Anyone successfully rebuilt a viscus LSD?
Anyone successfully rebuilt a viscus LSD?
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Discussion

Lawbags

Original Poster:

1,074 posts

158 months

Saturday 1st March 2014
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As title really.
Anyone had any luck rebuilding one without buying the whole assembly?

stevieturbo

18,085 posts

277 months

Saturday 1st March 2014
quotequote all
That depends what aspect you're intending to rebuild.

The actual viscous unit requires specialised tools, so in general is not something a DIY'er can do correctly.

Lawbags

Original Poster:

1,074 posts

158 months

Saturday 1st March 2014
quotequote all
Well, I'm trying to work out what is more cost effective. Buying a Quaiffe or similar, or rebuilding mine.

stevieturbo

18,085 posts

277 months

Saturday 1st March 2014
quotequote all
There isnt really any DIY service parts inside a VC LSD.

Some people do take them apart and ram bits of metal into them to lock them up and call it "shimming"....but they're just totally removing any viscous coupling action by doing so, and it wont last that way for long.

Of course more importantly.

What is the car ? fwd, rwd, 4wd, what use ? road, track, drag, etc etc ?

derektrimblitz

317 posts

191 months

Saturday 1st March 2014
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Whenever I hear that I think of Vermicious Knids

PaulKemp

979 posts

175 months

Saturday 1st March 2014
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The Ford Viscous diff has plates in close proximity in a silcone fluid with a precise air bubble, nothing you can do with it and tend not to wear, the rest is standard crown wheel, pinion and planet gears with bearings, this bit can be rebuilt like any other diff
The main difficulty is setting preload on input shaft nose bearing.
Ford diff rebuilds are about £250
Quaife ATB's are £600 and still need to be fitted to a diff casing with a crown wheel and pinion

Lawbags

Original Poster:

1,074 posts

158 months

Saturday 1st March 2014
quotequote all
stevieturbo said:
There isnt really any DIY service parts inside a VC LSD.

Some people do take them apart and ram bits of metal into them to lock them up and call it "shimming"....but they're just totally removing any viscous coupling action by doing so, and it wont last that way for long.

Of course more importantly.

What is the car ? fwd, rwd, 4wd, what use ? road, track, drag, etc etc ?
It's for my boosted Civic. FWD, high power and mainly drag/track.

226bhp

10,203 posts

158 months

Monday 3rd March 2014
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Have you tried finding someone who rebuilds them instead of buying new?

stevieturbo

18,085 posts

277 months

Monday 3rd March 2014
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You'd maybe be better seeing if Cusco, Kaaz etc make something, or that Gripper diff guy.

They may be better suited to drag use.

I'd have no issues with Quaife myself but unless you're using sticky tyres, an ATB style diff can still allow a single wheel to spin if it gets loose enough.

Although I use a Torsen style diff in the back of my car, and really have no real complaints.

Although depending in size, ie space available in the box some units might be stronger than others.

DVandrews

1,382 posts

313 months

Monday 3rd March 2014
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I had a Cosworth viscous LSD on my old YB engined seven, it was overhauled and 'pumped up' which I believe involves replacing the viscous fluid with something of higher viscosity, thus lowering the slip rate.

It was very effective.

Dsve

stevieturbo

18,085 posts

277 months

Monday 3rd March 2014
quotequote all
DVandrews said:
I had a Cosworth viscous LSD on my old YB engined seven, it was overhauled and 'pumped up' which I believe involves replacing the viscous fluid with something of higher viscosity, thus lowering the slip rate.

It was very effective.

Dsve
But only a select few have the ability to do the job correctly.

Plus the other consideration...upgrading the OEM diff doesnt improve the fact they have a weak diff pin and weak bevel gears
So you'd spend all that money in less slippage, but still have a high risk of diff failure.

Mr2Mike

20,143 posts

285 months

Monday 3rd March 2014
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Can't you use the ATB style diff from an EK9 or DC2? I didn't know the older Civics came with viscous diffs, is it an aftermarket part?

Lawbags

Original Poster:

1,074 posts

158 months

Monday 3rd March 2014
quotequote all
Mr2Mike said:
Can't you use the ATB style diff from an EK9 or DC2? I didn't know the older Civics came with viscous diffs, is it an aftermarket part?
They are the B series engines. Mines a D. LSD box is ultra rare. They came as an optional extra on the import Del Sol D15b. Mine is one only 6 known in the country.