[apex]

Out of the frying pan and into the fire! The car is at the shop for the pinion job and a straightforward pinon repair has become much more involved. One of the retaining clips holding in a coverplate for the torsen unit came loose, and let the cover WHAM around, punching a hole in the bellhousing! Take a look at the pics!



So my options now are:



1 - obtain new quaife unit

2 - convince quaife to repair

3 - obtain new/used open diff



This unit was installed in 1998 by a previous owner of the car. My belief is that I bought the car with this damage... but who knows? It's a real mystery that I have never seen a drop of gear oil either on or below the transmission - and the mechanics taking my car apart didn't see any either. I put 3qts of fresh oil in about a year ago and only half of that came out so go figure...



My questions are:



1 - what would YOU do in my situation?

2 - anyone instll a LSD recently who could make an open diff available to me?

3 - can anyone explain the failure sequence? the only thing we can think of is a faulty install by the factory, but recovery under warranty eight years and two owners out seems unlikely.



Any advice and help appreciated. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/mellow.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />



   



   



   



   



By the way... if someone tells me how to include full-size pics with my post I will do that - I know some of us cannot open the attachments ... including me!

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[ether_joe]

this one?

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[tsj9197]

i've got an open diff sitting on my shelf that could be available

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[bob blackwell]

Apex, there is a 968 TORSEN LSD on EBAY right now. Item # 160012657156 Good luck! Bob Blackwell.

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[apex]

Thanks for the heads up, Bob! I noticed that... his reserve is over $1,000 for a unit with 65,000 miles on it. it *is* porsche OEM - I don't know if that means its better than a Guard's unit or not - but it sure seems to mean it's more expensive!



I can get a new Guard's for under $1,200. Maybe I'll go back to an open diff... where was the long paragraph-less driver's report recently who felt the car to be just GREAT without an LSD.



tsj9197 my mechanic said used open diffs should be free... or practically so... would yours be one of those? <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/biggrin.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[bob blackwell]

Yeah, I hear you about the economics. did not realize his reserve was so high. In my opinion the new part would be worth the difference in price over the Factory part. When I had a 1989 944S2 without LSD I was always spinning the inside rear wheel on the track - very disappointing. If you can manage it, go back with some kind of Limited Slip, you will be happy that you did. Good luck, Bob Blackwell.

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[whakiewes]

Email me the pictures. I will host them and post them, or you can open an account on Photobucket.com and use their links. You have a PM as well coming, or there depending on when you read this!



Wes

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[Guest]

[quote name='apex' date='Jul 29 2006, 03:02 PM']I can get a new Guard's for under $1,200. Maybe I'll go back to an open diff... where was the long paragraph-less driver's report recently who felt the car to be just GREAT without an LSD.



tsj9197 my mechanic said used open diffs should be free... or practically so... would yours be one of those?  <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/biggrin.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

[right][post="24779"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]



Depends on what kind of driving you do. If you do any aggressive driving or have a more stiffly sprung car, don't even consider an open diff. The paragraph-less driver was not driving his car hard enough if he couldn't get the inside wheel to spin with the open diff. That doesn't mean a car without an LSD is great, he just didn't need it.

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[whakiewes]

I am on 350F, 400R Bilstein Escort Cups with M030's, Delrin bushings, solid upper mounts, 95lbs removed from the rear, 2820 weight, and I can't get it to open up under tracking circumstances. I have done two driving days at a local 1.5 mile track, and second gear 40mph 1g+ turns induce no wheel spin, 16's or 18's. The only time I get the diff to open up is 1st gear hard accell or in the rain when trying to slide around. I would be happy to shoot a video for you guys.



Of course if I am off line, or intentionally sloppy, it can open up. I have had several people ride with me, and have been surprised to the level of grip. If I want it to open up it will, but if I drive in a well mannered way, I have no problem. Also to note, with the M030 bar at its stiffest setting, I don't get wheel lift unless I intentionally try.



Wes

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[Guest]

[quote name='whakiewes' date='Jul 31 2006, 11:32 AM']I am on 350F, 400R Bilstein Escort Cups with M030's, Delrin bushings, solid upper mounts, 95lbs removed from the rear, 2820 weight, and I can't get it to open up under tracking circumstances.  I have done two driving days at a local 1.5 mile track, and second gear 40mph 1g+ turns induce no wheel spin, 16's or 18's.  The only time I get the diff to open up is 1st gear hard accell or in the rain when trying to slide around.  I would be happy to shoot a video for you guys.



Of course if I am off line, or intentionally sloppy, it can open up.  I have had several people ride with me, and have been surprised to the level of grip.  If I want it to open up it will, but if I drive in a well mannered way, I have no problem.  Also to note, with the M030 bar at its stiffest setting, I don't get wheel lift unless I intentionally try.



Wes

[right][post="24827"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]



My setup is similar spring stiffness to yours with welt sways and I experience significant wheelspin with an open diff. I have to feather the throttle on exit in 2nd and 3rd gears and I know I am losing speed on corner exit as the 4wd cars can gap me there. It can be driven gently to limit wheelspin, but then you can't control the car with the throttle. I'd rather be full on the throttle earlier and slipping the rear to rotate the car a bit on exit. I leave the "well mannered" driving for the ride home <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/wink.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[flash]

i've got lsd, and if i pop a low gear shift too hard (up or down) at the wrong moment, i can easily induce wheelspin, even with the 285s back there - a bit disconcerting at the beginning, but pretty easy to manage once you get the hang of it



it used to power oversteer pretty badly with the open diff, stock suspension, and smaller tires - not so much now



getting the tire pressures right was a big help too - setting the presures at whatever point makes them vary by about 4 lbs from cold to hot is the trick - i see too many people just setting them on what somebody else said, and even on a different brand or model of tire



that reminds me - i need to get a new tire temp guage today

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[tsj9197]

pay the shipping and it would be yours.



right now it's just a paper weight

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[apex]

thanks ts... but I tried a used diff (no good - its been returned) and have ended up with a new unit from Paul Guards plus new syncros - ouch! ouch! my wallet is hurting!

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[whakiewes]

Maybe my camber/caster/toe settings are different...or maybe I am just low on power. Eitherway, I don't mind it. I have learned ways to have fun, which in turn is teaching me a lot about driving. Rather than just trying to always use the throttle as I am used to, I have learned more about transfering weight to induce a slide. The open diff does provide a safety margin as well...after about 30-50 degrees of yaw, it opens up and typically either straightens me out or always me to just remain there.



I agree that 100% that an LSD is beneficial, and when I was searching for my 968 that was a prerequisite, just as a garage is for a home I am in the market for now. When push came to shove though, there were too many cars with other right options and no LSD that I just gave up and bought an open diff car. I knew the second I drove it I was going to regret it, but in reality I haven't so far. The 255's out back helped with traction when being pushed really hard, but I can't say that I have any complaints. After the exhaust and cage are done though, the LSD will be next. Its in the plans, and it will happen shortly. My goal though was to wait until I pull the tranny apart first so that I only have to do it once...but the tranny rebuild keeps growing further and further away as a first home becomes nearer and nearer.



Wes

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