CSR Diff Bolts

[KernowSwiss]

I'm currently in the middle of a Caterham CSR build here in Switzerland.
Now the build manual doesn't cover the CSR at all, and the CSR supplement is pretty rubbsih.
I've fitted the Diff according to the info I have, which is using positions 1 and 2 in the pic.
Interestingly, my chassis has mounting points for position 3, including pre-fitted bushes but I have no assembly material for this position?!

The Swiss dealer reckons these are not needed, although he seemed puzzled / surprised by them....
It seems unlikely Caterham would have gone to a lot of trouble to modify the chassis to line up nice mountings and pre fit bushes for something that's not needed?

Can anyone confirm either way?

[philmorton]

Also worth asking on the csr forum .

[KernowSwiss]

Cheers Phil. Will do.

[JeffC]

I would fit extra bolts and braces where ever possible to the diff on a CSR , I smashed my Csr260 diff housing first time I put in on track with decent tyres.

[downsman]

I can't see any disadvantage to fitting extra bolts.

I have heard that it is impossible to reach the propshaft on the CSR chassis once it is in position, so make sure you remember to grease it first!

[LostCroc]

JeffC is right. CSRs are notorious for having the diff mountings break when just the 2 bolt attachments are used. Plenty of examples on Blatchat and CSR forum. Buy the extra Caterham CSR race diff braces and install those for peace of mind.

[mic]

The extra bushes are required in place of the diff struts fitted to earlier cars. I would definitely use them.

If the car has provision for inertia belts then diff struts wont fit.

Edited by mic on Tuesday 26th February 18:31

[EFA]

What a clever idea, using the extra mounts Ford put on the diff. Who would have thought of that??? :-)

[sjmmarsh]

One downside of the additional diff struts is increased noise transmitted to the rear bulkhead.

I don't have then fitted and have done 28k miles so far.

Steve

[mic]

Fitted correctly the diff struts should make no difference to noise levels. There are rubber bushes fitted to the diff end of the strut.

[KernowSwiss]

Thanks for the feedback.
I've ordered the addtional bolt and spacers and will fit them to be on the safe side.
It made no sense to me to have the mountings and not use them?!

[jimhcat]

Just to clarify what someone posted earlier.
The race CSR's have the diff offset to one side so you need to make sure you get the additional struts for the road car.
I had them fitted to mine and it makes little difference to the noise but does slightly reduce the space in the boot.

[viper blue]

Don't all CSRs have a differential offset? Mine does and it's a 'normal' CSR.

Rob

[mic]

I think the race CSR has the diff spaced to accept equal length drive shafts.

[LostCroc]

My LHD road CSR has equal length driveshafts - there is no diff offset. I was not even aware that the road cars should have an offset diffs? I have had my car since it arrived in the crate to be assembled so it was never a race car. Why would there be a different solution for road or race CSRs?

[nicemd]

I'm sure that the race/road CSRs have their differentials aligned differently. I don't know why, but it could have something to do with the rear hubs.

Until recently the support struts was only available for the race CSR and you had to make up your own for the road version.

http://csr200.blogspot.se/2011/03/differential-sup...

[KernowSwiss]

On my new CSR which is "road spec" the diff bolts are mounted with bush spacers and thus appears offset.
Although I think this is more relative to the diff mountings and input flange not being centralised with the output shafts centreline.
As far as I know the driveshafts are of equal length.
The build supplement for the CSR clearly shows the bushes:

Edited by KernowSwiss on Tuesday 5th March 18:48

[jimhcat]

Sorry I got it the wrong way round.
The race-CSR's have the diff centred while the road CSR's have it a bit to the right

http://csr200.blogspot.co.uk/2011/03/differential-...

Edited by jimhcat on Tuesday 5th March 19:39