Shimming a diff.

[1800DialKyle]

Ok well I have flips vlsd right now and it needs to be re shimmed. I found a good write up on how to do it and what it is but I wanted to know if others have and to do this and how extensive it is. From the write up i am reading it is really fucken hard. Half because I do not know all these terms. If anyone could get me heading in the right direction that would be awesome.

BTW here is the write up I am talking about. All of it is kinda over overwhelming lol.
http://www.differentials.com/install.html

[Casey]

... woah dude
thats like overwhelming...
i think thats ^ how you spell it
but i also meant it is actually overwhelming....
errr
lol wow... id find another ?

[sofo259]

i have done it before, well set up a diff. on a truck..

its a huge PITA !!!!! and i messed up a few little things doing it.. either have someone that knows this crap to guide you through it, or take it to a shop..

[1800DialKyle]

i have done it before, well set up a diff. on a truck..

its a huge PITA !!!!! and i messed up a few little things doing it.. either have someone that knows this crap to guide you through it, or take it to a shop..

What kind of shop would do something like this?

[FlatWoodsMonster]

Drive 500 easy miles before towing. :confused:

[sofo259]

What kind of shop would do something like this?

im pretty sure just about any race shop will do it, although it will cost a couple "C" notes, im sure

[AFSil80]

Drive 500 easy miles before towing. :confused:

Something doesn't sound right...:ninja:

[RaNMaN]

I'm pretty sure those instructions are confusing and without pics to convince you to just let their shop do it for you.

I've done a differential swap before on my old Integra which was FWD and I know very different but the concept still remains the same. I had to pull the entire gear set just to be able to get to the differential so I wonder which way is more difficult. I would like to eventually install a 1.5 way differential in place of my open diff on the 240 so I am interested in how this goes for you.

If all that you are doing is reshimming the differential then I would imagine that would be easier than installing an entirely new one. All you really need to do is check how far off it is to begin with (you will even probably be able to see where the teeth are meshing without dye) then take it apart and measure the size of the shims that are already in there. You can't take their size for granted because they are obviously worn down or else you wouldn't be needing new shims. Then all you really need to do is order the new shims that would make it fit correctly. There is a bit of math involved but that should really be all that you need to do in order to get it all to fit correctly.

I never even measured the clearances when I swapped in an OBX LSD (yeah a shitty f'n OBX.. right) and it held up to 300+ hp and everything that I threw at it for about 3 years without so much as a peep from it.

If you have mechanical knowledge and the tools to do it yourself than I think that you should give it a try. It might take you a while to get it done right but what's the worst that can happen, you destroy a VLSD which can be replaced or you find out that you need to take it to a shop to get it done right. One thing is for sure - you won't learn anything if you don't try it.

here's some pics from my old diff swap just to freak you out some more ;).
http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/5962/picture197dm3.jpg

http://img245.imageshack.us/img245/8004/picture208yw2.jpg

http://img237.imageshack.us/img237/7981/picture201lj5.jpg

[flip]

I'm pretty sure those instructions are confusing and without pics to convince you to just let their shop do it for you.

I've done a differential swap before on my old Integra which was FWD and I know very different but the concept still remains the same. I had to pull the entire gear set just to be able to get to the differential so I wonder which way is more difficult. I would like to eventually install a 1.5 way differential in place of my open diff on the 240 so I am interested in how this goes for you.

If all that you are doing is reshimming the differential then I would imagine that would be easier than installing an entirely new one. All you really need to do is check how far off it is to begin with (you will even probably be able to see where the teeth are meshing without dye) then take it apart and measure the size of the shims that are already in there. You can't take their size for granted because they are obviously worn down or else you wouldn't be needing new shims. Then all you really need to do is order the new shims that would make it fit correctly. There is a bit of math involved but that should really be all that you need to do in order to get it all to fit correctly.

I never even measured the clearances when I swapped in an OBX LSD (yeah a shitty f'n OBX.. right) and it held up to 300+ hp and everything that I threw at it for about 3 years without so much as a peep from it.

If you have mechanical knowledge and the tools to do it yourself than I think that you should give it a try. It might take you a while to get it done right but what's the worst that can happen, you destroy a VLSD which can be replaced or you find out that you need to take it to a shop to get it done right. One thing is for sure - you won't learn anything if you don't try it.

here's some pics from my old diff swap just to freak you out some more ;).
http://img245.imageshack.us/my.php?image=picture197dm3.jpg

http://img245.imageshack.us/my.php?image=picture208yw2.jpg

http://img237.imageshack.us/my.php?image=picture201lj5.jpg

I've done a FWD diff swap, replaced the bearings on it, tested clearences and preload. It was really easy compared to what a RWD diff looks like.

I'm going to see what I can do on my VLSD since it's out of my car right now and see how it goes. I'll make sure to take plenty of pictures and document everything so I can do a DIY...

Kyle, bring my VLSD over next time you swing by...

[RaNMaN]

Do it Flip, I would be glad to help if I can. I have an older friend who has a dial indicator and all of those expensive measuring tools, he used to build engines for Honda back in the 70's.

[flip]

Do it Flip, I would be glad to help if I can. I have an older friend who has a dial indicator and all of those expensive measuring tools, he used to build engines for Honda back in the 70's.

Heh, yah. Those are a couple of tools I've been meaning to buy for a while anyway. I've got turbo dave backin me up so i'm gonna call him if I have any problems...

[1800DialKyle]

I've done a FWD diff swap, replaced the bearings on it, tested clearences and preload. It was really easy compared to what a RWD diff looks like.

I'm going to see what I can do on my VLSD since it's out of my car right now and see how it goes. I'll make sure to take plenty of pictures and document everything so I can do a DIY...

Kyle, bring my VLSD over next time you swing by...

Will do!

[flip]

uh oh. i bought a diff and axles and just bolted them shits in. Did I do wrong?


Naw, you should be ok. I simply beat the HELL out of my diffs and they tend to acquire a little play. I'm really anal about everything being perfect and I love to learn about anything I've never done before so...

[Infinite]

the only bitch is getting that ring back in, the thick one, whatever the fuck its called