"L" series lockable centre diff parts

tambox · Post by **tambox** » Sat Apr 14, 2012 6:08 pm

I am chasing after a centre diff or the outer shell of a centre diff for a lockable L series centre diff.
Was chewed out by running worn tyres rear not front.
Does anybody have one or know where to get one from.
Or has anybody had one made, I can get it done, but its expensive for a one off.
Any advice would be appreciated

subaruby · Post by **subaruby** » Sat Apr 14, 2012 7:37 pm

Would this help you

vbclassified.php?do=ad&id=1973

Gannon · Post by **Gannon** » Sat Apr 14, 2012 7:52 pm

How did it get 'chewed out'? Have you got pics?

tambox · Post by **tambox** » Sat Apr 14, 2012 8:10 pm

One of the reasons Subaru stopped making these diffs is the outer shell is soft, with hardened spider gears. When the spider gears spin, ie when you turn a corner, it is short term and does not worry it. But when you tow for many kms with a rear LSD and a noticeable diameter difference between your front and rear tyres, the spider gears are constantly rotating. This heats up the diff and then slowly wears out the outer housing. (many Km, around Oz)

Or if you want to do it quickly, run the wrong ratio rear diff, I've got one like that as well, it is worn down to the bolts that hold it together.

The rest of the box is usable, new bearings and wash out all the metal.

I do not need a complete working box, just parts.

Will follow up link above.
Thanks

Gannon · Post by **Gannon** » Sat Apr 14, 2012 8:14 pm

Interesting... Ya learn something every day.
Can you still take some photos for me?

tambox · Post by **tambox** » Sat Apr 14, 2012 8:48 pm

Will post some photos once I pick it up from the engineering guys, who "looked at it".
Next week.

RSR 555 · Post by **RSR 555** » Wed May 09, 2012 10:37 pm

Did you get a chance to get some pics?

tambox · Post by **tambox** » Sun May 13, 2012 6:12 pm

Sory the diff centre is still at the engineers, I wil get there soon.

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Sun May 13, 2012 9:28 pm

tambox wrote:One of the reasons Subaru stopped making these diffs is the outer shell is soft, with hardened spider gears.

I've been thinking about this one and I reckon the reason why subaru stopped making this diff is because they found something better for the masses to use. How many bob and jane's out there would know what a diff lock was for?

One less thing for the masses to think about while driving could only be a good thing.

I think the unit is fine as it is, but as you say running odd sized wheels will over heat the spider gears that transfer the heat else where. It's usually the spider gears that get cooked due to flogging the diff - from what I've seen it's usually those idiots that pull the front hand brake and light up the rear wheels, that's the quickest and easiest way to do it.

I do hope you get something sorted! It would be great to have a "supply" point for spare parts if the need ever arises.

Cheers

Bennie

discopotato03 · Post by **discopotato03** » Mon May 14, 2012 10:18 am

I think there are two reasons Subaru went away from the lockable open center diff idea .
Firstly the Liberty/Legacy box was a redesign to handle larger capacity engines and heavier cars - higher torque capacity .
People found out early that turbo torque is hard on AWD transmissions because you double the tyre contact area on the ground so the 2WD wheelslip action wasn't there to limit transmission loadings .
Rally people got enough torque out of EA82T engines to break gearboxes so they had to be nice to them because no alternatives were available or legal .
When you look inside later 5 spd gearboxes you can see things like higher capacity bearings and slightly wider gears . Nissan gearboxes went through all this from the early 240Z up to R33/34 Skylines .
The problems for Nissan and Subaru was that they didn't want to increase the size of the gearboxes beyond the std casings and there comes a time when you can't fit physically larger components inside them .
Nissan eventually went to a larger box for GTRs 2.5L GTSTs and VL Turbos .
Subaru went to the larger 6spd gearbox to solve people smashing Rex boxes .

Secondly manufacturers can't trust people (bonehead elements) with manual diff locks because some ignoramis will try to drive around on hard surfaces and wind the thing up until something expensive breaks .
Also because people can't legally be held responsable for their own actions some moron whos too tired or somehow disconnected from the real world could easily have the diff locked and understeer into something expensive or previously living - and sue the manufacturer for allowing them to be an fwit .
Yes this is a cheap shot at people who like ASC and viscous diffs , you could have the good gear - but no - have to cater for the lowest common denominator out there who drive around with their eyes/ears shut .

Personally I think anyone that went out and abused their locking box deserves to destroy the thing . It really doesn't take much nouse to realise that different diameter wheels will cause a problem . I made sure I went over the top by using a good synthetic gear oil in mine because I wanted to look afer somethink that was hard to find let alone rebuild .

A .

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Mon May 14, 2012 5:04 pm

Yeah Disco, this is what I was getting at! Well said once again!

Cheers

Bennie

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Wed May 30, 2012 12:41 am

Any progress on this Tambox?

I'm keen to know if you've got anything sorted.

Cheers

Bennie

tambox · Post by **tambox** » Wed May 30, 2012 8:11 am

Hi Bennie
Thanks to the help of this site I have managed to get a good centre diff, another worn one first, then a good one.
Been running it for a week, then i pulled the box out, again, last weekend and put in a higher gear set, to better suit the EJ22.
Happy with set up now.

Working on Vicroads compliance next.

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Wed May 30, 2012 1:26 pm

How far did you get with some one engineering a new diff housing?

I'm asking as I need to do the same thing

Cheers

Bennie

tambox · Post by **tambox** » Wed May 30, 2012 8:00 pm

I was quoted $650ish cash to machine 2 housings, let me know if you are interested.
I may have found a way to get an Vicroads modification for your car with an ej22 if you are interested, around $400.

YouTube · Post by **El_Freddo** » Thu May 31, 2012 6:49 pm

Just to clarify that's $650ish each or $325ish each?

If it's $325ish each I'm in, if it's the former, I'll have to dig around for some cash as there's not a lot spare at the moment.

The last thing is, (very) roughly after placing the order, how long would it be until I could pick it up?

Cheers

Bennie