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As most of you have read in this post, I have bought an LSD centre for my diff. Is it a must to get it mounted into the diff professionally or is it possible with a couple of guys with some mechanical knowledge?

I realise being a first, it would take most of a day, but time is on my side on this one.

Bigdog and myself both have manuals on diff disassembly/assembly which could be used. Should I pay Mania $300 to do it or have a crack at a dodgy day?

Thanks Guys

How hard can it be

Read the book, purchase any additional tools that will be required, read the book again then give it a go

BTW, factor in $50 for new bearings/seals.

I always drop the whole housing and then take it to my diff guys. That way, they can reseal the front to the housing and they can press the new bearings in and I don't have to worry about it.

The trick is setting the backlash properly which is not difficult, it's done by preloading the bearings on either side but you will need some marking paint to make sure the gears mesh properly. For me, it's much simpler to get a good diff guy to do it for you. Mania's price is good if it includes the bearings and I know they've fitted a few.

CT wrote:Mania's price is good if it includes the bearings and I know they've fitted a few.

Thanks CT. Yeah just contacted Simone. They charge $370 including bearings. Thought it might be closer to $250-$300

Anywhere decent that can do it for this much?

Bevan, if there's a dodgy day Ill be there to supervise, so youll have no probs!

(I dont know sh*t)

maxwolfie wrote:(I dont know sh*t)

Neither does Bevan

LOL at both you clowns

I've assembled some diff centres before. There is nothing particularly difficult, time consuming though. Just read what it says to do in the manual in regards to backlash, contact patch and preload. Having the right tools helps heaps.

You also get the added benefit of accomplishing something yourself.

But if cost is not an issue (which it was for me) the get somebody to do it then.

Save the $370, buy the right tools and then keep them for the next dodgy days to be held at your place with everyone shouting you food and frosty beverages!

The only things I haven't done on my car is wheel alignments, tyre fitting and windscreen install! And I've learnt a valuable amount in the process.

Just thought I should clear up a possible misconception - I was asked last night if the 'Bigdog Dodgy Days' were a commercial enterprise - obviously some people must think that for the question to asked.

Answer is an emphatic NO! It was done to help out some friends who wanted to do some work on their own cars - I happen to own a well equipped home workshop where I keep my historic race cars, so I offered the use of the workshop and the chance of some fun social interaction for the day, as I have done for Bevan on this occasion. I am not trying to rob the commercial providers of business, (and should point out that Mania service my car for me) simply helping friends that have decided off their own bat to go down the DIY path. That said i know very little about the internal workings of the MX5 diff, so I can't offer much advice on this one Bevan - I'm guessing it is probably safer to leave it to the experts??

I'm guessing it is probably safer to leave it to the experts??

Thats what I recon too. It's probably not that hard if someone shows you what to do or you watch it being done but if it's not done right it's pretty easy to get a noisey diff and chew out your crown wheel and pinion set which will set you back a lot more than $370 to get repaired.

Swapping the whole diff is pretty straight forward but setting up diff internals should be left to someone who has a pretty good idea of what they're doing.

sabretooth wrote:Save the $370, buy the right tools and then keep them for the next dodgy days...

The right tools will cost a lot more than $370...

BTW someone did a good pictorial PDF and posted it on the big forum about diff centre replacement and backlash adjustment. But there was no mention of pinion depth (necessary if you fit a new R&P).

I found this thread on a drift site on installing a Kaaz LSD into a different car: http://www.driftfactory.com/lsdinstall.php. He doesn't measure the backlash at all and I think he was just lucky the contact was right.

There's another step-by-step here: http://www.moparmusclemagazine.com/projectbuild/155_0209_sub_project_car_rear_diff/index1.html. They actually describe how to adjust the contact patch and backlash on this one. Can skip pretty much all of this page. Click on page 3 for most of the good stuff.

I'll be buying a dial indicator (0.0001) off ebay to measure the backlash. I'll also grab some marking die to measure the contact patch. Apart from these, I can't think of anything else I need to buy. I'll need an air torque wrench if BigDog doesn't have one and I can't borrow one from somewhere. Should be up for $100 max in actual tools.

As for parts, i'm buying diff oil anyway, so that won't be included in this project. Why do I need new bearings and seals? To be on the safe side (like doing the water pupmp with timing belt)? Also, they're only $50, so that would take total cost to $150.

The more I read about it, the more I want to do it. Mainly for the accomplishment. Simone from Mania said it's actually $300 including bearings and oil, which makes that option more appealing though. Alot more reading and pondering to do.

Bevan wrote:Simone from Mania said it's actually $300 including bearings and oil, which makes that option more appealing though

That and it's all done in 1 day, you get to watch it happen, you get it done properly and you get a warranty!

I know what I'd be doing personally!

Bevan wrote:The more I read about it, the more I want to do it. Mainly for the accomplishment.

Like all mechanics I have (many, many years ago... ) been trained how to do this, and when necessity dictated I have done it.
Yet without a moments hesitation I chose to spend the $300 and let someone who does it every day have the job. The consequences of getting it wrong are painful - you will end up giving it to someone to fix, and it will likely cost more than the original estimate!
Banish these evil thoughts from your mind young Padawan! Stay away from the dark-side!