While browsing eBay, I come across someone selling these:

http://www.phantomgrip.com/

Here are some other linkson the web about them:

http://www.nissanperformancemag.com/april02/phantomgrip.shtml
http://www.rivergate5speed.com/phantom_grip-commets.html
http://www.neoncars.com/limited_slip.htm

<img src="http://www.neoncars.com/images/phantom_grip/pg_installed_neon4in.gif" alt=" - " />

<img src="http://www.neoncars.com/images/phantom_grip/pg_for%20_neon.gif" alt=" - " />

So I am looking at the thing, and I have to ask: How the %$#@ does the thing work? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="images/icons/confused.gif" />

Materials look similar to a Lockright, one article mentions springs and pins - again similar to a lockright...

If someone could explain it to me, I would love to know...

Not sure how they work. But It looks like they don't make them for Trucks or SUVs anyway.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">Originally posted by ringo234:
<strong>Not sure how they work. But It looks like they don't make them for Trucks or SUVs anyway.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">True, but they do look like something that could be made at home possibly <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="images/icons/wink.gif" />

Here are some good pics of an instalation, and what the "guts" look like:

http://www.members.aol.com/mopar1mad/555pg.html

From what I can gather so far - the springs pre-load against the spider gears attached to the shaft, and that metal on metal contact is what creates the "friction" to "lock" the axles for a lsd-esque differential action.

But that metal on metal contact sure seems like a good way to get plenty of metal shavings in the diff <img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="images/icons/confused.gif" />

So aside from the materials it is made from, that device sure looks like something that could be made in a garage with some decent tools... May just have to try that with a spare diff <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" />

Aaaaaaaand...

Oblonging the pinion opening - like a lockright runs - would allow the action of the pinion shaft under load to help put pressure on the side gears and lock the unit up even more.

Possibly look at adding some clutch disks from some existing aftermarket lsd to the matign surface if wear is a concern?

Seems to me if the pinion opening was oblonged to apply force on the side gears under load, then a spring arrangement that kept the plates *together* would allow for a unit similar in operation to a "gov-lock" that was invisible, except under load?

My brain cogs are a turnin' <img border="0" title="" alt="[Razz]" src="images/icons/tongue.gif" />

Yet another link with info:

http://pub83.ezboard.com/fteamswiftfrm14.showMessage?topicID=116.topic

A little info here.

Thread

Frank.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">Originally posted by elripster:
<strong>A little info here.

Thread

Frank.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">Oops - never saw that <img border="0" alt="[Hillbilly]" title="" src="graemlins/notooth.gif" />

Looks like I found more info though <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="images/icons/wink.gif" />

I agree it looks hokey, that is why I suggested some of the changes. As they have it - the only "force" you are getting on the side gears is what the springs themselves can supply. This has to be a VERY limited force that would be quite easy to overcome. The oblonged pinion hole I suggested would use the force of the pinion shaft under load to press the halves apart and put a LOT more force on the side gears.

Take that change, find some way to add off-the-shelf LSD friction plates to the side gears and the block surface to eliminate the metal to metal contact, and you could have working LSD that could be made in a decently equiped shop for pretty dang cheap.

Never hurts to think about new things <img border="0" title="" alt="[Wink]" src="images/icons/wink.gif" />

My biggest worry with that thing is that the carrier doesn't look to beefy. We're probably better off with shimmed up Supra LSD's.

Maybe someday Phantom will make them for a rear drive Toyota model and we can leverage off the design.

Having the clutches is nice, you do indeed get more friction from load and therefore more torque transfer.

Frank.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">Originally posted by elripster:
<strong>My biggest worry with that thing is that the carrier doesn't look to beefy. We're probably better off with shimmed up Supra LSD's.

Maybe someday Phantom will make them for a rear drive Toyota model and we can leverage off the design.

Having the clutches is nice, you do indeed get more friction from load and therefore more torque transfer.

Frank.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">Not sure what you mean about carriers - it installs just like a lockright so we would re-use our own stock Toyota carrier.

As for seing about them producing one - I wouldn't consider it... They are charging $299-$399 for their units, and the only way *I* would even consider a hokey unit like this is if it was much cheaper than say a lockright that we KNOW works as a REAL locker.

I plan to work on building one myself - and will see about getting some measurements on a stock Toyota diff and geting a buddy to build the blocks at work.

If I get anywhere with this, I will be sure to report back <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="images/icons/smile.gif" />