LSD C-Clip Question

[95KA-Turbo]

Ok, I searched this and found nothing. I feel kind of stupid for asking this but need to know an answer.

I bought a used LSD and it is missing a C-clip on the left hand (ring gear) side of the diff. I removed the one from the open diff and attempted to get it in the LSD. After about an hour of messing with it I got it in, but I believe it is too mangled to fit or something, it is in the grooves but will not...expand I guess would be the right word. It is sticking out too far for the shaft to go down (I greased everything up and tried to hammer the shaft in but had no luck).

I am wondering if it is safe to run the LSD with out a C-clip (it doesn't feel safe I can put the shaft in and out fairly easily with my hand). Or would taking the C clip and grinding it down on one or both sides to make it thinner so it'll slip into the groove in the diff work?

[just1pepsi]

No its not safe, nor is modifying a c-clip that isnt the right size. You should obtain the correct C-Clilp from a MFG or a parts house.

[95KA-Turbo]

MFG? I am not sure what that is. I contacted OS Giken - which is what kind of diff it is - and they stated the C clip meant to fit in it is the OEM one. I was going to try and order one from the dealer, but if it doesn't fit I'm SOL and I'm trying to keep as many options open as possible.

[just1pepsi]

oh, my bad.. I meant to say "from the Mfg (Manufacturer)..."

If they say the OEM clip will work, find out the size and go buy one.

[Flybert]

I am in the same predicament as you. A cusco diff that I have was missing one so I pulled it out of an open diff but can't get the output shaft in now. The guy before me was driving without one. The axles hold the output shaft in but it did leak some oil from that side. I'm trying to figure out how to modify it so that it can work properly. Maybe shaving down the ring some will work. It's such a pain in the ass to get it in and out though that I don't want to do it more than once.

[Sileighty_85]

wow same thing with my Nismo one I tried putting on in there but it didnt work I just left it out

I've been DD and drifting on it for a year now with out a problem

[95KA-Turbo]

Wow, thanks a lot guys, I am happy I made this thread now, haha. I really appreciate the input.


If you want an easy way to get that c-clip in there get a 19mm socket (deep and thin walled), get the ring in there sitting properly as far as you can with your fingers, then beat it with a dead blow hammer. I spent roughly an hour and 45 mins to try and get it in there w/ 2 screw drivers, a hammer and some pliers but the hammer and 19mm socket took care of it in roughly 1 minute. Getting it out is another story, we had some dental tools so I took the cleaning hook and wedged it in and pulled on it really hard until it came out.

I am going to try and grind it down and see if it'll work, if not I'm going to say f-it and drive without it. If the grinding works I'll post up how I did and and how big the c-clip was after the fact.

[punxva]

well on my old vlsd i ran my drivers side without one, and figured the axle would keep it in place, which it did, it made some weird sounds sometimes, but it wasn't that bad, courtesy nissan has them, you just have to look around on the diagrams for it under oem parts.

[racepar1]

Are you sure that there isn't a clip stuck in the diff? Also are you sure you have the right output shaft on the right side? They are different lengths and if installed backwards one will stick out too much.

[95KA-Turbo]

It goes in all the way...and open diff half shafts are the same length, which is why they don't work on a VLSD as the center of the diff isn't in the center...if that makes any sense.

As far as I could tell there was not a clip stuck in there...I used a dentist cleaning tool to pick around in there. The problem isn't that the half shaft will not go in, as it goes in just fine, I can just remove it easily. The problem is the c-clip itself will not go in the slot it is supposed to. I am accrediting it to the fact that I deformed it quite a bit to remove it from the open diff.

I even took the one out of the right side and put it in the left side and it moved freely as well, the left shaft clips into the right side as well, as that side has a c-clip in place.

I will most likely not have time to work on this until the weekend, I will update from there. Meanwhile if anyone has anything else to add I will gladly hear any more advice!

[racepar1]

Use a rubber hammer and whack it a few times, if you haven't already tried that.