Winter is coming and I have decided to tackle a few more of the issues with the Escort.
The main issue it has at the moment is the clutch ; it is a Helix 4 paddle where I plan to use a normal pressure plate. After having a go in another owner's car and from reading up it seems this setup should work well with my car.
However, the other issue remaining is the small matter called traction. My power graph is looking like this with around 225BHP and 278lbft:
However, it does like to wheelspin in 2nd, and sometimes 3rd (when wet) if the tyres are not quite warm enough. On the previous tyres it would spin in 3rd in the wet as well.
While my father's Mondeo 2.5T is a less dramatic affair the torque steer does not seem that bad in this car, despite having some of it; in the bends I can use it to tighten the line of the car
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However, I am beginning to wonder if the car has an LSD. It is running a Mk5 Escort BC5 'box where I suspect the following:
- The 'box has an open Ford diff
- An RST diff has been fitted but it is tired.
Upon spinning the front wheels it feels like any other FWD car with an open diff, with no real resistance felt when turning the wheels over on the axle stands.
I have seen the odd unused FRP viscous coupled diff come up cheaply but I am debating fitting a Quaife ATB (basically, a helical LSD. The lack of maintenance and need to run a gearbox oil that is not necessarily the best of one of the gearbox are the big plus points but I can appreciate that a plated LSD can have advantages elsewhere.
But for the reasons about (in addition to the chatter and knocking present with a plated diff) I have decided not to go with one
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My question to you is which would you go with and why, and have I not considered some options? Have any guys tried a Quaife ATB on an RST or had an RST with an open diff? If so, how did they all compare?
Also, is it possible for me to tell what diff I am running without dissembly or is it a case of pulling a driveshaft out?