Installed Tomei 2-way

[Var]

I finally got my car back from the shop getting the Tomei 2-way LSD installed. After driving the ae86 for 2 weeks, my 240 feels like a V-8 in torque. First of all when i broke the diff in and drained the oil, i didnt notice too much metal in the oil. There were a few bits on the drain-plug magnet but nothing dramatic. I broke the diff in according to Ray's instructions a KaazUsa. Figure 8's for 30 minutes at full lock with the clutch in around turns.
I used some cheap non-synthetic GL5 85W90 for the break-in, then i put the Tomei fluid in it.

The clunking is pretty damn loud and startling at first but i got used to it by the end of the day. The lsd effect feels a lot like Flybert described in his review. IMO the car feels more like a go-kart now. I thought when the "understeer" was described it would feel like plowing at the limit....but it's nothing like that. In fact i kinda like the understeer. Like a go kart you can still turn in pretty quick off the throttle, then when you feel the front end get twitchy you just get on the gas and power through the turn pretty good. The car pivots amazingly now. It was like the missing link i had no clue about. I havent even pitched the car sideways yet, it just hooks through turns hella fast! The more gas i give it, the faster it turns. I didnt really want to push it yesterday cause it was my first day driving it with LSD. I'm sure it has a lot of potential i havent begun to tap yet, and i'm anticipating that i may have to change my suspension settings to accomodate the LSD. The car feels like it can go a lot faster through turns.. i was led to believe otherwise. I was told that 100% lock would be too much for my 205-50-15's, but they were wrong. I was led to believe that on the gas around turns meant drift, but they were wrong. I fuckin love my lsd so far but i have one regret....i wish i had done it sooner.

[nokeone]

congrats man!!..i know exactly how you feel...when i got the Kaaz 2-way in i was like, "holy shit, what was i waiting for???"...but i'm glad i went from Open, to VLSD, to 2-way...made it that much more worth it...:D...

enjoy it..and BE SAFE..as secure as it feels, when it gets out, it really gets out quickly...and in the first rain, drive REALLY slow...it's like being on ice..

[Maeda]

I'm so envious.

[Flybert]

Good to hear you like it. The more you drive, the more you'll get used to it and be able to take advantage of it. The only downside I see is when gripping on really tight turns, you scrub and have to be easy on the throttle or you'll get drift-style oversteer.

[Wei240]

so does the tomei use the same 'special' gear oil as kaaz
someone mentioned that they are basically made from the same company?

[nokeone]

yes they are the same....

[Var]

The only difference i found out between the 2 units is that the Tomei has 2 extra shims in the diff that gives a more agressive initial lock than the Kaaz. Otherwise they are the same. Do you guys know where to get good prices on their brand name oil?

[nokeone]

it's pretty bank regardless of where you get it...$40 or so for a large can..

[Var]

eek. that's a 60 dollar oil change every 2500 miles. engine oil, filter, diff oil...

Considering a good brand name costs like 17 dollars a quart, may as well pay for the tomei/kaaz fluid right? Nokeone..what brand name do you use? Cause i know you arent supposed to use synthetic oil.

[nokeone]

i use the Kaaz fluid...i was using Red Line and others but after gathering info it seems like it's worthwhile to shell out the money...figure it's an $800 investment...might as well protect it and attempt to extend it's life...a large can should last you 2 dif oil changes from my experience given you don't spill too much of it...lol..and most people are rather confident in changing the dif oil only once ever 3000-5000 miles depending on your usage...no drifting -> no need to change before 5000 miles...heavy drifting then every 3000 miles or every couple of track events...

[Wei240]

what about using that penzoil (or gm) synchromesh stuff?

[Var]

it's time to change my oil. When i go into pep boys or kragen, i really dont see anything i want to put in my diff. Anyone with tomei.. have you used GM Syncromesh? is it an additive or a brand of gear oil? What else is good (brand specific)

[DuffMan]

what about using that penzoil (or gm) synchromesh stuff?

Yes, you must protect the LSD's synchros at all costs!!!!

[240eggsx]

I have the tomei t-trax advance 2 way in my car now and I use Amsoil 80w-90 synthetic in my diff. Seems to work just fine. Anyone have any documentation stating what if any are the down sides to using synthetic?

[Flybert]

Kaaz says not to use synthetic so I use the regular shit. Just add LSD additive to a regular oil and it works fine. I do not have the money to shell out for expensive ass kaaz oil. For my last oil change, I put in normal valvoline and it clunked liked crazy. I added some LSD additive to it and it quited down a whole lot. That's what I'll be doing for the rest of my oil changes. That's like $30 savings compared to buying kaaz oil.

[INeedNewTires]

well i know in a VLSD the way it works is 2 plates rubbing against eachother and when the friction between the plates generates enough heat to "thin" out the oil it engages the slipping axle. This would be counter affected by synthetic oil which takes more friction/heat to thin out so to my understanding putting a higher quality oil than intended would have adverse affects on a VLSD.... i dont think this has anything to do with a clutch type LSD but maby it does.... and of course, correct me if im wrong you more experienced poster's, im just going by what ive read so far and what i comprehended from what i read.

[ch1873857]

MOTUL has some really good diff oil for clutch type LSDs. thought i might add that

[Var]

well i know in a VLSD the way it works is 2 plates rubbing against eachother and when the friction between the plates generates enough heat to "thin" out the oil it engages the slipping axle. This would be counter affected by synthetic oil which takes more friction/heat to thin out so to my understanding putting a higher quality oil than intended would have adverse affects on a VLSD.... i dont think this has anything to do with a clutch type LSD but maby it does.... and of course, correct me if im wrong you more experienced poster's, im just going by what ive read so far and what i comprehended from what i read.


the vlsd is a sealed unit within the diff and has it's own viscous fluid. The oil you put in your diff isnt supposed to affect it at all.

flybert:what kind of lsd additive and how much do you put in?

[nokeone]

ford or GM has a good additive you can usually get at the dealer...they use it in all their big horsepower locking rear ends...give um a call and they should be able to help you out...it's usually pretty inexpensive...