Unbalanced FWD Differential

[Chris34574]

Hi All,

First time working on a transmission system and I've made my car (Ford Focus - manual - petrol) severely pull sideways by turning a small black adjustment knob on the top of the transmission differential that had a retaining clip on it.

I've circled it in red in the attached picture. It sits on top the differential block, just above the RH drive shaft with a small sheet metal retaining clip that pulls over it to secure it. If anyone could tell me what it is/does? And how I readjust it back to being equal? That would be great.

For those interested I changed the oil seal on the RH driveshaft and needed to refill the oil, I spent sometime turning and pulling at it thinking it was the filler plug to top the oil up. I found the correct filler plug after doing research but when driving off I noticed my car has become extremely unstable and pulls to one side, skids when at full lock and jumps to the side when driving over wet drains. Quite a drastic effect for something so easy to turn but definitely not good for the tyres or putting stress on the gears.

Thanks in advance,

Chris

[imagineifyeswill]

As far as I can make out that is purely a blanking plug where the speedo sensor would go on an earlier model, the speedo now senses off an ABS sensor.

[GreenV8S]

When you changed the oil seal, did this involve you loosening or dismantling any part of the suspension or steering?

[E-bmw]

Are you sure you put the drive shaft back in after changing the seal?

[Mignon]

[quote=Chris34574but when driving off I noticed my car has become extremely unstable and pulls to one side, skids when at full lock and jumps to the side when driving over wet drains.
[/quote]

Yeah, cars tend to get like that when the tracking is a mile out.

[Chris34574]

Thanks for the responses guys. Those who mentioned tracking are correct.... I was chasing my tail with the blanking plug.

I also changed the wishbone arms and I originally thought it was the tracking but the skidding wheels during cornering seemed so severe I began to suspect a power distribution problem.

I had very significant amount of toe in!!! It was fun while I had it but definitely not suitable for the weather. Sorted now.

Thanks again,

Chris

[xjay1337]

Chris34574 said:

Thanks for the responses guys. Those who mentioned tracking are correct.... I was chasing my tail with the blanking plug.

I also changed the wishbone arms and I originally thought it was the tracking but the skidding wheels during cornering seemed so severe I began to suspect a power distribution problem.

I had very significant amount of toe in!!! It was fun while I had it but definitely not suitable for the weather. Sorted now.

Thanks again,

Chris

Nope, I had exactly the same after changing all my front end for polybushes and fitting lowering springs.
After alignment it was sorted.

lol.

[Mignon]

Chris34574 said:

I also changed the wishbone arms ...

It wasn't exactly the hardest problem in the world to diagnose even without the info you'd changed the wishbones.

This one got a bit more tetchy.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[Chris34574]

Thanks for the responses guys. Those who mentioned tracking are correct.... I was chasing my tail with the blanking plug.

I also changed the wishbone arms and I originally thought it was the tracking but the skidding wheels during cornering seemed so severe I began to suspect a power distribution problem.

I had very significant amount of toe in!!! It was fun while I had it but definitely not suitable for the weather. Sorted now.

Thanks again,

Chris

[Mignon]

There's an echo in here.

[northwestrecover]

In here !

[xjay1337]

here......