starting to install all of my drift equipment,

i have a auto open diff that i am using with my 6speed manual transmission right now.

if i opened the diff pumpkin and replaced with LSD will it just be straight plug and play? or is it not that simple?

 

I can tell you that the Quaife ATB will drop right in using your original shims. If you don't have that many miles on it, you can keep your old bearings and seals. If you are high-miles, I would change the bearings and seals while you are in it.

 

The fact your quaife fell into place with the original shims was pure luck. No matter what there is a tolerance stack-up on the housing bearing caps, bearings themselves, and the quiafe itself. Either your quaife managed to be the exact same dimensions as the OEM unit (unlikely) or your backlash / bearing preload is not exactly (which can still be within acceptable specs, but OEM parts tend to have wide tolerances).

 

@Nine - Yea I was going to say not every dif will be the same. I don't think ive ever had a replacement just fall right into place with out at least one or two shim adjustments.


Hopefully you didn't just say oh looks A-ok and run it and its actually not shimmed correctly.


OP if your just looking to drift, look into just welding the one you already have. then aside from welding it will be plug n play.


But to answer your question no most replacements or new will need to be shimmed and greased. But yes plug n play could be used. But again shimming and greasing should be about that's necessary.


Also don't forget to use new sealant and try not to damage scratch the dif cover to avoid leaks. Also drain and replace fluid and shavings that may have accumulated in there over time.

 

I measured the backlash with a dial gauge and it was just under 0.005". I wasn't quite at the service manual spec for side bearing pre-load, but I've been daily driving it and have about 900 miles on it so far with no problems. Been doing the occasional burn-out for giggles too. That being said, the Quaife drawings say the measurement tolerances are ±0.005" (±0.127mm), and the service manual shows shim part numbers in 0.05mm increments. So I suppose that could mean potentially requiring shims up to 2 sizes smaller or larger. 0.127mm is the thickness of a sheet of paper. It's easy to go from light pre-load to "holy ****, I can barely drive this shim in, and now the side pre-load is 26 lbs."