Does my 2002 PR5 have a Limited slip diff from the factory?
If not, what does it have?...Posi-traction?

Also:

Where can I buy a decent rear sway bar? Is RacingBeat the best?
How much should I expect to pay?

Thanks..

 

the stock differential is open. not limited slip or posi. check out corksport.com for after market parts.

 

What does "open" mean???
I didn't know there is something other than LSD or PosiTrac.

 

The term "open" means that your differential isn't LSD (aka. PosiTrac by Chevrolet); what it is however, is the type of differential that will spin the wheel with the least amount of traction.

 

Yeah, isn't that the definition of Limited Slip Differential?
I still don't understand the difference between LSD & Open.

 

No, it's the other way around:

• Open = a differential that will spin the wheel with the LEAST amount of traction.
• LSD = a differential that will spin the wheel with the MOST amount of traction.

Make sense now?

 

No, the P5's never came with or were even optioned w/an LSD. I personally think all cars should have that option. I would have ordered my 3 that way if it were.
The only stock Protégé w/an LSD (std, not an option) was the Mazdaspeed Protégé, and the center section is known to break away from the hub under heavy loads unless fully welded.

I run a Racing Beat rear bar and like it, but there are others.
HOWEVER, if you live where winter weather gets nasty, Massatwosh*ts for example, be prepared to either drive something else when the snow flies, or change back to the OE bar.
As I found out the hard way years ago, building a car handle well in normal (dry/wet) conditions is not necessarily the best for snowy/icy conditions.

If wanting to go with an LSD there is another less expensive alternative ($650 vs $1600) and it seems to be a very good one for street and light(er) duty racing activities. It is a gear drive LSD which means no special fluids or maintenance is normally required and stronger than most LSDs that use clutches (Posi-Trac.) And its a one-way LSD, meaning that it only "locks up" in forward motion. Back off and it goes back to an open mode which by feathering the throttle (and/or trail-braking) you can still get the back end to come around in a controlled way on your FWD car.
http://www.teammfactory.com/helical-lsd