I had a Quaife LSD installed on Friday. Everything went smoothly with the install, but it's been making some noises that I'm not sure are normal. It's a grinding sound as the wheels turn when I'm slowing down to a stop - under 20mph or so. I can feel it in the shifter and it does it whether I'm in gear or not. It doesn't happen until I've driven several miles and the car/diff is heated up, and then doesn't go away until the car has sat for a while and cooled down.

I did the break-in procedure today (figure 8's for 30 mins) even though I heard that you don't need to with gear-type LSDs, but I wanted to rule that out anyway. It didn't seem to help any. When I got home I jacked up the rear end and tried to replicate the sound. Turning the wheels by hand didn't do it, and putting the car in gear to turn the wheels didn't either. The only way to get it to make the noise is to rev-up with the car in gear to really get the wheels spinning, and then push in the clutch and let them roll/grind to a stop.

Has anyone else had a similar experience with the Quaife? My installer says it's just the break-in period, but I haven't heard anyone else mention it. I used new bearings for the install. Any ideas?

 

There is no break-in required for a Quaife diff. Your installer F'd up the job - sorry. Take it apart before you ruin something, if you haven't already.

 

Need more details...who did the install? Did they use new bearings..check backlash? etc.. It definitely shouldnt sound like that at all. What fluid did they use as well?

 

Install was done by a local shop in Nashville that mostly works on track/drift setups, but I think they're more familiar with clutch-type diffs. I supplied new bearings and Motul Gear 300 fluids. I was there and watched 90% of the install, and everything appeared to go smoothly. We didn't think it was necessary to check backlash since the bearings can only go on so far (maybe a mistake)?? I had read your DIY write-up several times, because I originally planned to do the install myself. Everything was done just as in your DIY, and every bolt torqued to spec - including the 155lb-ft ring gear bolts, which was a pain. I'm thinking probably the bearings were damaged during the install or somehow the backlash is off.

 

prolly the bearings man...there really isnt anything to it.. If they put the bearings on first and then used a vise (holding the diff in place) to torque the ring gear bolts - the bearings could very well have gotten messed up..

Either way - I would make your shop do it again..

 

Could be the bearings, or it could be backlash settings. I'd never install a new diff without at least checking the backlash, so make sure the shop checks it while fixing what they screwed up the first time. It doesn't matter if it's a gear-type or clutch-type diff, as they both install the same way.

 

I took the car back in yesterday thinking the bearings were the problem and that they would have to be replaced. After taking everything apart, the bearings seemed fine. The problem apparently was that assembly lube was used on the inside of the carrier and the shims to help everything slide in easier. Once the bearings heated up, there wasn't enough space for them to expand and they would growl. The clearances are so tight, that even that small amount of lube makes a difference. After thoroughly cleaning all the lube off, the diff actually went in easier. I drove about 30 miles on it last night and the noises/vibrations were gone. Anyway, I'm loving the Quaife. It feels just like an open diff in everyday driving, but the improvement in traction is amazing. I've got an autocross this Sunday, so I can't wait to really test it out.