I can't seem to find much information on these. They fit 94+ Miatas, and also non-turbo FC diffs.
http://cgi.ebay.ca/OBX-LSD-HELICAL-D...QQcmdZViewItem

the price is decent as long as it is not CRAP, but i can't find any info...they don't really seem to have a company website so i'm skeptical.

 

https://www.rx7club.com/showpost.php...07&postcount=7

As I stated in this post....the only product OBX does well is their diffs. They are exact same as the quaife brand. They have held up very well and with all the research I have done about these...any failures were due to install error with very few being product malfunction.

I trust OBX diffs but that is about all I trust from them.

Mike

 

ok, thanks for that info.

the thing is, i've been trying to find used Miata torsens, but those aren't exactly plentiful OR cheap...plus those are used, whereas these OBX diffs are new.
power handling is not an issue for me, this is going into an NA application. as long as it is reliable enough for that, and has decent lock-up characterisitcs, doesn't make too much noise, etc.

anyone else have opinions/know anything about these? OBX seems to have such a bad name it's hard to justify buying it.

- Aaron

 

The OBX will have the same dimensions as the Quaifes but the materials are different. You should be fine if you properly install the diff, but a word of advice good luck getting OBX to cover damages even if it is product defect. They have already turned down warranty claims and put the blame on owners in the Honda road racing scene.

IT won't be like Quaife where thay have a no questions asked lifetime warranty, even under racing conditions.

 

Brought this back from the dead. Anyone have any first hand experience with these diff in their FD that sees trackdays, etc?

Only reason I'm looking into these is the helical gear aspect of the design.

 

a guy on v8rx7forum has been using an OBX diff in his 580whp FD for something like 2 yrs. he said he broke the stock diff at 350whp, so apparently he drives pretty hard.

i'd also like to know about the gearset.. is it a different type than the S6 helical? i hear 99+ diffs are a better design (immune to tire lift spinning)

 

Please don't compare OBX to Quaife...they are nowhere near each other in quality:

http://forums.hybridz.org/showthread...&highlight=obx

 

I haven't held a Quaife in my hands but I have installed an OBX in a transmission and based on that I would not spend a dollar on OBX stuff.

Quaife is highly reputable.

Dave

 

Comparing OBX to Quaife is like comparing dog **** to godiva chocolate.

 

Understandable, but from that linked site, it looks as though with a little rework the OBX may be acceptable. One things for sure is by the helical design alone (assume it actually worked) it would be an improvement on the stock diff.

 

Sure...if you want to take it apart completely, refinish every part, replace it with acceptable hardware, etc...and even then I doubt it will hold up to any abuse, power, or many miles at that. The only thing obx did that was even acceptable was make exhausts (not manifolds), since the only way to **** up an exhaust really is to make it not fit...

 

WEll for me that no big deal, since I have easy access to all that. If it results in a quicker time around the track, then I'm interested.

 

It may, but it may also blow up after 2 track days.

 

I remember that car.

Single turbo LS1 FD made it last for years. I'd think it'd be okay for most otherwise?

 

My day job is designing gear drives. It's very similar to what's in a helical LS diff. Me make good, basic, durable drives for industrial customers, which I think is very similar to aftermarket automotive markets. So my personal quality standards are a reasonable starting point. The OBX diff is totally unacceptable based on that standard.

I do not believe that a little superficial rework will make it into an acceptable product. Gear-driven parts need to be made to a high quality to function correctly and last. The OBX parts I've handled suggest the rest of the parts are screwed up too and those aren't repairable.

David

 

ive yet to see a broken OBX diff (not that i put 100% into the search). all i can find is people complaining about the quality when they come out of the box.
there are numerous reports of the diff holding 500+whp without issues, in fwd and rwd applications. and if it does break.. so what, its 300 bucks.

 

The STOCK FD diff is essentially the same design. If you want to go faster, then Grassroots motorsports did a differential test not long ago and found that on an S2000 anyway, an OS Giken was faster than a Torsen and a Kazz diff. If you want to go faster, look there.