Factory equiped with rear discs, my car has an open diff.

Dammit



I will have to figure out how to get one.... IF the goddam thing starts some day

:p

 

Installing an open diff was the fix for when a custoimer complained about chatter around corners.

Plenty of GSLs out there with open diffs.

 

Not mine, the model comes equiped with rear discs, yet no LSD... all of them

Weird "rest of the world" model

 

Oops, I hope this isn't news to everybody else that's worked on 7's for more than a week. It certainly isn't news to me.

You know you can just swap out pumpkins, right?

 

Interesting. We were under the impression that "ROW" cars all recieved what were the "higher spec" parts in North America.

 

so does the 82gsl w/ rear discs have a lsd... lol i mean when i drifted a corner today it left 2 20' black streaks but... how do i know for sure, i mean ... most... of the time i do burnouts its both wheels...

 

For US models, all GSL came from the factory with rear discs and limited slip. It was also the only way to get those options.

However, as mentioned, the common fix for customer complaints that their new, not-quite-inexpensive car chattered and shuddered around sharp low speed turns, was to yank the limited slip diff and replace it with an open diff.

So it's not uncommon to find a GSL rear with an open diff.

Additionally, the cars are all a minimum of 19-20 years old. That's plenty of time for FPOs (F'ing Previous Owners) to swap parts in or out. I have seen GSLs with not only open diffs but drum rears, after someone bought the car for the rear then put their old one in the car to re-sell. I'm probably going to be putting a drum rear in my own GSL because I'm sick of rebuilding the calipers.

The way to check the diff is to leave the transmission in Neutral, chock both front and one rear tire, jack up the remaining rear tire, and try to turn it. If the limited slip diff is in good shape, it should be very difficult to turn (about 30-40lb-ft measured at the lug nuts), which is the "breakaway" torque - how much static load there is on the internal clutches. Once it starts turning, the force needed to turn it should lessen. If the breakaway torque is minimal, then the diff is worn but still serviceable. If you can spin it easily, then either it's an open diff, or the clutches are totally worn out, which is about as useful.

 

I'm starting to think that mine isn't LSD either

 

Dont forget they wear out. They are clutches. I put mine in 6 months ago (out of an 84) and when I lifted the rear tires off the ground, when 1 rotated, the other turned. Now, only 1 will turn unless I get some RPM's going.

The only sure way to tell is to lift one tire off the ground. If it turns VERY easliy, you have an open diff. If it turns with difficulty, but turns, its worn. If it doesnt turn, your LSD is in good condition.

 

My 1984 GSL differential has a sticker on it.

 

Nope, factory LSD's are very uncommon in Australia yet all our Series 2/3's have rear discs.

 

Thats what I was told by an Aus forum member whom I sold several LSD's during his visit in Cali. Im hoping to have a least a dozen for his next visit.

 

Do they have the thick axle shafts on the S3's over there like they do here? If they have access to Miatas (1994+) over in Australia, that whole pumpkin bolts up.

 

Same overhere: LSD isn't very common, yet rear discs are stock on S2/3.
However, I heared "some" S2 have drums overhere too, whih is strange, as I always thought ALL S2 had rear discs. But then again: Europe has many imported cars... Makes it even harder to say which model year came with what parts...

 

the ones I sold him were mainly for 84-85, the big axles. For that price, it was lot cheaper than buying them from a wrecking yard. Im not sure if they have a self-serve wrecking yard down under.

 

I always thought that you lift the rear wheels up and turn one wheel and if the other wheel turns in the same direction of the wheel being turned then it was lsd or posi. This what I learned in automotive school. I could be wrong.