There may be a very short period when only one wheel will spin while the clutches engage but it is measured in milliseconds for properly built LSD's under power with the tires spinning. If it takes longer than 1 second with a tire spinning for both to engage and spin your clutches or cones are most likely bad.

LSD differentials are setup this way so you can still go around corners during normal driving as if you had an open differential so the car is drivable for the normal person on a day to day basis.

http://www.crankshaftcoalition.com/w..._differentials

 

Perhaps we have a misunderstanding, when I say spin the wheel, I mean spin the tire by hand, with the car off and the key out.

 

It is still the same principles.

 

Hmmm, I am afraid I will still have to respectfully disagree then, as my Civic and 240sx were this way, and so are both of my Mini's and even my dad's Dodge truck.

Perhaps some other people with Mini's here can perform the test and tell us their findings

 

With an open diff, you put the car in gear with both drive wheels off the ground and the engine off. Spin one wheel by hand, and the other wheel will spin the opposite direction. Leaving it in gear keeps the layshaft from spinning, so you are only checking the diff. If you put it in neutral, then the layshaft may be spinning when you spin the wheel which will only complicate and confuse matters.

Limited-slip diffs will either not spin the other wheel, or will spin it in the same direction as the wheel you are turning. I don't remember which, but it may depend on the type of LS diff (torque sensing/worm gear versus clutch-type).

This is a very old and well-known effect.

 

I tried that it didn't work. Our 08 was ordered with an LSD, so I assume he actually had one. When I tried that the other wheel didn't move.

 

I'm not sure how front drive works, but my M3 spins both rear wheel in the same direction. It's a 40% lock up 3 clutch 3.38:1...

I've never tried it on my MINI that I installed a Quaife LSD in... But it should be the same.

 

And is this while in gear or in neutral?

 

If it in gear with the clutch out, you'd be trying to spin he engine...lol

Clutch in or in neutral, they spin the same direction.

 

 

Exactly--and if the engine is not turning over, then the input shaft gets held from rotating. And if the transmission is in gear, then the gear stacks are not turning either. So when you turn the road-wheel, you are only spinning the differential.

 

You all need to learn how a differential (open and limited) works.

Greatest video ever at explaining a diff. Really old school...

Limited slip (It's Toyota's version of Edif.)