2015 WRX Cusco 1.5 Way LSD Review

[@stg2lgcy00]

I had one of these when I first did my 6 speed swap 7 yrs ago. It got damaged because it was set up incorrectly. Managed to get another cusco carrier brand new for a steal recently so I'll be back in the LSD life again soon :)

[@cptkorean]

Thats it, after watching your video.. im sold. Definitely going to pick up a cusco (or kaaz) rear diff for my next mod on my '13 wrx. I really enjoy tracking my car, but the key issue I had with it was putting the power down in the corners. Even with adding in coilovers, thicker rear sway bar, and wider tires, I just had great corner entry rotation, but I wouldnt be able to put the power down as soon as I would hope for.. I was also contemplating on trading in the old '13 wrx for the newer '15+ STI, but I didnt like the fact the newer models didnt come with factory roof rail mounts (since I cycle a lot as well). Your video review definitely concluded my decision. Thanks!

[@dwelker284]

cptkorean you won't be disappointed. It's really a great mod. Definitely get on the power sooner than before.

[@cptkorean]

Yea. I've been trying to figure out if I need both a front/rear diff, or if only a Rear is needed. But after watching your video, and seeing the car powering over at 6:06, that is exactly what I want/need. And I dont really need a front diff anyways since the car is only going to see road-track duty instead of any of the off-road shinanegans.

[@dasboot9471]

The 2017+ WRX AND STIs have factory roof rail rack mounts. The 2017 models are hidden underneath the drip rail. I have a 2017 WRX.

[@redline350zHR]

hey man did you ever find a LSD rear for your wrx?? I am looking to find one for mine! Dont know where i can, any luck?? Thanks!

[@cptkorean]

@@redline350zHR nahh.. after thinking about it more and more, I decided it wasnt worth tracking the WRX. And over the years, I decided to just get a used s2000 for track use. So I didnt get a LSD for the WRX, and its just a daily driver now. You can always find brand new rear LSD for our cars on websites like rallysportdirect or evasivemotorsports. But if youre trying to find used clutch type LSD, then it depends.. Not too many people are selling those used. You would have to constantly be on the forums (NASIOC, clubwrx, etc..) and craigslist classifieds to even find one used by chance.

[@Capp2015]

Redline 75-90 NS (no slip) has those friction modifiers if you were curious to a good gear oil that is popular in our cars.

[@sirsir108]

I'm looking into getting a cusco diff for my 1st generation rav4 for better snow performance/fun I figure there's way more people doing this upgrade In subarus to get good info from thank you for the information I found it quite useful

[@reflexboxer2ndlt807]

Get a steering Damp. It will 100% feel like a Rear wheel car but with the advantages of AWD with rear lsd

[@dwelker284]

What?

[@leviwedel]

Were you using the Cusco LSD 80W-140 oil when you found you needed to add friction modifier, or was it a different oil?

[@dwelker284]

75w-90 and added friction modifier

[@leviwedel]

Thanks! @@dwelker284

[@CosineHyperbolic]

VDC only torque vectors via braking with the front tires, not the rear- so there's actually no risk of it doing anything weird by swapping in a rear LSD.

[@CosineHyperbolic]

Forgot where I heard this, but researching further I'm not sure this is true...

[@aarondubiansky6264]

does the effect of the friction modifier wear off? also how did you know how much to put in?

[@dwelker284]

As with any other oil it does degrade over time. There is some ratio I did see somewhere but I think I was using 4oz of friction modifier to the 1 quart or whatever it took to fill.

[@RobHTech]

well, it sounds like the diff has a lb-ft setting too low. That can be adjusted. Did you notice any changes in how the car brakes around a bend under light, medium, hard braking? I've seen Pros describe the 1.5 versus a 2. either one causes overs steer. Sounds like that's what you experienced. My concern is safety on the road as a daily. Any thoughts? Oh. Does it affect the ABS/stability control? DId you need to deactivate the stability control? Does it cause the ABS to activate abnormally at all?

[@dwelker284]

I always thought that the noise was due to preload being set incorrectly. I bought it as a complete unit and installed into the car so it could be a number of issues related to the actual LSD installation into the housing with pinion and gear. Safety isn’t much of a concern. I did actually end up breaking some pieces of it and it still drove quite a ways before I took it out. I did not have to disable ABS or stability control. I never noticed anything strange with it. It would use some torque vectoring by braking the inside wheel but if on throttle the wheels were locked. So it just wouldn’t do much. I always felt that it gave me more traction in so many places which eliminated some ABS and traction control moments.

[@RobHTech]

@@dwelker284 ya but, I'm thinking more about losing control in the rain/snow d/t stability not being set up for the traction.

[@LastHumansGarage]

i see a few things called "R160 differential LSD 4.44" on ebay. Are these basically the same thing? also some "R180" and "3.54" gears too.

[@dwelker284]

Back in the day subaru used to use a viscous type LSD, VLSD for short. These days they use the brake system to act as a LSD when there is slippage but nothing like an actual LSD. Most likely the diffs that you are seeing are a VLSD. 15+ WRX's use a 4.11 final drive so the ones you see won't work. Some people have put a VLSD in the 15+ WRX's but they are useless in my opinion unless you can get one for like $200 or less. Also by the way I do like your channel. Thanks for watching mine.

[@eddieaguirre4455]

Hey bro great video I was looking into the LSD but it's a bit too pricey lol by any chance do you know swapping out an 2005 Legacy GT rear differential on a 2015 WRX would work?

[@ebf1003]

Looking at one for my car and I sincerely think you sold on one.

[@nabatron21]

I just ordered mine

[@krisb7544]

how do the driving aids cope with the lsd. do they still do their job?

[@dwelker284]

Kris B they do. Only issue is that they need to be changed frequently for it to be smooth. But friction modifier works well.

[@krisb7544]

Derek Welker sorry I mean things like the traction control and electronic stability control. Are they still working fine with the lsd

[@dwelker284]

Kris B these cars don't have stability control but it works fine with traction control.

[@krisb7544]

Oh really? Must be a USA spec thing cause the wrx's here have stability control. Anyway thanks for the replies mate I stumbled across your channel and I'm loving it. Subscribed

[@FuJiNF]

thank you for getting a REAL LSD! I've been telling people forever and ever, they will never know the feeling of a good LSD. Them playing with viscous units are just a waste of time. I personally would prefer minimal or no friction modifier for the better lockup. a donut video in the dry would be nice to see ;)

[@dwelker284]

+FuJiNF I had a viscous in my old car (05 LGT) and it is nothing compared to this. This is by far one of the best mods I have ever done. The VLSD is nothing compared to this. I have like 4oz of friction modifier in it now and its perfect. When you want it to lock up it does but in a parking lot it doesnt which is perfect. Check an earlier video of mine and I do a donut in the dry. I tried it before the LSD and just pushed with the front end.

[@FuJiNF]

+Derek Welker I just watched them! awesome!

[@dasboot9471]

Yeah your LSD will lock up harder without modifier, but it will wear out the clutch packs VERY quickly without, and make noise, and lock up when you don't want it to. Clutch type LSDs SHOULD be run with friction modifier if you want it last any reasonable mileage.

[@jeffliu1996]

You mentioned the Cusco has 4.11 final drive. Does it automatically come like that, or does someone have to adjust it to like so.? I'm unable to find any used Cuscos here, so I may have to purchase new, but I'm wondering if the final drive will be a problem.

[@dwelker284]

Jeff Liu it comes from Cusco with a specific final drive. Cusco may be able to change the final drive if the unit itself is the same but that's something you would have to ask them. Finding these used are very difficult so it's not surprising you can't find one used.

[@AaronHDRHao]

dumb-ish question but really is bothering me. I dont really understand how these diffs are installed. is the cusco a rear diff or front diff? and do you need LSD on the front as well if you get it on the rear? please explain to me on how this works..

[@dwelker284]

Aaron Hao it's a rear diff. You don't need the front as well. You can just install the rear diff.

[@AaronHDRHao]

Ah okay. Thank you so much. Helps a lot

[@Code325]

Interested in doing this mod. Was the differential you got from an earlier year WRX? 02-07 maybe? I'm wondering if there are any compatibility issues between the older and newer R160 differentials. Also, from my understanding the STI's R180 differential features a torsen LSD - how do you think the Cusco compares? I'm guessing that the Cusco is better because it's tunable to some extent, right?

[@dwelker284]

Code325 I got the housing from an 05-09 legacy GT. But you can do this mod to whatever diff that you already have. Just need to split the case and install it.

[@Code325]

Yeah, I was just looking around for a diff with it already installed like you have. I know it's not common but, I'm sure you know that it can cut costs quite a lot. Anyway, it looks like awesome fun! One more question though, how does it affect drivability in the snow? Is it less predictable since the rear wants to rotate around now? Seems like it could be an issue...

[@dwelker284]

Code325 it's actually more predictable in the show. Since both rear wheels move together all the time it doesn't ever break traction and send power to one wheel randomly like it would before. It makes for better and more predictable sliding but also much more traction.

[@calvinfung1383]

After doing this mod, did you notice a change in how the car handles in snow?

[@dwelker284]

It just gets more grip honestly. Instead of one rear wheel spinning it forces both rear wheels together which gives you more traction. And it slides better. :)

[@calvinfung1383]

Awesome dude, thanks for getting back to me :)

[@seanduckworth8147]

Any reccomendations on where to look to find a deal on a used one like you got?

[@withoutremit]

Just be curious, what traction setting did you oversteer with?

[@dwelker284]

Traction control off.

[@withoutremit]

But even under such mode the system won’t let you slip all the way around the corner even full throttle, right?

[@xaviarcraig2133]

Have you considered replacing the center and front differentials with the Cusco 1.5 way LSD?

[@dwelker284]

+Xaviar Craig Replacing the Front and Center would be a lot more work than just the rear. Ive thought about it but it seems like too much work for what it is. There is no Cusco unit for the center Diff that I know of. For the price it would be to get a center and front unit and the work involved it makes more sense just to swap the STI drivetrain into the car. So far I am happy with just the rear LSD.

[@xaviarcraig2133]

+Derek Welker That is mostly what I've been hearing. I was curious if you had put any thought into the matter. Thanks!

[@predator155010]

What BOV anb intake do you have? Sounds brutal!

[@dwelker284]

It's a PRL intake and Nameless BPV.

[@castellanos9924]

What friction modifier did you use?

[@dwelker284]

I use a Ford friction modifier. It seems to work pretty good. I have tried one other type and it didnt work that well. I cant remember the name of it but the Ford stuff seems to work well so I stick with it.

[@alfs8]

Hi, Wondering to know have u find the front compatible CUSCO type RS LSD for WRX VA 6mt yet ? Coz on CUSCO website, they didn't mentioned anything for 6mt WRX LSD, only VAG, i'm looking for the front LSD urgently coz i'm using in track.

[@jeremywatson9129]

Can you put the same differential in the front as well?

[@dwelker284]

they make an LSD for the front but I believe you have to disassemble the transmission for it.

[@PseudoReality28]

Is this the Type-MZ or the Type-RS?

[@dwelker284]

JayceStardasher RS

[@PseudoReality28]

Thanks!

[@nabatron21]

where can u get this LSD? Also would this be better then swapping in an OEM 4.11 LSD in a VA wrx? Some people say the cusco is abit noisier then a VLSD like what the OEM ones had in prior Subaru models.

[@dwelker284]

Nabil P it's a cusco so you can just buy it online. It's much better than a VLSD. They aren't even in the same league. It's definitely more noisy but it's worth it.

[@Alumno18]

I haven't done any studying, but how does this mess with the traction control? can you go back and forth to the normal TC that is always normally running then trigger the new feel from the new differential?

[@dwelker284]

I believe I talk about it in the video but it doesn't mess with it at all. Since there is no slippage there isn't any reason for it to kick in. You can still use TC. No lost functionality.

[@nabatron21]

with the percentage thing can you educate me on this part...the is the confusing thing.

[@916medic]

does it make the back end swing out a lot more.

[@dwelker284]

Yes. A lot. If you're trying to that is.

[@916medic]

+Derek Welker sounds like that's my next mod then. By the thanks for making these video you are helping a lot of us new guy out tons. keep up the good work.

[@dwelker284]

+Derek Welker not a problem. I'm glad I can help. If you check my other video that's mainly the exhaust you can see a few more clips of it.

[@ivanpolanco5799]

how much did you pay for it if you dont mind me asking or how much do they go for roughly? the lsd of course lol

[@dwelker284]

+ivan polanco The LSD brand new is around $1,300. I picked mine up used already in the rear diff housing for $650. I got one hell of a deal.

[@ivanpolanco5799]

+Derek Welker dang that is a great deal, so does brand new not come with the housing?

[@dwelker284]

+ivan polanco no it doesn't come with a new differential housing. I got really lucky.

[@MrJodic2002]

yo bro, does it waste fuel by swapping it out

[@dwelker284]

ME McClane no.