Bonus! I have an LSD.

private9 · 13-11-2006, 11:50 PM

Had the car booked in today for a service and on the way there noticed a clunking sound in the diff. Mechanic checked it out and tells me it's actually an LSD and the clunking noise is just the LSD making noise as it gets a bit older.
That was an unexpected bonus, kinda explains why it pretty much always has traction!

I do think though this is a bit of a strange thing to have in an AU3 wagon, but it must have been optioned on I guess?

KOUPE76 · 14-11-2006, 12:08 AM

Hmmm, unless it's a locker diff it shouldn't be making any noises,I've had LSD before (the diff) but has never made a noise.
Correct me if I'm wrong but that's what I have thought.

Cheers
Mick

private9 · 14-11-2006, 01:56 PM

Yeah, that's what I though too, but the mechanic said that basically they do become noisier as they age, and the car does have about 170k clicks on it. I have been in older cars where you can actually feel and hear the LSD dropping in and out around corners but have never really noticed it in a newer car before.

JC · 14-11-2006, 02:21 PM

Is there an LSD tag on the diff drain bolt? That's the only surefire way to know if you have LSD, not from the noises it makes.

jonbays · 14-11-2006, 03:44 PM

LSD in and AUIII wagon I doubt it?

I bet you have a stuffed diff thats all sorry.

jonbays · 14-11-2006, 03:55 PM

On AUIII LSD was an option on all the falcons and even the XR6HP! But you had to get it with the sports suspension kit as a factory option. When you did that you got a nice little tickford compliance plate under the bonnet too. I have only seen one AUI V8 Fairmont wagon with LSD from the factory.

Really very rare if you do have one

private9 · 14-11-2006, 07:27 PM

Thanks for all the replies, I'm only going by what the mechanic told me.

I told him about the noises when I dropped the car off and he tells me he's pulled the cover off to have a look, and that's how he knows it's an LSD. He also checked the diff oil and send that's ok, and checked the tension of the LSD. Apparently normal tension is something like 120 pounds, mines only at about 70 pounds which indicates that it has worn a reasonable amount.

I had never really picked it as an LSD, but it would explain why even in the wet it generally doesn't break traction.

eXi7w0unD · 14-11-2006, 07:29 PM

i got a single spinner, can i just weld the diff som how and make it cheap alturnative to buying lsd?

bodes-sh · 14-11-2006, 07:38 PM

^^no, you cant. lsd diffs have clutch pack type things in them so they only slip a limited amount, ie lsd, limited slip diff, it still acts as a normal diff, a mini or full spool on the other hand is where both axles spin at the same speed, regardless of turning, etc, so it makes it easier to slide the car, but you have less control in cornering

chief · 14-11-2006, 07:39 PM

exi7w0und that has got to be the dumbest and most unsafe idea of all.

It is possible if you want to go down that path,

fomoco3628 · 14-11-2006, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eXi7w0unD

i got a single spinner, can i just weld the diff som how and make it cheap alturnative to buying lsd?

you can weld it but it's illegal and won't help with traction like a lsd. they are a pain in the **** to park too cos both wheels spin at the same speed.

NeishaXR8_347 · 14-11-2006, 08:15 PM

If you cant break traction with an LSD then you clearly just havent got enough power under the bonnet.

:

Good on you for having an LSD tho, most std cars dont have them so its a bonus.

Shaun.

private9 · 14-11-2006, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neishaxr8

If you cant break traction with an LSD then you clearly just havent got enough power under the bonnet.

:

Good on you for having an LSD tho, most std cars dont have them so its a bonus.

Shaun.

Yeah, it is a pleasant little surprise!

And you're sure as hell right about not having enough power! I've recently done an exhaust, K&N filter and an XR6T snorkel and while they have made a difference, it's still a bit of a slug! Next will be a set of Pacemakers, a cat and maybe an edit later down the track. And then I'll undo all of that good work and get the car converted to gas!

NeishaXR8_347 · 14-11-2006, 09:09 PM

Paccies should open up some now restricted power and with the edit should do some good things too.
With that noise you have ford sell a specific treatment for it, i think the noise you are describing is cone chatter. This lube will help it to some extent.

Shaun

private9 · 14-11-2006, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neishaxr8

Paccies should open up some now restricted power and with the edit should do some good things too.
With that noise you have ford sell a specific treatment for it, i think the noise you are describing is cone chatter. This lube will help it to some extent.

Shaun

Thanks for that. Cone chatter is exactly what the mechanic told me - he will do some of that additive at the next service.

He said if it does it again, basically go into a car park and do some slow figure 8's (not spinning the wheels!) - do it for a minute or two, and it should help the cones reseat...

AU-MUSTD · 14-11-2006, 10:28 PM

Good luck to the two guys that brought my previous two new fords as the lsd option is always ticked by me. 600 well spent i say.

Baboon_AU · 15-11-2006, 12:34 AM

u can weld the diff.. it wont act as lsd but like a spool. just pull the cover off, heat up the spider gears with an oxy and once hot, weld as much as you can inside the spider gears, this will lock them together and both wheels will spin at the same rate,, this means when cornering your inside wheel will skip