I'm pretty sure my Turbo II Diff just took a dump.

I was on the freeway and I hear a big thump coming from the rear, like I dropped my clutch, only I didn't. Everything seemed fine until I started getting on the gas. The rear end kept making thumping noises like the diff is skipping on itself. I can feel the loss of power with the thumps. The faster I went the worse it was, the higher gear I was in the more constant it became. I limped her home and drained the oil. I didn't find any metal chunks. Everything else on the car checks out, diff mount seems okay, clutch has plenty of life in it. So, I think my differential is just at it's end of life. Question is... What do I do?

I could buy a Kaaz LSD and pay someone for installation, but I'd rather not spend the money.
or
I have a 86 GXL sitting in my moms backyard with a good Differential. I figure I could swap them. However does anyone know if I would have to bring the half shafts with me as well? Also, am I going to have to drill new holes in the drive shaft to get this to fit?
or
Someone have a spare Turbo II Diff sitting around with low miles they want to sell me for cheap?!

Opinions please! Thanks.

 

you are going to need the na diff, axles and driveshaft. If you can't get a hold of a custom driveshaft you will need everything from the flywheel back.

 

The Kaaz LSD might not solve your problem. I think you mulched the Ring and Pinion gear.

How cheap is cheap? Willing to drive to Fontana? There's one available there for $400.

 

I assume you are selling it. I'll PM you.

I'd also settle for someones entire TII pumpkin.

 

I'll buy your TII pumpkin with bad diff... let me know!

 

Took my rear end to a shop to have them crack it open for me. I'd do it myself, but I don't have the experience, also I had a hard enough time dropping my sub-frame to get that sucker out. They opened it up initially and called me that day. They said it looks okay. I told them that the rear end would clunk very loudly in just about every gear. The higher gear I was in the more often the rear end would clunk violently. Same symptom occurs with speed. Unless I killed a tooth on 3 or more gears suddenly, I doubt that my rear is isn't the problem. Anyone else with some good technical knowledge of our Transmission workings could see how this would happen?

Clutch is new.
Transmission was rebuilt 40k miles ago.
Rear Diff is original with 170k + on it
Drive shaft looks okay
Rear diff mount looks okay


DUDE?!?!

 

Well they finally took the whole damn Diff apart and everything was fine. It has to be my transmission. I got under the car yesterday and turned the drive shaft while I had my girlfriend push in the clutch and change the gears. It felt smooth and fine. I checked the oil level, and I couldn't even feel any oil no matter how deep I tried to put my finger in there. I'm wondering if I should just drain and refill the gear oil and see how it drives, or just get the whole damn thing rebuilt again.

 

check the U joints on the driveshaft?

 

Yeah I checked the U joints, they seem fine. Also checked the diff mounts. They seem fine.

 

i swapped a s4 TII diff in mine as well a month ago. also got a clunk, theres slight freeplay from the driveshaft spline, like i can rotate the driveshaft a lil bit til it engages to spin teh wheels. That is what i suppose the clunk is.

Im curious to figure this out as well.. i didnt crack it open when i put it in a month ago. just fresh fluids. If i drive normal/easy on teh clutch, i can drive fine.. Im thinking about opening it up this weekend and shimming it this weekend but not looking forward to the labor lol.

im wondering if it could be the backlash?

I put that in to replace a s4 open diff that was welded which was breaking.. i cant recall if that was developing a clunk, but i know it was breaking from hearing it while slow cornering. I still have that diff tho, and theres no driveshaft spline play like my TII has.