Sw20 box, LSD OR NOT?!?!? with pic

[-Totenkopf-]

That question is almost impossible to answer. Yes non-lsd and FACTORY lsd drive shafts are different. You definitely DO NOT have a FACTORY lsd. When it comes to aftermarket diff its all a cock around. Usually there are diffs for different year model cars. Pre and post 92. Post 92 usually accept LSD drive shafts, some can take non-lsd driveshafts. Now, AFAIK, non-lsd drive shaft accept diffs can also take LSD driveshafts. I can confirm this for you today if you so wish (I have both lsd and non-lsd driveshafts in the garage and have both a factory LSD box and a box I fitted a Quaife LSD, which accepts non-lsd driveshafts)

Picture compare LSD and non-LSD stub axles:



Top is LSD, bottom is non.

Hope this is of some assistance.

Also, if you've got some axles there, insert them into the tranny and turn them. Make sure your applying some resistance to the second axle when you turn the first one, as alot of helical type LSD's will act open if there is no resistance at all on the second shaft. See if they turn the SAME direction.

[Wildsupra]

ok i checked the rotation and they definantly both turn the same direction, with and without pressure applied.

The axles i have appear to be the ones pictured in the top picture (lsd ones) HOWEVER i cannot be sure that these are the axles that came out of the same car the box came out of. I think they are but i cannot be 100% sure.

[-Totenkopf-]

Okay mate, well, if its turning the same direction with and without pressure I dare say you have a clutch type aftermarket LSD fitted to the box. Does the second shaft exert enough force to turn in your hand if your holding onto it good and proper. Without oil (and thus a friction modifier) a clutch type LSD should be more or less locked up.

[Wildsupra]

yeah there is no way i can hold the second shaft and spin the first shaft on its own.

Maybe i'l try rigging it up nice and solid with clamps and give it a good hard go?? maybe that would ensure it is??

[-Totenkopf-]

Use of hand should be sufficient. Sounds like you've got an aftermarket LSD fitted.

[Wildsupra]

Awesome you've made my day, looks like it all go to get this conversion underway now then

Matty

[terryo]

the factory turbo LSD can be identified by having 2 separated splines on 1 side of the diff. If you look inside the long axle side, the 2 splines will be quite obvious, separated by a few mm. these boxes were common in 92 or later jap market cars, but I've seen plenty wothout them, so they were definitely not a stock fitment in japan as many people say.

It takes about 2 hours to get an E code box apart without stuffing it, and twice that long to reassemble it. thats without doing any major repairs. anyone who thinks they can do it in 20 mins can come work for me doing boxes all day long. we fix 1-2 of these things/week

The LSD axles are unique and you cannot mod a non LSD axle to work properly.
I'll guess you have an aftermarket plate type LSD. You should test it by locking one axle and turning the other one with a torque wrench. Less than about 60 ft-lbs indicates the LSD plates are worn out (common problem), more than about 100ft-lbs indicates its too tight and needs resetting or repair. as they wear, the cross torque falls away. if the plates buckle from overheating or debris, the cross torque goes higher on test, but on the road it will be notchy and not very predictable.

I have written a short article on E code boxes. go to www.roadandtrack.net.au if interested

[Mr Revhead]

stock LSD was fitted from 94 (well, dec 93) onwards.
after that date all JDM SW20 GTs have the same diff.

[Wildsupra]

terryo great info there mate, i think i may have a go at doing what you suggest to check the plates, even just to double ensure its lsd, would be nice to know how good it is at the same time though

Cheers
Matty

[AbaddonMR2]

That looks exactly like my kaaz 1.5 way LSD... like a flat plate with a small hole.
Nice score on that one... mine was $1100 for the diff alone!

The oem open diff you can see strait through it, and the oem viscous LSD has the "bar" across it and requires the correct axles which have a shorter splined area as the "bar" is around 10mm thick!

You can use either axles with the kaaz.

[Wildsupra]

Sweet as!!!

How do you finds the Kaaz lsd's? Ive driven an sw20 with a 2way Cusco??? lsd and it was complete shit, but im thinking the bearings etc were all flogged out cos it just didnt seem right. Felt like the whole diff carrier asembly was "clunking" left and right. Very weird.

[JP]

for the E series the centers with the smaller hole (~5mm) have a plate LSD, the ones with the hex bar and two lots of splines on the long shaft side are viscous LSD, and the ones with the bigger hole in the center are open diff.

Some good info from Bazda in this thread, same type of diffs in those E series boxes as you get in the SW20's http://www.twincam.info/index.php?showtopic=32921

[Wildsupra]

ok so its looking like either a kaaz or a plate type lsd then??

JP are plate type lsd aight? how do they work, as in need to be loaded up to go lsd or not so much load needed etc?

Cheers
Matty

[JP]

I've had a G series plate type LSD in both my chaser and GX70, both were very good to drive on the street and at the track.

I had a viscous LSD in one of my FWD corolla's which was also excellent but haven't had a chance to try a plate type diff in an E series box.