Questions about helical front diff

[rallyak]

First of all my 5spd shifts great and has a weird hollow clunking noise when decel, it not cvs and has been doing this since last rebuild a year a half ago (72k). I believe it could be the front diff because of one tire will just spin in the winter on snow. Also when I have the front tires off the ground one tire spins almost freely while the other has a fair amount of resistance. I know that's not normal and the diff I know has at least 400k on it.

My question is for those of you that has rebuilt these transmissions are all 5spds have the same diff or same dimensions? If so will this work http://item.mobileweb.ebay.com/viewitem ... 1091742728.

The main reason I ask is this last shift I worked the front seal started leaking and the transmission needs to come out and would be a perfect time to up grade when it's apart.

[mike-tracy]

From my understanding, Helical diffs act as an open when one wheel has no traction. Their benefit is on pavement or gravel where there is SOME traction. Depending on the diff, they may induce MORE oversteer, but that can be combated with proper application of the right foot I believe. This is a good question for an auto-x'er.

From reading, the front diff is interchangeable in all 5mt's. At least, that's what I read on Nasioc.

[James614]

Do you have a rear mechanical LSD? If not, I'm thinking it will understeer a lot more but I could be wrong. Considering the situation sure doesn't sound like a bad idea to upgrade if its mostly a DD though.

[rallyak]

I have vlsd in the rear and still have traction issues in the winter getting up some driveways. I'm also comparing it to my wife's car which is also a 5spd w/o vlsd and runs circles around mine in the snow and handling. Mine already understeers real bad compared to my wife's. coming on to the highway on one of those circle ramps I have to slow way down as where my wife's I can put it in a 4 wheel controlled slide all the way around the ramp. If I even touch the gas in mine it plows and won't turn, and also I hear that clunk when the one tire is spinning ( no is not cvs).

Even though it my DD I find my self in places that I wouldn't normally go and love to drive hard around town at 3am when nobody's on the road.

[James614]

Yeah, sounds like you're just getting 3wd, lol. I say go for it.

[mike-tracy]

My guess is your center diff is shot. That's how my friend's RS is.