[MR2] OT - Toyota VS Subaru Rant

[Ken Blake]

Hi Joel,
       The 1993-95 (U.S.) Spec MR2s had a viscous coupling LSD available as a factory option. The 91-92 Turbo cars, and all
years of the NA had NO LSD available, even as an option.

All LSDs have advantages and disadvantages. The main advantage of the viscous coupling LSD is that it requires absolutely no
maintenance, and is nearly impossible to break. The only way to ruin one is to overheat it, which is not very easy to do. The
main disadvantage of the viscous coupling is that one wheel must be spinning before the other one will start spinning.

The MKIVTT Supra comes with a Torsen type LSD of the type you seem to favor. The major disadvantage of this type of LSD (at
least on the Supra) is that it's fragile. If you drag race the car with sticky tires, you will break the differential, and it
will take the (very expensive!) differential housing with it.

The best LSD, from what I've read, is the Quaife helical LSD. It's one disadvantage (other than price) is that it requires
some resistance on the other wheel in order to engage the second wheel. So if you had a drive wheel hanging over a ditch, for
example, the wheel still on the pavement would not receive power. People compensate for this weakness by gently applying the
emergency brake.

The original HMMWV had this type of differential on both axles, and used a computer controlled braking system that would brake
individual wheels, in order to get the LSD to lock up and transfer power to the wheels with traction.

Pretty high-tech for a vehicle designed in Detroit during the 80s.

Ken Blake
Royal Moore Toyota Parts
Direct: (503) 693-6893
kblake at royalmoore.com
AIM: RoyalMooreToyota
http://www.supra411.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=63

20% off list price on Toyota and TRD parts, free shipping, and no sales tax. 

No pre-pay requirement for special orders. You pay the day you get your tracking number.
-----Original Message-----
From: mr2-bounces at mr2.com [mailto:mr2-bounces at mr2.com] On Behalf Of Joel
Sent: Tuesday, September 15, 2009 4:55 PM
To: 'MR2 Email'
Subject: [MR2] OT - Toyota VS Subaru Rant

As a proud owner of a 1986 Mr2 for 6 years, and an owner of a 1999 Subaru Impreza 2.5RS, I feel it my duty to rant quickly on
3 particular topics.

I've worked on my fair share of 4ag(z)e, 3sg(t)e and ej25 engines.

 From the factory, Toyota blesses our 4a and 3s engines with a windage tray (aka. oil splash guard) - Subaru does not...  not
even on the STi.

Why is that a simple piece of bent and slightly drilled plate steel is included with thousands of engines in Mr2s, Corollas,
Celicas & Camrys (and others), and yet Subaru does not even outfit their high end STi with such a device?!  You certain can
drop $300 and buy the Cosworth part, after the fact.

Beyond that, all AllTrac Celica/Camry (not sure about the Corolla or
Matrix) owners can take pride in the fact that they have a Torsen (gear
driven) LSD from the factory...  And yet, the WRX & 2.5RS (unsure of the
STi) are given the cheapest LSD available - viscous...  That's called being cheap.

Another wonderful thing that 4a/3s owners can take great pride in is their........ OIL PUMP.  No joke.

I've done a fair amount of searching and never found a 'high flow' oil pump for the 4a or 3s from Toyota or TRD.  As you can
guess, there is a 'high flow' oil pump that Subaru does offer (factory part on the STi's). 
  So, funny as it might sound, the exact same oil pump that rests in the WRC cars of yester-year (and current in the
Australian Rally), are the same factory units in our road going cars!  But, Subaru wants more of your money for a factory
part, if you want that peace of mind...

Toyota understands the benefit of giving their road going vehicles proven and reliable parts - it just so happens that they're
also the parts they put into their race cars!  I've no doubt that the race units do undergo scrutiny to remove any possible
oil flow blockages or disruptions - that can be said of any part.  But, they still use the factory part - not some special
order piece.

As one might guess, once I am done paying off my 2.5RS, I'm quite certain that I'll be selling off my Subaru and removing
Subaru from my roster entirely...  And yes, I still own my AW11...  It is going thru a 3sge swap currently. :)

- Joel -