Just ran across this over at USMB.
It's an LSD conversion for R-160.
Anybody ever heard of it?
(did a search but nothing came back)

Phantom Grip (http://www.phantomgrip.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=54&products_id=164)

I searched the net and found a lot of opinions on this on the ricer forums.
Varying opinions,some like it others hate it.
All said it works as advertised but but those that hate it say it can't hold up.

But...........

They are all launching like their at the dragstrip all the time and drifting/hard in and out of the corners.
300 hp or more.
I've got a 4eat and a basically stock 2.5 N/A motor in my Forester.
I believe that mild off road this would work very well and hold up.
Setting it up correctly is the most important thing for longevity it seems to me.

Maybe it's crap and I'm missing something but I'm giving serious consideration to trying this.

All opinions sought and welcomed.:mrgreen:

[WAM]

Well now you can add one opinion of didn't work at all. A NorCal rallycrosser installed one and it didn't stop his wheelspin.

[KevinWelker]

crap. waste of money.

[Duffurban36]

On Zx2s it doesn't stop wheelspin but it damn well puts power to the ground

[frogstar7055]

On Zx2s it doesn't stop wheelspin but it damn well puts power to the ground

Are you talking wheelspin with both wheels or just one?
Becouse if it's both then it's doing what it's supposed to which is what I need off road.

[Duffurban36]

Are you talking wheelspin with both wheels or just one?
Becouse if it's both then it's doing what it's supposed to which is what I need off road.

Both. If I can find pics I'll post them up of what it does to a stock Zx2.

Found the pic of the testing after the install.

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn210/Duffurban36/test-de-lsd1.jpg

Mind you this is a 130hp car doing these burnouts. Nothing amazing but quite astonishing for my little car

[KevinWelker]

yep, it will work fine on hard surfaces when it is just acting like a locker. Put in in dirt where it has to do some differentiating and it's not so great compared to a plated rear diff. break an axle and it leaves you completely stranded.

Lots of info about them on SpecialStage of guys who know tons about diffs and some that actually have the PG. For that price you could get a nice used plated diff which would hold up better, last longer and do more of what you want.

[frogstar7055]

yep, it will work fine on hard surfaces when it is just acting like a locker. Put in in dirt where it has to do some differentiating and it's not so great compared to a plated rear diff. break an axle and it leaves you completely stranded.

Lots of info about them on SpecialStage of guys who know tons about diffs and some that actually have the PG. For that price you could get a nice used plated diff which would hold up better, last longer and do more of what you want.

Alright say I find a used plated LSD,can I get a rebuild kit(from Subaru or otherwise)?
I've heard lots of stories about used diff's being whipped.

Thanks.

[KevinWelker]

that's weird, I've never heard of a used road car diff being abused to the point where they are not useful. You aren't building a full on rally car here where you have to worry about not finishing a rally do you?

The way I see it:

A ~$300 for phantom grip, tear apart your only diff and hope it works out
B ~$300 for another used diff, you have your original diff for a spare

To me, option B seems the best way to spend money.

BTW, any 2.5RS or WRX rear diff will have what you want.

[frogstar7055]

that's weird, I've never heard of a used road car diff being abused to the point where they are not useful. You aren't building a full on rally car here where you have to worry about not finishing a rally do you?

The way I see it:

A ~$300 for phantom grip, tear apart your only diff and hope it works out
B ~$300 for another used diff, you have your original diff for a spare

To me, option B seems the best way to spend money.

BTW, any 2.5RS or WRX rear diff will have what you want.

All WRX (non-STI's) are R-160 LSD's?

[KevinWelker]

yes, they have a different ring and pinion ratio from your 4EAT, but the diff is LSD. *most* 2.5RS also have a limited slip. there's references on the web that can tell you each model that came with which diff and the ratios, maybe you can find a direct bolt in with a little looking around.

[williaty]

Actually, most 2.5RSes DON'T have a LSD. Only two years came with one. All the rest are open front, weak center, open rear.

[scootfd3s]

Both. If I can find pics I'll post them up of what it does to a stock Zx2.

Found the pic of the testing after the install.

http://i305.photobucket.com/albums/nn210/Duffurban36/test-de-lsd1.jpg

Mind you this is a 130hp car doing these burnouts. Nothing amazing but quite astonishing for my little car
no offence.. but any car can peel-out with the right tire.. what tires did u have?

[lorenkb]

no offence.. but any car can peel-out with the right tire.. what tires did u have?

The point isn't that he peeled out, it's that both tires peeled out. An open diff will spin only one wheel, so his photo is showing that the Phantom Grip actually did its job.

That being said I wouldn't touch a Phantom Grip setup. I'm not fond of side-loading the spider gears in order to create a limited-slip diff. Some diffs will definitely take this not-designed for load better than others, and from what I've read the r160 and r180 do OK. I'd much rather save up my money and buy a cusco/kaaz diff. I know they are purpose built and designed, and I know they perform consistently.