advice buying a 2nd hand diff??

[Lucky_Luke]

Hi Guys,
I've finally found a wrecker selling a 1.8L torsen rear diff and axle assembly to replace my 1.6L open wheeler.

What are these things worth?? he wants $1500, is this reasonable??

Some of these jap spares guys can be a bit dodgy, but this is an older guy and seems legit.

I think there is a 3 month warranty or something, and i have seen a diff page with pictures to tell the difference but does anyone have any personal knowledge or experience in telling what condition the diff is in before I hand over the cash, or that it is definitely an LSD or a 1.8L diff for that matter? any definite tell tale differences..

Cheers for any help
Luke.

[Garry]

Does that include the 1.8 drive shaft and half shafts because you'll need them too.

[Lucky_Luke]

Yep, it definitely comes with the half shafts and possibly rear discs aswell i think.

It doesnt have the main driveshaft with it i think, but Ive asked if hes got one. How much are these worth??

If anyones got a spare one lying around... let me know

[Matty]

The gears should turn freely with no binding.

Hold the ring and turn the pinion, the backlash should be minimal.

If you can crack the drain plug, the fluid should contain no metal flakes.

If you can remove the rear of the case, the gears should show minimal wear and no chipping.

Be careful with the warranty though, as it will probably specify professional installation in the fine print...

[Garry]

Aren't the diffs Mania sells just the LSD centre? ie you still need your housing and gear set?

[Sean]

$1500 is a good price if you can get the tail shaft included.

Problem is teh stock tailshaft from a 1600 is about 48mm too long, and if you have it shortened it still won't fit as the holes are spaced differently too.

[Lucky_Luke]

Ah ha... so now ive got a few things to to check, but somehow i dont think they'll let me pull it apart before i buy it so thats probably the first thing i should check if i get it.

I'd heard from several others they'd paid a similar figure for just the diff.
I had considered buying a stock non lsd 1.8L conversion and then buying the mania lsd, but that'll work out considerably more.

I asked the guy about the tailshaft and he said..\"There is a yoke and flange on the diff already.\" .... so i dont think that was a yes. what does he mean yoke and flange.... is he talking about the housing?

You were saying sean that the 1600 tailshaft is too long, and holes are different, so getting a 1800 tailshaft will match the diff holes but does the 1800 tailshaft holes match with the 1600 gearbox ? (please say yes... )

[Juffa]

so getting a 1800 tailshaft will match the diff holes but does the 1800 tailshaft holes match with the 1600 gearbox ? (please say yes... )

The gear box end of the tailshaft is splined. This fits into the gearbox. The 1.8 tailshaft is identical to the 1.6 tailshaft in this way. so to summarise, you need the following to fit a 1.8 diff in your 1.6 NA.
1.8 Diff including housing and centre
1.8 Left and right half shafts
1.8 tailshaft
4 x 1.8 nuts and bolts to connect the tailshaft to the 1.8 diff. I have been told that these are different to the one on the 1.6 tailshaft and diff.

J

[Duj]

Hey luke,
Are you getting the diff from adelaide jap?
they had a couple of 1.8 rear ends
Mildrens have a xtra low k's GURU lsd centre sitting in their bargain bin, think he wants $1400 or something.
but youve probably given them enough money hey!

[Matty]

I asked the guy about the tailshaft and he said.."There is a yoke and flange on the diff already." .... so i dont think that was a yes. what does he mean yoke and flange.... is he talking about the housing?

The yoke would probably be the mounting "wings" that are integral to the housing.

The flange would be the square 4-holed plate at the input pinion to which the tailshaft bolts.

Short answer - sounds like it doesn't include any shafts...

Yes, the 1.8 tailshaft will slot into your gearbox (it's a spline drive at that end, the universal joint should be included...)

[Lucky_Luke]

No worries, Thanks for your help everyone, you've all been extremely helpful. They're exactly the answers i needed with regard to how to check it and everything i need for the transplant. Nothing beats first hand experience! which Im soon to get too...

By the sounds of it he doesnt have the main driveshaft but his words are open for speculation, thanks for the words of wisdom everyone... but im guessing i might have to go hunting for one of them... another hunt! yey! not.
I'll only be sure once I head over and check it out i suppose, but these guys never normally give anything away for free. and dont they normally get cut anyway when they bring in the half cuts?

Nah that one from mildrens is from that gold turbo 98 they had, its just the internal diff i think, and yeh your right.. i really dont want to give them anymore money unless i desperately have to.

Thanks once again.
Luke.

[Sean]

By the sounds of it he doesnt have the main driveshaft but his words are open for speculation, thanks for the words of wisdom everyone... but im guessing i might have to go hunting for one of them... another hunt! yey! not.

YOu can get away with shortenign teh 1.6 one (i can get you exact measurements) and redrilling the flange on teh 1.8 diff to suit, but again this means cost of having a professional shorten the tailshaft and redrill the diff flange.

Alternatively you could get a new uni joint put on teh end of teh 1.6 shaft at the same time as you had it shorteded (new uni join with same flange as the diff flange).

I have exact emasurements of it all here somewhere if you need it, you could even go for a custom made shaft