BD5 Legacy Diff Swap Question

[twistedautoworks]

alright, so my 99 LGT has open front and rear diffs, with i've been told a lsd center diff... this gives me 2 spinning wheels in the snow. lol.. 4wd what a joke. anyways... legacy outbacks are much better, is their rear diff a lsd unit? and if so, it would just swap into my lgt... i've tried to find gear ratios or differences in the units without much success.. hopefully someone here has dealt with this in the past, thanks luke

[mike-tracy]

if you have a manual transmission, then your '99 GT should have a 4.11 final drive. Conveniently the automatic WRX's (with the 2.0L engine) came with 4.11 FD rear VLSD. Same thing as manual transmission 2000-2001 Impreza RS, LSD & 4.11 FD. I've written on several threads which cars have what gear ratios, so you could search my earlier posts, or do an advanced search in transmission & differential section for 4.11 and LSD.

edit: here's one of the posts I was talking about:

viewtopic.php?f=70&t=16992&hilit=lsd+swap (https://sl-i.net/FORUM/viewtopic.php?f=70&t=16992&hilit=lsd+swap)

[Robbks]

if you're serious about LSD's don't stuff about with the weak VLSD

go for a Suretrak or Plated mechanical LSD centre from any one of a number of different STi WRX's

you can simply unbolt the tougher LSD centre from any R160 LSD that you find and bolt it into your current crown-wheel.
you may need different rear drive-shafts for the particular LSD centre.

[ouch1011]

^^ Agreed. Especially if traction in inclimate weather is your concern. VLSD is basically just as worthless as an open diff in the snow.

BTW, most trucks with "4WD" have open diffs front and rear too. Ones with an off-road package might get an LSD in the rear.

[twistedautoworks]

my gl-10 must have locking front and rear... with 4wd engaged it is a pain to drive on dry ground. but traction in the snow is beyond amazing compared to my lgt

[jey]

Just locking the center diff is enough to make driving on dry pavement ridiculous. When I put the transfer case on the Jeep I was renting on 4x4 the thing parked itself while making a turn :lol: