lcpljrm
05-24-2006, 08:31 AM
Okay, I just wanted to clear up a few issues some members might have when rebuilding their differentials. These are issues I haven't seen covered in any of the write-ups i've read. I drive a 95 se w/o abs or vlsd. I just installed a helical from an S15 on monday.
first of all, if you have never removed the differential from your car, it is likely that your diff has never been removed. trust me, you will have trouble with every bolt you encounter. unless you have access to a lift, it is going to be difficult to get the leverage you want on the driveshaft and half-shaft bolts. also, there will not be room to get a ratchet on the driveshaft bolts unless you have a slim ratchet. i soaked every bolt with wd40 first. i ended up using a wrench, and the only way i could break them loose was to put my floorjack under the wrench and jack it up. the half-shaft bolts will take some work, but i didn't have to go to the same extreme.
quick tip: before you start, remove the sway bar and the exhaust. don't try to save yourself work now, you will just go insane trying to reinstall the diff with those two items on. it only takes a few minutes anyway.
my 240lb-ft electric impact wrench couldn't get the ring gear bolts off. if you are in the same boat as me, travel to your nearest auto maintenance store and ask them to remove the bolts. 10min and $10 for me at the local store. don't beat your self up trying to remove them.
when it is time to reinstall the diff into the car, be prepared for a headache. you will literally be wrestling it back into the car. i can't see how this could be a one-person job, i had the assitance of a friend. the driveshaft will try to get in the way, the halfshalfts won't want to compress enough for those rubber nubs to go into the ouput shafts, you will have to tilt the diff side to side, forward and back, and raise it up and down. if you think something's wrong with your car or your parts, it is probably just that you are doing something wrong.
S15 helical = sex, from what i can tell so far. went out in the country for a little drive. i will get to test it out at an autocross in a couple of weeks. i had some understeer issues on-throttle and off-throttle before due to my staggered tires and sway bar settings, but now, at least on-throttle the car is much more neutral. i haven't really been to the limit with it yet, but it seems as though i could induce oversteer at 100% throttle.
p.s. add my name to list of guys whose backlash was perfectly fine after swapping the diff reusing the stock shims.
hope this helps someone out.
first of all, if you have never removed the differential from your car, it is likely that your diff has never been removed. trust me, you will have trouble with every bolt you encounter. unless you have access to a lift, it is going to be difficult to get the leverage you want on the driveshaft and half-shaft bolts. also, there will not be room to get a ratchet on the driveshaft bolts unless you have a slim ratchet. i soaked every bolt with wd40 first. i ended up using a wrench, and the only way i could break them loose was to put my floorjack under the wrench and jack it up. the half-shaft bolts will take some work, but i didn't have to go to the same extreme.
quick tip: before you start, remove the sway bar and the exhaust. don't try to save yourself work now, you will just go insane trying to reinstall the diff with those two items on. it only takes a few minutes anyway.
my 240lb-ft electric impact wrench couldn't get the ring gear bolts off. if you are in the same boat as me, travel to your nearest auto maintenance store and ask them to remove the bolts. 10min and $10 for me at the local store. don't beat your self up trying to remove them.
when it is time to reinstall the diff into the car, be prepared for a headache. you will literally be wrestling it back into the car. i can't see how this could be a one-person job, i had the assitance of a friend. the driveshaft will try to get in the way, the halfshalfts won't want to compress enough for those rubber nubs to go into the ouput shafts, you will have to tilt the diff side to side, forward and back, and raise it up and down. if you think something's wrong with your car or your parts, it is probably just that you are doing something wrong.
S15 helical = sex, from what i can tell so far. went out in the country for a little drive. i will get to test it out at an autocross in a couple of weeks. i had some understeer issues on-throttle and off-throttle before due to my staggered tires and sway bar settings, but now, at least on-throttle the car is much more neutral. i haven't really been to the limit with it yet, but it seems as though i could induce oversteer at 100% throttle.
p.s. add my name to list of guys whose backlash was perfectly fine after swapping the diff reusing the stock shims.
hope this helps someone out.