Adjusting a LSD?

[James W]

I bought a Limited slip diff to fix my noisy rear diff problems.

Does anyone know how to adjust the clutch packs to make it tighter. Either that or verify that they are tight enough? Or does it really matter, am I going to get a good benifit from it as is anyway?

When I pulled one of the axles and brake caliper to get the diff out, the caliper fell apart in two pieces. One slider bolt/guide bolt was misssing. Pad wear was uneven and in fact extream at one end. I wonder if this was the Knock... knock... I was hearing. It ratling around? It may be a wheel bearing yet. I found more sand/grit in the bottom of the diff housing. The bottom drain bung is quite a bit above the bottom of the housing.

[Dave]

Have you tried Roy and Debbie about the LSD?
I thought they had theirs adjusted so it acted more like a locker on their Mu.

Dave

[MattMU]

Ha you sound like you hve given that diff a hiding, but its not all bad!!

Drop your axles and rip out the old diff. Clean out the housing WELL and then slip in the new Limo. On the axles give the bearings a spin, they are sealed so you dont have to worry about contaniments from the diff getting into the axle bearings(no wheel bearings on the rear). If they spin up ok and are not growly or rough you should be right!

The brake is your big issue, make sure you replace the missing caliper bolt, check the disc for wear and with anew SET of pads you should be ok. Just make sure you look at all the shafts for signs of bellmouthed wear if the caliper was floating around for awhile.

Mine had lost that same bolt for ages but mine stayed in place and I could just drop a new one in ok.

Once all back together, make sure you put in a very good quality LSD diff oil, VMX 80 I think I got recommended, but just make sure its a LSD oil. If you want to then give it some good treatment, get the LSD additive and add that to the fresh oil, it really revives an old cone LSD.

Matt.

[James W]

I've had a quick talk to Roy, I've now got a vuage idea and I'll have a look tonight and see if it all makes sense.

Matt, the old diff is already out no worries, but the process stopped when I struck the brake caliper problem so yet to check bearings, yes axle rather than wheel bearings. Although you say they are sealed, they are 'wet' with diff oil so have been exposed to crap/grit. They'll get a good wash out.

I've got hold of a new bolt today for the caliper. I didn't realise it was a bolt as my first reaction was it was another pin, but the Holden dealers drawings clarifed that. Yes, new pads are required with the existing ones a mess. The disk look fine and no real signs of the caliper beinging flailing around. It's was only when I removed it that it came to pieces.

I bought some LSD oil, can't remember what, Castrol something. Does more LSD additive make it more slippy or less slippy?

[MattMU]

OK, so we dont get caught up in what more 'slippery and less slippery' means....

If you just put normal oil in your diff they hop and carry on badly like the lsd is worn out. Fresh oil brings them back to life unbelievably and I was also recommended from a Diff specialist when I asked to get mine rebuilt, to add the additive to good oil for improved LSD action. So effectively it would work the best it can. But it is a LSD Limited Slip Differential. It has to slip to work and if you lift one wheel, you are stuck on the other, no matter what oil you put in it apart from CIG oil!

Oh and with the axle bearings, the oil from the diff can get to the side of them, but they are sealed and any crud shouldnt get past that!!

Hope that helps

Matt.

[James W]

Right, so more LSD additive means more LSD action as in less differential action?

Thanks Matt

[MattMU]

Yeah and no!! It will get the LSD back to as 'good as it gets' but it wont make a good LSD any more like a locker!!

If that was the thought!! lol, I wish it was that easy!

I think a welder is the only thing that could make an LSD as tight as a locker!!

Nice try though!!

Matt.

[James W]

I understand that it's not a locker, otherwise I would be putting in a locker.

[Dave M]

Hey James, they do lock up pretty hard with lots of welly and some resistance from the wheel with less grip, ie some handbrake or stomp the foot brake. The additive is supposedly to stop the chatter that they get round corners when they get hot and the oil is getting shagged; or has too much water in it! Keep fresh lsd oil in and don't worry about additive. I use that cheap Fuchs stuff and it's fine. As for preload, mine is loose as but it locks up real hard under power.

[James W]

I ended up not altering it at all, ran out of time and need to get it back on the road so just stuck it in. Thanks for the tips Dave