Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Are ATS products same as CARBONETIC?
A: ACROSS had been authorized to distribute ATS products outside of Japan under their own brand name. "CARBONETIC" was a brand name for the products distributed by ACROSS. CARBONETIC products included ATS carbon products and selective ATS metal products as well as their own performance parts. Some of the Carbonetic products were assembled at ATS factory and others were assembled at ACROSS using the ATS parts or ACROSS parts. (For example, the Carbonetic flywheel for Evo twin/triple were not made by ATS). Consequently, Carbonetic products were not always exactly same as the ATS products.
Also we do not know if the Carbonetic LSDs used old internal discs or used the new ATS internal discs.
ATS uses a newly designed disc for carbon LSD since 2007.
The Blade clutch, Pro blade clutch and Brake pad were a Carbonetic original product.
PPI is the North American exclusive distributor of ATS products which are manufactured at the ATS with ATS parts under the ATS quality control.
ACROSS filed a bankruptcy protection in August 2013 and acquired by the TMT Machinery at the end of 2013. As far as we know, ACROSS and their brand "Carbonetic" are permanently gone.
Q: Are Carbonetic products available from ATS?
A: No, we do not sell Carbonetic. However, many same or similar products sold by Carbonetic are available from ATS except for the Pro Blade Clutch and Brake pad. When ACROSS went out of business, ATS purchased the specs of their blade clutch, so blade clutches (not pro-blade) are also available under the brand name of ATS.
Q: Can I use ATS repair parts for my carbonetic clutch and LSD?A: Yes. Even though Cabonetic copied some of our parts and made them overseas, the dimension should be exactly same. So you can use ATS repair parts for your Carbonetic clutches and LSDs. However, Carbonetic Pro Blade is excluded.
Q: Are there any ATS/Carbonetic clutches??
A: No, the clutches are sold either in ATS brand or Carbonetic brand. It is sometimes confusing since Carbonetic used our parts to assemble their clutches. Carbonetic clutch might have had the "ATS&ACROSS" seal on the clutch cover. That simply means that Carbonetic used the clutch cover manufactured by ATS. ATS used the "ATS&ACROSS" seal on all the carbon clutch covers. If you have a clutch with black clutch cover, your clutch is Carbonetic.
Q: How does a clutch type LSD compare with a gear type LSD?
A: The gear type LSDs are popular choice for many manufacturers stock differentials. There is virtually no noise and the maintenance is very easy. A clutch type LSD, on the other hand, requires an LSD oil. However, when it comes down to performance, a clutch type LSD provides you with a much better response to your throttle and steering input. A clutch type LSD is the choice of professional drivers, which is the proof of performance. Also a gear type LSD usually behaves like a 2 way LSD and as such it cannot be tuned for strong performance for FF cars. Strong LSD for the FF cars causes under steer. (except for our carbon LSD).
Q: Is ATS LSD streetable?
A: When a customer asks us this question, it usually means if our LSD is quiet and smooth. The answer is Yes. ATS carbon LSD (both old model, Spec II, and type street) does not have any chattering noise and the engagement is ultra smooth. In 2009, ATS released super silent LSD which is a metal LSD but does not have chattering or cranking noise. [It does chatter mildly during the break in period. However, after a 25min to 30min 8 figure break in, or after driving about 500miles, the chatter will disappear].
Q: My vehicle has too much push under and very difficult to turn. Is anything wrong with the LSD?
A: If an LSD has too much initial torque (break away torque), the vehicle becomes extremely difficult to turn. Please check the initial torque to see if it is within the factory spec. All ATS LSDs are checked for the initial torque when they are shipped out from the ATS factory. The initial torque should be less than 15 kg -m (108 lb-ft) - Metal LSD only. However, if you purchase an LSD which is overhauled or assembled by a different company or shop, the initial torque might not be checked and the LSD could have a higher initial torque than the factory spec. Carbon LSD should not cause a bad push under steer even it is a 2 way.
Q: Do I have to change LSD oil more frequently for the carbon LSD?
A: No. The recommended oil change interval is same for ATS metal LSD and ATS carbon LSD. The carbon LSD went through a major upgrade in 2007 and after the improvement, the oil change is recommended every 2,000 to 3,000 miles which is same for the metal LSD. ATS carbon LSD upgrade - click for the page
Q: Anything I have to keep in my mind on LSD oil?
A: ATS carbon LSD and carbon hybrid LSD can be used with most of the aftermarket LSD oils. It is more important to monitor the oil temperature than the choice of the LSD oil. ATS recommends to install the oil temperature sensor and keep the temperature under 150 C degree (302 F degree). The carbon chips tend to be peeled off if you keep driving above that temperature.
Q: Differce between the standard carbon clutch and the full carbon clutch?
A: The standard carbon clutches use the floting disc and pressure plate which are made of metal. The floating disc(s) and the pressure plate of the full carbon cluch are made of carbon. The metal pressue plate and the floating disc(s) tend to warp when the clutch is slipped several seconds due to the heat produced by the carbon discs. If your driving style does not utilze the slipping clutch, the standard carbon clutch works very well long time. However, if you have to deploy slipping the clutch frequetnly (mostly for drag racing launch and drifting competition), the full carbon clutch eliminates your possible troubles caused from warping discs.
Q: Are ATS clutches noisier than stock?
A: In general yes. Due to the very light weight flywheel, our clutches tend to pick up the engine vibration and gear noise more than the stock. The noise mostly comes from the gears contacting to other parts, which is caused by the inherent clearances existed when the engine and gears are assembled. This noise usually disappear when you disengage the clutch.
The other noise is typical for multi plate clutches. When the clutch is disengaged, the outer edges of the middle plate(s) [floating plate(s)] constantly make contact with the casing wall of the clutch and make noise. This second type of noise is currently limited to our twin and triple clutches and the single clutch does not have this noise.