LSD noise

[Skylarking]

From what I have seen if you get onto it pretty quick when the spider gears smash you can save the crown wheel and pinion.

That may be true but preventative maintenance is always the better strategy.

If you leave it to chance and take a risk that parts can be saved, that bloody Murphy will ensure the bang occurs at an inappropriate and very inconvenient time and you may not be so lucky with saving all the parts in all cases.

It’s a risk and a punt. I’m not a gambler especially when there is not much to gain and much more to loose

 

[goose202]

It was always a risk and a punt chucking second hand parts in. I installed it myself and I don't mind working on cars so there's not a sunk cost there really. You win some, you lose some. But before I assume the diff is junk it's worth asking the questions, so I appreciate the advice here.

I've got some more additive on the way. It's cheap and easy to try first. I'll re-evaluate options after that.
I haven't been able to easily find replacement clutch plates online at least. I'd assumed they'd be readily available.

 

[Skylarking]

@losh1971 has also been looking for replacement clutch packs without much luck,… yet. It’s commented on in this thread

Losh's Series I SS Ute (AKA Black Thunder).

Jack McNamara has no stock and not getting anymore in. Anyone know who else might stock steel clutches for the ZF?

forums.justcommodores.com.au

 

[goose202]

Well that's not promising.
Wonder if a dodgy short term fix might be to shim up the plates to set the spider gear mesh back about right as the plates wear.

 

[J_D 2.0]

Well that's not promising.
Wonder if a dodgy short term fix might be to shim up the plates to set the spider gear mesh back about right as the plates wear.

Seeing as you have to completely dismantle the diff to get at the clutch plates a temporary fix is useless as your already in for a pound anyway. Might as well fix it right if you’ve dismantled the whole thing.

 

[goose202]

Yeah I'd agree, assuming new plates are available.

 

[J_D 2.0]

Yeah I'd agree, assuming new plates are available.

The ideal scenario is to replace the whole LSD centre with a Truetrac and then your done forever. No clutches that can wear out at all.

 

[losh1971]

3 month wait on a Trutrac.

 

[Skylarking]

Not certain by any means but doesn’t a BMW use ZF LSD diffs in some of their earlier models? May be there is some commonality that can be exploited… BMW seems to use 168, 188 & 210mm clutch packs.

BMW 168mm Small case LSD - Clutch plate set (E30, E36, Z3) 4 cyl.

Upgrade your BMW E21, E30, E36, Z3 (168mm) differential with RacingDiffs. Boost grip, stability, and lifespan with superior clutch plates, billet caps, and ramps. Don't settle for less; elevate your ride's performance now!

racingdiffs.com

BMW 188mm Medium case LSD - Clutch plate set (E30, E36, E34) 6 Cyl.

RacingDiffs Friction plates are available for oem BMW 188mm (ZF) LSD found in E30, E36, E34, E32, Z3. Choose from Service, Street, Track, Race, to Max Performance packs. Plug & Play, no modifications required. Lifetime warranty. Re-energize your differential and unlock your BMW’s full potential.

racingdiffs.com

BMW 210mm Large case LSD - Clutch plate set (E36 3.2 M3, E34, E32) 8 & 12 Cyl.

Revitalize your BMW's 210mm LSD performance with RacingDiffs clutch sets. Tailored for models up to 1999, including E36 M3, E28 M5, & E39 M5. Experience unmatched driving with our quality-backed clutch packs. LIFETIME WARRANTY included.

racingdiffs.com

The following is the Opel ZF clutch discs.

Opel ZF LSD friction plates

RacingDiffs LSD friction plates are available for all Opel models with rear wheel drive. Manta, Ascona, Kadett C, Calibra 4x4, Vectra 4x4, Omega and Senator. By replacing friction plates you will restore original performance of your LSD unit which is crucial for any sport driving. A must have...

racingdiffs.com

If you have the diff stripped down, a pic of the clutch plates with dimensions dropped in this thread would satisfy our curiosity..

And it may be worth documenting the clutch plate dimensions of our VF LSD clutch plates and shooting a mail to racingdiffs.com who may be able to supply something appropriate.

PS: the friction plates look similar to the above so it’s just a matter of finding matching inner and outer diameter and number of teeth when looking for a replacement. The plates seem to have different ear design but probably the plates can be reused if it’s caught early enough… Plates are visable in yne video below.

Me I’d still prefer a Torsten based LSD, something like the Harrop TrueTrac…

 

[J_D 2.0]

3 month wait on a Trutrac.

What else is new. Seems to be a waiting list for everything these days.