eBay Torsen 1 & 2 centres

gslender · Postby **gslender** » Wed Dec 12, 2012 12:08 pm

Hi,

Has anyone tried the torsen 1 or 2 centres available from Japan sold via eBay.

Are they good value or just crap?

At $450 delivered it seems like ok value, but fairly skeptical.

G

johnnyreble · Postby **johnnyreble** » Wed Dec 12, 2012 1:10 pm

No, But I did buy an OBX Hellical LSD centre off ebay, about the same price it comes with a lifetime guarantee and it works great... highly recommended

Johnny

vrmmmpshhh · Postby **vrmmmpshhh** » Wed Dec 12, 2012 1:16 pm

i saw those and was tempted too but the ebay ad seems sketchy. doesnt list years or what diffs they suit. For those that know will they fit into the stock 1.6 1990 diff.

deviant · Postby **deviant** » Wed Dec 12, 2012 1:28 pm

Factor in the install costs. You can not just pop the back of your housing off and drop a new centre in, backlash, pinion depth etc all need to be set. It is a job for the pros.

Here in Perth I could not find someone to do it for a sensible cost so I bought a complete 3.9 from MX5+ for the same price.

project.r.racing · Postby **project.r.racing** » Wed Dec 12, 2012 1:58 pm

my last lsd install cost $150 in 2007. supplied them the lsd and the diff. had it back in 24 hours.

gslender · Postby **gslender** » Wed Dec 12, 2012 2:03 pm

project.r.racing wrote:my last lsd install cost $150 in 2007. supplied them the lsd and the diff. had it back in 24 hours.

Yeah. That's the prices I was quoted to install, but unsure if the diff centres wear and/if they would be ok to use.

G

Zcootz · Postby **Zcootz** » Wed Dec 12, 2012 2:09 pm

project.r.racing wrote:my last lsd install cost $150 in 2007. supplied them the lsd and the diff. had it back in 24 hours.

Where are you based? I'm in the same boat and want to do the same thing. Just looking for someone in Melbourne South East or Gipsland to do the job

Regie · Postby **Regie** » Wed Dec 12, 2012 4:05 pm

Yep I bought a T2 centre from Japan off eBay when I had my NB

Didn't have a problem with them, I had a mate install it for a case of beer

I think I paid $300 thou....this was a few years ago

project.r.racing · Postby **project.r.racing** » Wed Dec 12, 2012 6:22 pm

Zcootz wrote:
project.r.racing wrote:my last lsd install cost $150 in 2007. supplied them the lsd and the diff. had it back in 24 hours.

Where are you based? I'm in the same boat and want to do the same thing. Just looking for someone in Melbourne South East or Gipsland to do the job

other end of the country. any gearbox/diff place should be able to do it.

noobee · Postby **noobee** » Wed Dec 12, 2012 8:39 pm

my son has an OBX diff center in his 13b turbo rx7 (supposed to be the same as 1.8 mx5/miata).It has had some pretty harsh treatment,1 year of hillclimbs,and he's still happy with it.he did do this to it first though http://rbryant.freeshell.org/obx_washers.htm.
apparently some people have found runout in the ring gear seat,easy to check,and a very easy fix if you have access to a lathe,but we did not strike this.

any diff center should be easy to fit so long as you dont need to move the pinion(say to change ratio or fit new bearings)my son did his in a couple of hours with a dial guage and only minimal instructions over the phone,so its not rocket science.(he's an electrician ,so in theory should be almost useless :wink:

)
would be worth spending a couple of extra bucks on new seals,while its out on the bench.

Me,if/when I get an LSD i'd probably flip a coin to choose between new OBX and 2nd hand japanese torsen2.
this is one of the dilemmas in the "overseas vs local" discussion,if you could get it local at even a reasonable price premium,you would pay the extra just to be able to inspect it and make sure there are no surprises.
Mick

93_Clubman · Postby **93_Clubman** » Thu Dec 13, 2012 11:39 am

Zcootz wrote:Just looking for someone in Melbourne South East or Gipsland to do the job

Some options - all used by various happy forumites here:
Dean @ Motorsport Essentials, 29E Glenvale Cres, Mulgrave, 9562 1005;

Dan or Daz @ Road Track Rally, 18 Short St, Dandenong, 9792 4024;

Allmaz, 492 Clayton Rd, Clayton, 9544 7044; &

Gerald & Chaz @ Mammi Motors, 10 Industrial Drv, Somerville, 5977 7973.

Zcootz · Postby **Zcootz** » Fri Dec 14, 2012 10:21 am

Awesome, thanks for the suggestions. This forum is great

ckwan028 · Postby **ckwan028** » Mon May 05, 2014 6:59 pm

Anyone can recommend a workshop for me to install a ebay torsen in Parramatta area?

Hellmun · Postby **Hellmun** » Mon May 05, 2014 8:39 pm

Driveline gears installed a 4.1 R&P with a new tomei clutch pack diff. Plus replaced all bearings/seals for $390 back in about....2008 for me. I just dropped off the pumpkin, centre and new R&P and picked within a day or so. Just another reference for install price, will be cheaper if it's just a centre install with back-lash set.

ralt · Postby **ralt** » Tue May 06, 2014 9:40 am

Hi.
Currently available on yahoo japan are two 3.9 torsens from the same seller for 15000 each, They are in housings. The problem is with the centre in the housing they exceed the 30kg limit to send by sea ( the cheapest way to send). The way to buy is to get the seller to separate the centre from the housing and send to your buying site. They then send separately. The above diffs would be approximately $350 each landed here. Send me a pm if you want the contact details for a buying site I have used for the last ten years for cars and parts where you do deal directly with them not through an agent (and more expensive) here in Aust. No Aust buying site deals direct with yahoo sellers in Japan.