The true cost on an LSD?

[RAAMaudio]

I built the first 1zz turbo Matrix in the world, the gear ratios and being a 5 speed sucked and a bunch of forum members were drying for an LSD as it did not even have an E-diff. They best deal I could find, ten units minimal, better gears and diff, labor not included but the gears were far stronger than stock and a pick of several final drive ratios, 5 speed, $5k, 6 speed conversion, over $6500. I offered to do a GB and installs to help others, not one taker as you can imagine. I ended up having Phantom Grip make me there low cost solution as it was the only thing I could get, shipped the diff, got it back in 10 days, total was around $400 and it worked very well. I installed a few, made easier in that there was dialing in the back lash but I had to make several tools to take the transaxle apart, it was far trickier than working on the FiST unit.

If FWD cars were made with a diff you could unbolt without pulling out the whole transaxle this would be a far simpler, faster and lower cost mod but we have what we have and nothing much can be done except DIY or pay a significant amount for the install and find somebody good at it.

-------------------------

Here is an option for you SS and not the best, customers send in their transaxle or they buy one at a wrecking yard from a car not seriously damaged in that area, send to you, do the swap, send it back, if the trans is not good it is not your fault, just the diff.....still not a great way to do things unfortunately.

I highly appreciate your offer to help others out and save money while doing so but just not a good way to go overall, very unfortunately

 

[Chuckable]

The LSD unit is on my list of parts to buy . . . way into the future. It's just such an expensive mod when you consider all in it's probably a $2k mod. But so worth it from what those have said who've taken the plunge. Maybe we can come up with a list of reputable installers and locations?

1. Sourskittle? Central Florida

 

[Siestarider]

2. Treasure Coast Transmissions, Monroe Street, Stuart, FL 772-200-2995. Frank is a racer.

 

[ToastAutoX]

This thread has been very enlightening. I've gotten quotes for a few shops here in SoCal (including Mountune in Carlsbad). Both >2500. Time to roll up my sleeves I guess!

 

[MagnetiseST]

This is honestly a way easier DIY than it seems. If you take the case apart by pulling the bellhousing off of the rest of the case, the diff is right there and it takes 5 seconds to swap out (not really, but its simple). The most difficult part is getting the transmission out of the car. It may be nerve wracking to install the ring gear and the bearings onto the LSD, honestly if you have any mechanical knowledge its a 6/10 difficulty. It would be hard to mess up. I've done 3 now.

 

[texaspaul]

This is honestly a way easier DIY than it seems. If you take the case apart by pulling the bellhousing off of the rest of the case, the diff is right there and it takes 5 seconds to swap out (not really, but its simple). The most difficult part is getting the transmission out of the car. It may be nerve wracking to install the ring gear and the bearings onto the LSD, honestly if you have any mechanical knowledge its a 6/10 difficulty. It would be hard to mess up. I've done 3 now.

I had a friend who's mechanically competent offer to help me with mine in the future, this is very encouraging to hear! Since you've done 3, how tricky is the shim process? I think that's one step that worries me the most.

 

[FJ16]

This is honestly a way easier DIY than it seems. If you take the case apart by pulling the bellhousing off of the rest of the case, the diff is right there and it takes 5 seconds to swap out (not really, but its simple). The most difficult part is getting the transmission out of the car. It may be nerve wracking to install the ring gear and the bearings onto the LSD, honestly if you have any mechanical knowledge its a 6/10 difficulty. It would be hard to mess up. I've done 3 now.

I'm considering tackling an MFactory LSD this summer - any chance you've taken some video of your repairs?

 

[MagnetiseST]

I had a friend who's mechanically competent offer to help me with mine in the future, this is very encouraging to hear! Since you've done 3, how tricky is the shim process? I think that's one step that worries me the most.

There have been no shims on any of the 3 MFactory diffs I've installed. The MFactory fits like stock and they do not provide any shims either. The gears all mesh like they would with OE diffs.

 

[MagnetiseST]

I'm considering tackling an MFactory LSD this summer - any chance you've taken some video of your repairs?

I have some photos of the first one, but no videos unfortunately.

 

[JDG]

I have some photos of the first one, but no videos unfortunately.

It's not an included part. You would have to buy the shims from Ford directly. Did you measure the clearance during each install?

 

[MagnetiseST]

It's not an included part. You would have to buy the shims from Ford directly. Did you measure the clearance during each install?

I was told by a transmission builder that it did not require them on the first install, and subsequent ones have been the same.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[JDG]

I was told by a transmission builder that it did not require them on the first install, and subsequent ones have been the same.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Man, I think you are going to find out that transmission builder was mistaken. You may get lucky, but I know of a few folks who wrecked their transmissions after not shimming the unit properly. Definitely not a step I would consider skipping personally.

 

[MagnetiseST]

Man, I think you are going to find out that transmission builder was mistaken. You may get lucky, but I know of a few folks who wrecked their transmissions after not shimming the unit properly. Definitely not a step I would consider skipping personally.

The bearings are taper roller bearings, and the races in the case halves were good in all three, so the races were not replaced. I use the Ford Racing installation kit which comes with the same bearings as the factory unit (no bearing / race mis-matching). We did a paint test on the first one and the contact patch was perfect.

I know Hondas and some imports require shimming when installing a non factory LSD, but it appears that our IB6 transmission does not. In all 3 cars there is 0 whine, 0 chatter, and no leaking from the seals. I was initially skeptical of installing as well but not anymore. One of these cars is a track car and gets beaten to shit on a regular basis: 0 problems since install.

Used this video as a guide:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvF2VF5tpIw

 

[MagnetiseST]

So I've done some digging because I was curious about whether or not this required shims.

Certain LSDs DO REQUIRE SHIMS!! Just not the MFactory that I've put in all three cars. Any LSD that is a clutch type LSD will require shims to set the pre-load on the differential.

 

[maestromaestro]

Wavetrac required a 0.40 mm shim in my case.

 

[MagnetiseST]

Wavetrac required a 0.40 mm shim in my case.

Was this for pre-load or to fit the case properly?

 

[maestromaestro]

Was this for pre-load or to fit the case properly?

The former.

 

[JDG]

Wavetrac required a 0.40 mm shim in my case.

Do you have any more information on how that was determined?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[maestromaestro]

Do you have any more information on how that was determined?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

My mechanic said it was a matter of tolerances, whether he could move the gears with or without effort. People talk about measuring the height of the stack and all that...

 

[JDG]

My mechanic said it was a matter of tolerances, whether he could move the gears with or without effort. People talk about measuring the height of the stack and all that...

Do you know if the shim went under the new race?

Found this video which was super helpful:

View: https://youtu.be/wgjYKo4xat4



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk