Change VP diff or whole rear end?

[MyVPIsFasterThanYourVP]

My diff clunks, is it easier to take off calipers, pull the axles out a bit, and change the diff , or the whole rear axle assembly? I'm hoping for replies based on experience.
The donor car has ABS, and my car dosent, so if this could be a reason to change the whole rear end for a future project. Right now I'm hoping for a weekend project from go to whoa, with limited tools and finances, but plenty of mechanical ability and enthusiasm!
Colin

[vl rb30e]

rts or irs???

[MyVPIsFasterThanYourVP]

RTS not IRS

[VN Commy]

Either method is fairly straight foward, personally I'd rather pull the axles and change the diff centre. You don't need any fancy tools, a trolley jack would be good if you're going to change the whole rear end though.

If you don't have a slide hammer to pull the axles then reverse the disks from the donor rear end and use them with a few wheel nuts. Sometimes it takes some pretty hard hits but they'll give way if you got all 4 retaining nuts off. Once the axles are out a bit and the cover plate is off then it's just 4 bolts. Then grab something to lever the centre out (I used a big flat head screw driver and a hammer).

By the way did you manage to get an LSD to stick in it?

[MyVPIsFasterThanYourVP]

If you don't have a slide hammer to pull the axles then reverse the disks from the donor rear end and use them with a few wheel nuts. Sometimes it takes some pretty hard hits but they'll give way if you got all 4 retaining nuts off.

Thats the kind of useful tip that REALLY helps, thank you.

By the way did you manage to get an LSD to stick in it?

I only just recently learned this was an option for the VP, I will need to find the going price for, (and even how to identify,) an LSD. Does this offer any less single spin from a standing start in the wet.
Colin

[VN Commy]

Yeah the main reason I got my LSD was for the increased traction of having the power shared across both wheels. Aswell as take offs, it also helps heaps punching it out of a corner (especially a right hander) without the inside wheel just spinning up.

To identify an LSD the diff centre has the big bolts holding the ring gear on, and also smaller bolts holding the two halves of the centre together, where as the non-LSD (from memory) uses the same big bolts to hold the two halves together aswell as the ring gear. Hard to explain but you'll see what I mean when you get in there.
If the LSD is still in the housing you can just turn one axle and the other should turn in the same direction, a sinlge spinner will spin opposite.

[savage1987]

I'm having the same backlash as you are Colin . . . I'm chasing an LSD full setup - disc to disc. My mechanic recommended I do that . . . he said if you change the diff centre only then you'll probably run into problems with leaking etc further down the track.

Sammy B

[MyVPIsFasterThanYourVP]

Yeah the main reason I got my LSD was for the increased traction of having the power shared across both wheels. Aswell as take offs, it also helps heaps punching it out of a corner (especially a right hander) without the inside wheel just spinning up.

Cool, I was hoping that would be the case and I'm glad to see its not just me with the right hand wheel spin!

he said if you change the diff centre only then you'll probably run into problems with leaking etc further down the track.

Sammy B

Can you explain what was he worried about leaking from? I have no problems with the rear end bushes, springs, and shocks, or brakes and calipers, so I figure just change the broken bit and keep the known, to lessen the chance of additional problems. But I appreciate the input!
Colin

[VN Commy]

I don't know where it would leak from either. I've swapped my centres around a few times and haven't had any problems with leaking. I use CRC red gasket on the cover plate rather than a paper gasket. It's easy to put on and works well.

[immortality]

you shouldn't have any problemws with leaking, just make sure you get the backlash set correctly otherwise early diff failure will occur

[savage1987]

Can you explain what was he worried about leaking from?
Colin

lol I'm really not sure . . . can't remember exactly what he said (it was about 3 months ago) but when I said I was looking for a 3.08:1 LSD he recommended I find a disc-to-disc section. I don't know enough about differentials and axles to be able to work out why :P

Cheers
Sammy B

[MyVPIsFasterThanYourVP]

you shouldn't have any problemws with leaking, just make sure you get the backlash set correctly otherwise early diff failure will occur

My original reply got swallowed by the internet, so here goes.......
Is backlash the 'clunk' I hear when I select reverse from park and when the auto is downshifting as I slow to stop at the lights? I have checked the tailshaft, and I cant see/feel any slop in the uni's. Is it possible to adjust this (using shims according to my Gregorys).

[savage1987]

Is backlash the 'clunk' I hear when I select reverse from park, or when the auto is downshifting as I slow to stop at the lights?

I'm not 100% sure of terminology here, but what I was referring to is a clunk that usually happens when I downshift the auto while slowing down, usually with no throttle.

I have checked the tailshaft, and I cant see/feel any slop in the uni's. Is it possible to adjust this (using shims according to my Gregorys).

I saw that in my Gregorys as well . . . I'm not even going to bother trying though, becuase an LSD will be heaps better anyway.

Sammy B