OK. My SRT-6 comes out of storage tomorrow. I've got new tires on order. So I'm going to go burn some of the rubber off the old ones first. Also, I have the spring Dragon coming up in a couple weeks. I'm a little nervous about hitting the Dragon hard with the new LSD. I don't have any experience with it yet.

Any suggestions on how to practice / learn the new behavior of the car without wrapping it around a tree? I want to be confident with it before I hit the Dragon.

 

Find a large, abandoned parking lot. Turn wheel, mat the accelerator.

Lather, rinse, repeat. Since you don't care about the existing tires, and you know you won't break the diff, there's nothing to lose. You'll get a good feel for the way the car behaves as it exceeds the limits of the traction circle. Consequently, you'll know the correct angle to hold while countersteering, and will be able to ride the fine line between drift and spin.

 

A skid pad test would be best. Just go in a circle in a huge lot as fast as you can to feel how the LSD kicks in and how far you can let the rear slip sideways before easing up on the gas. It's the safest and quickest way to become familiar with the feeling.

Les

 

The operative word in Les's post is ease off the gas. If you get the rear hung out a bit and come off the gas hard you will get one hard sidways whiplash. Yes I learned that the hard way. Get used to some extream 1st gear situations playing around in that wide open abandoned parking lot and the 2nd gear stuff you experience on the road will be a piece of cake. Relax about the Dragon, it is a good thing and you will take to it like a duck to water.

 

Tom, I had never owned a car that had an open diff since I was a teenager....mine finally feel normal to me. Very predictable now. Just go out and drive it... You won't have the traction control light coming on all the time, you will just be taking that corner like never before.... You are going to love it...

 

I know this has been discussed before. But is our stock carrier really an open diff. All the open diff I've had over the years performed the one wheel peel and alternated traction between the two tires. My srt has no problem laying down 100 foot twin black marks and happily will bring the rear out we desired. Sure grip,posi trac, tru trac all do the same thing. Got one detroit locker, now thats fun. I even welded up a carrier for cheap spool. Not fun trying to turn. Can someone shed a little light for me.

 

Sometimes an "open" rear end spins both tires. I assume it happens when both tires have equal traction. But don't quote me on that.
As long as you can jack the rear end off the ground and spin one wheel clock wise, and the other one spins counter clockwise, then it's not a posi.

Tom, just take that sucker out in the rain....you will learn all you need to know about driving a short wheel base, high hp car with a limited slip differential.

 

Thanks fellas. I was already planning on the empty parking lot idea. I just hope the cops don't happen by and give me a hard time. I'd love to take it to a nearby track and get some high speed instruction, but their one-on-one time is prohibitively expensive.

Also, good info on easing off the throttle.

I like the idea of doing it in the rain. It will suck because the car is nice and clean from being stored, but I'd rather have a dirty car I can drive than a clean one I can't.

Any other tips / things to look out for?

 

Intersections can be fun. Slightly turn the front wheels while rolling. Kick it,then the back end will come around 90 degrees suddenly. Be sure you let off just before the 90 degree is complete or your car will continue sliding on around making a 180. Not Good facing oncoming turning cars behind you. If you aren't slightly rolling,the front end wants to plow-push> (slide and go straight). Making U-Turns at open road median dividers can be a hoot! When powering thru a curve,you can feel the outside rear wheel kinda feeling like its slightly bumping. Press the accelerator just alittle more then the back end will start coming around. Be sure to turn off traction control. If all else fails,make sure your car's insurance is paid up. Squirrel Crusher

 

Best advice yet! LOL

 

you are making too big a deal of it Tommy. It will drive just the same. When you were getting both to spin while staging, you had posi trac for a few seconds...it is no different. It's just there all the time now. These are open diff cars. the traction control takes care of the wheel that is is spinning by .either shifting power to the other wheel, or braking the spinning wheel... In the olden days, which I am part of, you could ride the emergency brake to make an open diff spin both wheels, although in reality, the power wasn't equal..
Anyway, when both hook up, it will walk to one side or the other because both are losing traction...you just steer her straight with a little correction...
Happy burn outs.....