S14 Viscous LSD Tech Question::

[Kalashnikov]

Hey guys,

I have S14 and my oem VLSD is giving out. Was driving home from work and man, I could hear the loud winding noise. As I got into drive way and stopped, there was a locking noise. Been acting like this ever since i got the car. Suspected it was fluid, but changed it out with Lucas 80/90 gear oil.

Since day 1, output shafts were very stiff.

Anyway, switched the VLSD out with another Open Diff. I have laying around. The noise went away and the car drives super duper, so knew it was the VSLD.

I took off the back diff cover, and turned the output shafts, It was very difficult to turn them. I took off the input bolt and the drive shaft plate, and it spinned a little better but still super tight.

While turning the output shafts (me and a friend turning each output shaft, yeah, it's tight), the Spider gears inside, turned very slowly. I think something inside the unit is messed up, or the lsd spacers gone. There is also a quite lot of fine metal shavings on my magnetic drain plug.

Anyone have same problem or can tell me what Common failure this is???

I am about to take the thing apart, but if I don't have to, would save me time.

[projectRDM]

It's not too common, but low fluid/abuse will destroy a diff quickly. If there's a good deal of shavings, pitch it. Not worth rebuilding.

[Kalashnikov]

Yeah, True. I bought the car from some kid and I wouldn't be suprise what will fail next. Probably not even worth doing a welded diff on it, just going give it away or toss it.