2. Low initial drag resistance and durability that is more than 5 times greater than metal

An initial torque of over 70 Nm is needed to prevent lock release in metal LSDs and to maintain stable differential locking. In contrast, low initial torques of only 10~20 Nm are needed for carbon LSDs to maintain stable locking performance. Moreover, severe consumption of material occurs in metal LSDs with low initial torque, while carbon LSDs are extremely stable even with low initial torques, thereby eliminating premature wear.

[Explanation]
The lower limit value of initial torque of metal LSDs is 70 Nm �� 7 Kg-m
The lower limit value of initial torque of carbon LSDs is 10 Nm �� 1 Kg-m
...which is a 5-fold difference!

Nm (Newton Meter) is a torque unit which used to be Kg-m (kilogram meter). 1Kg-m = 9.8 Nm

The word "Initial drag resistance" is used to describe the degree of adaptability in how low the initial torque can decline without negatively affecting the differential locking performance. The primary function of LSDs is to transfer the torque to both wheels. However, if the initial torque is set too low, the lock is released and the torque will not adjust, causing unstable handling and slower cornering speeds.

Based on ATS' long experience in motor sports, we have found that the minimum initial torque of a metal LSD is around 70Nm. After continuous LSD usage, the initial torque may fall below 70Nm, then it is necessary to restore the torque to the initial factory setting of 100 - 150Nm to maintain the maximum effectiveness. When compared with metal LSD, we found that the carbon LSD maintained its stable locking performance even when the initial torque declined to as low as 10Nm. The high friction coefficient of the carbon plate triggers the opening of the internal cam ring utilizing minimal torque and thereby producing an effective differential lock.

2005 Super Taikyu Race (endurance race)
Mr.Akira Watanabe

A very smooth turn-in & excellent traction. Mr. Watanabe praises carbon LSD's amazing cornering speed which purpasses that of other race cars in higher classes. Mr. Watanabe frequently laps competitors several times with carbon LSD.

3. Acceleration control range more than 10 times that of metal LSDs

It is no exaggeration to say that our company's carbon LSD, which is the fruit of many years of searching for the best combination of transient properties, low initial drag resistance, and durability, is the world's best high performance LSD. Vehicle performance is stable because there is no sudden slippage of the clutch plates, and the car will go into and exit from corners, staying right on track. Compared to metal LSDs that lock the moment you step on the accelerator, with carbon you get a range of accelerator control that is more than 10 times greater, so you can be much more aggressive in your attack by using the accelerator control you need. Vehicle speed will also increase since braking effects do not occur.

[Explanation]
Compared to metal, carbon has more than 3 times the accelerator pedal travel until the LSD responds.
From the point at which locking begins until you get 100% lock, LSD response time is more than twice that of metal.
Also, carbon LSDs allow gradual differential action, so you can make use of a range of accelerator control that is more than 10 times that of metal.

By permitting gradual differential action, running resistance is kept within a minimum range so as not to impact handling. This is an essential performance feature that allows drivers to maintain high cornering speeds. Cars equipped with carbon LSDs typically have extremely high cornering speeds. With metal LSDs, the only way to get this kind of performance is to design them with extremely low initial settings. The flip side of doing this, of course, is that they have reduced service life and cannot avoid the problem of sudden locking. So you can say that carbon LSDs offer performance that is absolutely unattainable with metal LSDs.

It has only been in the last decade that LSDs with their superior locking capability and durability were made available to the public. By utilizing a large diameter friction disc, ATS championed the idea of capitalizing on LSDs 100% locking ability and excellent durability. Nevertheless, our philosophy is that the single characteristic of a strong locking capability alone -- is not enough. Increasing locking capability previously only implied better durability. ATS felt that the ideal LSD would possess only the minimally required differential lock and thus, we began looking for a revolutionary new material and design for the ideal LSD. In 1998 ATS successfully established a close business relationship with ACROSS Corporation, one of the world's leading edge carbon technology companies. After several years of research and a collaborative development effort, we finally brought the carbon LSD to the market.

This innovative product melds the best of both worlds, using unique materials which possess long lasting friction characteristics under low initial torque settings, while still providing the minimal necessary differential lock. This ideal material is flexible enough to allows LSD to absorb a corner radius while still locking the differential effectively when is needed. This smooth transient response is crucial for precise acceleration control. ATS carbon LSD meets all the tough requirements described previously and it is the best LSD in the marketplace today.

A final advantage the carbon LSD has over its metal counterpart is an absence of the "braking phenomena (braking effects)". Carbon LSD achieves this by accepting a small differential variance, thereby preventing the drag on the drive train due to the differential lock - braking phenomena (braking effects). ATS carbon LSD allows you aggressively attack every corner maintaining a high engine RPM

All Japan dirt trial series
Mr. Osamu Yoshimura

Winner of the first and fifth round of 2005 dirt trial series ! Mr. Yoshimura fascinated the spectators by dynamically driving his Evo with front and rear carbon LSD. He praises excellent controllability and super stable effectiveness.

4. More than 30 times the thermal decomposition resistance of metal LSDs

Since thermal decomposition does not occur with carbon LSDs, even with repeated time attacks and under the violent running loads of high-performance cars, you can reach a higher level of skill in setting up and driving your vehicle.

[Explanation]
In metal LSDs, thermal decomposition occurs in 5~6 minutes on the circuit, running full throttle.
In carbon LSDs, there is no thermal decomposition when running circuit grips or drifts.

High performance cars fitted with metal LSDs show thermal decomposition after about 3~4 laps (5~6 minutes or so), when running on circuits in which one lap is 3~4 km in length, and performance begins to deteriorate. In contrast, carbon LSDs exhibit no performance deterioration, even after at least 3 hours or more of continuous time attacks, running the vehicle at its performance limits. In drifting or other practices, where we see changes in performance due to thermal decomposition in metal LSDs after approximately 10 minutes of continuous driving, we see no such changes in carbon LSDs, even when the vehicle is run all day long.

High-powered FF car races, high-powered 4WD vehicle races, or low-medium speed drifting are typical examples of the kind of punishment an LSD can be subjected to in short-term use. In these kinds of continuous driving conditions, carbon LSDs showed no thermal decomposition even when they are in use all day.

2005 Super Taikyu race (endurance race)
Mr. Takeshi Shirai

He wholeheartedly trusts the effectiveness of carbon LSD which can go for the next round of 24 hours race with just changing the oil,
- no adjustment is required!

5. More than 70 times the service life of metal LSDs

Compared to metal LSDs, in which performance begins to deteriorate immediately in high-load driving situations, carbon LSDs have over 70 times more durability. For example, after a 24 hour endurance race, you can take on the next challenge without performing maintenance because there is no change in initial torque. You can go for significantly longer overhaul cycles and enjoy astonishing cost performance.

[Explanation]
We've been selling these LSDs for four years, and have confirmed service life that is 70~100 times longer than metal. We are sure that these LSDs will have a service life more than 300 times greater than those of metal LSDs. Metal LSDs have to undergo initial torque adjustment after a single continuous hour of driving under race conditions.
Carbon LSDs maintain initial [torques] of 40~69 Nm, even after running for 70~100 hours. We have results showing that even in super endurance racing, with just changes of the LSD oil carbon LSDs can go for an entire season without adjustment. Time attack vehicles can compete for more than three years without any deterioration in performance.
Since these products were put on the market 4 years ago, we have hardly shipped a single overhaul set due to performance deterioration. There are already 140,000 km on the 34 GT-R ATS demonstration vehicle, but the LSD is working beautifully with only oil changes. We think it can go for 200,000 to 300,000 km since there is no detectable deterioration in performance.

In endurance racing, metal LSDs begin to show decreased performance after only one hour, and you have to adjust initial torque for each race. In contrast, carbon LSDs maintain initial torques of 40~60 Nm, even when they are used for super endurance racing including practice and qualifiers for 70~100 hours or more.

In time attack cars it can be used for several years, with just oil changes, without seeing any decrease in performance. What this means is that, in terms of service life, the LSD maintains its performance throughout this entire period. Typically, when the initial torque of a metal LSD declines, its service life is over. You can feel the reduced performance of metal LSDs in the loss of drive, delays in lock timing, and a decreased sense of winding. These phenomena become evident when the initial torque of a metal LSD falls past a certain level, and the driver becomes aware of decreased performance.

In a carbon LSD, there is virtually no difference in initial torque, even before and after a 24 hour race, so you can take on the next challenge without performing maintenance. With a carbon LSD, even if there is a dramatic decline in initial torque, there is no change in performance, so the period of use until there is a deterioration of performance is incomparably longer than that of a metal LSD.

In fact, since these LSDs went on sale in 2001, we have hardly received any questions about maintenance or maintenance-related complaints. And we've hardly even shipped any repair parts. With this kind of track record, we believe that carbon LSDs will have a service life more than 70 times longer than that of a metal LSD.

Trial Tottori
Lancer EVO 8

The fastest record holder for Evo at Okayama Kokusai (originally called TI circuit) !! ATS&ACROSS carbon LSD contributed to achieving the record along with the superb skills of tuning a car from Trial Tottori. The rear carbon LSD, even after 3 years, still works flawlessly like a new with maintaining the 40 Nm initial torque. The front LSD is a race-tuned hard core metal LSD with "bakibaki" sound. After a year, the break in is over and finally the driver feels very comfortable with the aggressiveness of the metal LSD.

6. Noiseless performance

In conditions exactly the same as race specifications, when the LSD is engaged there is almost no chattering sound that you will be aware of (when using our company's LSD oil).

[Explanation]
Even when other companies promise that their LSDs don't make noise, what they are doing is setting the initial torque so low that it doesn't even function as an LSD, or providing their LSDs with no more than 30~70% of locking capacity, or maybe they have a mechanism to force a delay in locking.

But the difference with all of our stock carbon LSDs - that actually work as LSDs and provide 100% locking performance - is their noiseless performance. Carbon LSDs are somewhat affected by oil. But the change in noise and lock feel is very small, 10~20% of that you feel with a metal LSD.

Winner of the Hyper meeting
street class two consecutive years
(2004 & 2005)
Mr. Masafumi Nonose

The condition of the Hyper Meeting was heavy wet in 2004 and dry in 2005. His winning at both meetings proved the Carbon LSD's effectiveness under any road conditions.

7. Compatible with Automatic Transmission Vehicles
    (Noiseless High Performance with Automatic Transmission Fluid)

In automatic transmission vehicles abnormal noise is unavoidable with a metal LSD, but Carbon LSDs will adapt without any problems to the fluid used for automatic transmissions. It is for this reason that an LSD for use in automatic transmission vehicles is now planned for our company's product line. This will enable sport driving with automatic transmission cars, and will also be extremely effective in improving the quality of the ride over poor or snowy roads.

[Explanation]
Development of an LSD for use in automatic transmission vehicles has been attempted many times in the past, but the compatibility of LSDs with ATF (automatic transmission fluid) has been poor and operation was abnormally noisy, so development was abandoned. However, the results of compatibility tests of carbon LSDs with ATF have shown that there is absolutely no problem with locking performance and noise, so we have embarked on the development of a carbon LSD for automatic transmission vehicles.

In December, 2005, we will release the first carbon LSD for automatic for Honda Fit 1,300 & 1,500. ATS carbon LSDs will make your automatic vehicles or mini vans really lively and nimble without sacrificing any riding comfort.

    Carbon LSD operational notes

    1) Metal LSDs are recommended for drag racing which requires a strong instantaneous lock.

    2) Not enough conclusive data have been acquired regarding the lapping time improvement of a carbon LSD in gymkhana over a metal one.

    3) Though the incidence is extremely rare, there are times when carbon chips peel off or the carbon plate experiences severe friction, due to the type of
         LSD oil used. Although the adaptive range of oil performance that is permitted in the case of a carbon LSD is several times broader than that of
         a metal LSD, to avoid any problems you should first use the pure ATS LSD oil. When a driver dislikes softer locking performance and installs
         an oil that causes stronger locking, the side gears and the pinion gears built into the LSD could fail in a short time. Please be aware that any oil that
         leads to abnormal noise right after the oil is added is not suitable and you should remove it immediately.
         (Our company has put in place claim authentication criteria for carbon LSDs based on development tests and market results for carbon LSDs over
           a period of the past 7 years and more, but abnormal noise from the LSD, peeling of carbon chips, early wear and tear, breakage of gears and
           failure of peripheral components are not claimable. We ask that you exercise due caution when it comes to choosing and installing LSD oil.)

    4) Deterioration of LSD oil can cause weakening of the performance or increased unwanted noise level. By installing new LSD oil, normal performance
         is restored.

  The lifespan and the maintenance cycle of and LSD are greatly influenced by several factors, competition category, vehicle preparation, race courses,   driving style etc. We prepared this data based on the observation and the judgment of ATS staffs and professional teams / shops which actually use our   carbon LSD. It does not by any means cover the 100 % of the available LSDs in the market. However, when the comparison is made for performance /   durability between the actual LSDs we have seen so far and our carbon LSD, we believe the assertions presented here are quite accurate.