Mercedes-Benz Forum banner

W124 LSD (limited slip diff) options?

59K views 18 replies 13 participants last post by  RBYCC  
#1 · (Edited)
Hey all,

In an effort to strain every conceivable amount of performance available in my coupe, apart from a driveline swap, what options does one have when it comes to putting an LSD into a car that has an open diff? For me having one drive wheel is an annoyance and on certain occasions, dangerous. I'm certain an LSD is what's preventing me from getting the power to the ground in a tame and efficient manner. From what I've gathered through search, a W124 equipped with ASD could be retrofitted to an open diff car and have the hydraulic line blocked off to have the LSD effect without the hydraulic assistance. Is that true?

So, as W124 owners, drivers, and enthusiasts, what do we have available to us *preferably MB* to convert our cars to an LSD? Would the rear end of a Cosworth 190E swap over to the W124?

Thanks,
Allen
:bowdown:
 
#3 ·
look here
2.82 Differental Swap

and here
Kleemann - Differential

and here
Quaife Engineering, World renowned manufacturer of the Quaife Automatic Torque Biasing, differentials, Quaife gearboxes, gearkits and steering racks, as well as numerous other transmission and upgrade parts for road, race and rally

A member here "GSXR" is da man you need. He got me strieght on re-gearing my 400E. And yes, I need a LSD now, it just spins the inside tire. And I'm running wide sticky tires in the back, 245's I think, Falken Azenis. Great tires by the way.
 
#6 ·
A cheaper option would be get an ASD (non-ASR) diff from a scrap yard or a crashed benz, and then pull out the carrier and intall it into your diff, or swap your ring and pinion gears into that diff, in order to maintain the stock diff ratio.

1992-1995 350SD came with a 2.82 ASD diff.
 
#7 ·
You've got a few options, but each has issues.

The LSD unit from a 190E 16v will fit, but has a 3:27 R&P

The ASD unit from a 300D 2.5 will fit and has the aforementioned 30% lock up, but it also has a 2:65 R&P. It more than likely needs to have the friction discs replaced by now, if you want even that amount of lock up.

A Phantom Grip-type of spider gear spring block (see the Kleeman link above) should be able to provide some percentage of lock up. These could potentially be used in conjunction with the ASD diff for a really aggressive setup.

Really, we need for gsxr to chime in here and give us the straight dope, since he's actually accomplished this goal via a modified ASD unit.
 
#9 ·
That won't work without some custom work because the 190E 16v and 300D both use a 185mm size diff. Whereas all M104 engined car use a 210mm size diff.

And disregard my previous post, the LSD carrier has to match its specific axle ratio, so swapping a carrier from a 2.82 ASD diff into a 3.06 diff won't work.

Here's a good thread Limited Slip Differentials for W124's?? - MBWorld.org Forums
 
#11 ·
#14 ·
Look to Europe.. Lots of w124's with 4 cylinder engines had LSD without ASD.
Go over to the Uk boards for English, but actually mainland Europe is where you will find.

Non ASD to ASD swap is a lot of work, but for an LSD I thinks its worth it, it changes a lot about the way the car handles and launches..
 
#16 ·
Look to Europe.. Lots of w124's with 4 cylinder engines had LSD without ASD.
Go over to the Uk boards for English, but actually mainland Europe is where you will find.

Non ASD to ASD swap is a lot of work, but for an LSD I thinks its worth it, it changes a lot about the way the car handles and launches..
If you set up the suspension of a W124 by starting with the individual wheel load and adjust spring rates with spring pads to get the proper weight distribution and transfer, there is no problem "launching" with much more than stock power and an open 3.07 diff..

Not an anomaly, it launches this way every time from a 1500 RPM torque load...
Goes for about six+ car lengths, chirps on the 1-2 shift and settles down...


 
#18 ·
I've looked at using ASD. It's a ~30% lockup before the hyrdaulics are actuated, many people are just using a grease gun to manually lock it up. The cost of an ASD diff is not much cheaper than an LSD....