R180 Diff Issues...

[WRX 2.0]

Hey team. I have a 1999 V5 Type R, and making some horrible noises in the rear diff. Seems to be binding and the slightest hint of cornering, but only at low speed. Seems ok at high speeds, well, unnoticeable anyway... I've changed the oil in it with expensive redline stuff, that quietened it down, but it's just progressively getting worse and worse...

Few questions resulting here now;

1st, are they able to be rebuilt, how much roughly, by who (not the diff shop in papanui, TOO EXPENSIVE!), or is it able to be done at home? I have only seen one or two come up on trademe, so second hand seems to be out of the question, but not really into the second hand parts anyway...

2nd, being a daily driver, i don't want to veer away from the more reliable and quieter LSD diff, but what do people think of Mechanicals? I'm fairly stock, 300 odd HP, 17" wheels, don't really think it's needed... But it would be pretty cool mated with a dog box... HA! Dreaming...

Any help is greatly appreciated. I want to get it sorted before winter, as it's my main source of transport up the mountain. Yes, i do boost it in sensational style up the road! I usually regret it when i get back to town and have to clean the bastard, but hey, that's what they're designed for, so YAY! ;D

[WRXONP]

of course diffs can be rebuilt

what symptoms do you have...what sort of sounds is it and when does it make the sound?

coasting?

decelleraion?

acceleration??

switching between decel and acel??

this will give a rough indication of whats gone bad

[Guest]

Do you have the right oil in it ?

They are a plated LSD and need proper LSD oil otherwise they chatter and bind on turns

Unless its whining or noisey then it wont need a rebuild !

One other question, is the DCCD wound on at all? even 1-2 clicks will give this same fault

[WRX 2.0]

Mainly does it on deceleration into a corner, and accelerating out of a corner. Intersections, carparks, coming into driveway. It's a definite clunking sound, not a whinning sound or crunching sound like i have heard on some other cars. It makes the car move at the worse of times, almost like it's working normally, then half a wheel turn later, it's fully locked up and skips around the back wheels. Like it's "off" then a whopping clunk and it's "on" and locked up! It was the right type of oil, LSD oil, i double checked on that. I can't remember exactly what it was, i threw the bottles out. It was from redline which i was told is the best... DCCD is wound all the way back.

[pedro]

My coupe makes similar noises when turning at slow speeds,carparks etc.

It seems that its not uncommon and something you have to live with.

[WRXONP]

Seems like a centre dif problem to me ? But ichi will be able to confirm

[Guest]

Jack up with just one rear wheel off the ground and both fronts off the ground ( have car off and in neutral )

See how much torque is reqired to turn the LSD plates - (around the 70Nm-100Nm mark is normal)

A light clunk (click) is normal thru the drive train (mainly from rear diff) when taking off

[WRX 2.0]

so jack it up, and try turning the axle with a torque wrench? Is that what you mean?

[kamineko]

yeah i've heard this car clunk, its nasty..

i get the feeling its the centre?

very random thing to try, next time you are binding up on a slow turn, lift the handbrake just until the handbrake dash light comes on. this usually forces the dccd to free.

after that i would try unplugging the dccd control box to make sure the centre isn't getting any power.

[WRX 2.0]

Interesting... so what you're saying is i should try parking at the mall with my handbrake up?! HAHA! CAN DO!! Alright, i will try that. Sucks the DCDD diffs aren't serviceable... I wonder if anyone has tried cutting one open and tried servicing. It's so hard to diagnose, except PBMS in auckland of course... Knowing my luck, i'll do one diff, and it will be the other!!! Be brilliant if i could source another R180 and just try it. A lot easier than swapping a box anyway.

[WRX 2.0]

Tried the handbrake trick today, no difference... Does this confirm the rear diff??

[Jambun]

http://www.clubsub.org.nz/forum/index.php/topic,20519.0.html

if you havent seen it

[Guest]

 WRX 2.0 said:

Tried the handbrake trick today, no difference... Does this confirm the rear diff??

more than likely YES

Jack one rear wheel , have car in neutral (eng off)

CAN YOU TURN THE WHEEL ?

[WRX 2.0]

Had my car jacked up on the weekend trying to get the diff out. Tried turning one wheel, turned for a small amount, then wouldn't turn anymore. May be just slack in the drivetrain? I've got a diff out of a V4 i think, or V3, don't know if it will fit, looks a bit smaller... Just borrowing it, so no biggie if it doesn't. Tried undoing some bolts underneath, FAR OUT! Those suckers aren't going anywhere! I'm going to need some giant ass power bar to get anything done!

[Guest]

axles will be different for the earlier diff

[Stoffa]

ring Anton at Geartech in palmy north, he has alot of spares and estimated a rebuild at $500 that was including upping the ramp rate a little so the LSD engages earlier.

He does alot of work on racecars and has a great reputation

[WRX 2.0]

Interesting... Can i just send him a diff and get him to fix it? Might ring them after Easter. Possum Bourne Motorsports said i can send it to them too and they diagnose whatever issues it may have and go from there. 2 options now, that's great!

[Tony]

 WRX 2.0 said:

Interesting... Can i just send him a diff and get him to fix it? Might ring them after Easter. Possum Bourne Motorsports said i can send it to them too and they diagnose whatever issues it may have and go from there. 2 options now, that's great!

Get hold of Geartech on 06 354 7590... they are very good, and take care of all the gearbox/diff work on my race car. Highly recommend Anton and the team.

[funkytown]

 Tony']

[quote name='WRX 2.0 said:

Interesting... Can i just send him a diff and get him to fix it? Might ring them after Easter. Possum Bourne Motorsports said i can send it to them too and they diagnose whatever issues it may have and go from there. 2 options now, that's great!

/quote]

Get hold of Geartech on 06 354 7590... they are very good, and take care of all the gearbox/diff work on my race car. Highly recommend Anton and the team.

also worked on my mechanical 2 way rear diff, refurbished and shimmed it for me - definately recommend.

[kamineko]

sorry if this sounds obvious, but how much did the wheel turn? your handbrake wasn't on was it?