95-96 and 97-99 5speed rear end differences

[BoostinAWD]

Long story short.
I blew the center differential at the track in my 97gsx last year.
Sent the tranny to shep got all the goodies done to it.
Got the car all back together, went to go around the block and I felt thump in the rear end of the car when I put it in 1st right after I started moving.

I noticed that the rear end felt as though I still had a welded center differential while turning around, althogh I'm now using a 4gear spider.
So I pulled it back in drained the fluid in the rear end and lets just say I most of my pinion came out with it.

So heres my dilema I've been reading around on how 95-96 and 97-99 drivetrain parts arent exactly interchangeable. After countless hours of looking for another rear end I found one at a salvage yard. Only problem is its out of a 96 tsi awd and it does have lsd.
My gsx doesnt atm. I know the rear ends have the same gear ratios, and if you use an LSD rear end you have to use the axles with it, cause of a spline count and axle length difference.

But can I just swap a 96 rear lsd into a 97 that is an open diff. Or is there something else I'm missing? Any first hand knowledge on the subject is greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Chance

 

[Omega]

I have been searching for years as to why this would be... here is your rear diff answer: http://www.dsmtalk.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1201947#post1201947


You are right about the LSD part though.. you must also have the axle

 

[Crawford]

So in a nutshell, in case the link goes bad:

All 2g rear diffs have same ratio and are interchangeable. lsd's must use lsd drive axles open diffs must use open diff axles.

95-96 t-case must be used with 95-96 trans (any year stock rear is ok)

97 up t-case must be used with 97 up trans (any year stock rear is ok)

97 up trans have 1 extra tooth on ring gear compared to 95/96 trans and later t-cases are geared to accomodate this change and still be able to use the same rear diff gearing. So if you mix early/late trans and t-cases or vice versa your front and rear wheels will be wanting to travel at different speeds......

 

[BoostinAWD]

So can I put in a rear end from a 96 awd into a 97 awd? I know I can't mix match the tranny and transfercase. But if the rear ends both have the same gear ratio, and the transfercases have the same output ratio I don't see a problem.

I just need to make absolutely sure before I pick one up, dont want to spend $450 on a rear end that is gonna mess my $2400 in transmission work up.
Thanks for finding that for me, I think I came across it earlier when I was searching around. It just doesn't tell me why I cant use a rear end from a different 2g.

If 1g's can interchange rear ends and their trannies and transfercases changed over the years. Why can't 2g's? When your saying any rear stock year is ok to use. Are you speaking of any year as in 95-99 or the specific 95-96 97-99 cutoff.

Thanks

 

[Omega]

Be carefull. All 2G 5spd rears are interchangeable, with each other.... all 2G A4 rear ends are interchangeable. You can't mix auto with manual parts.

You can swap a non LSD rear with an LSD if you pick up the drivers? side axle as well.

Boost, if you pick up the complete rear, you will be good to go.

 

[BoostinAWD]

Perfect! Just what I needed to know.
Thanks

 

[talont3t4]

Can anyone with first hand knowledge confirm that the stepped spline axle on a 2G rearend LSD is on the drivers side? Thanks Ron

 

[BoostinAWD]

I now know that first hand .
yes it is.

 

[Sbeing1]

so let me be sure here, can a 97 diff fit on a 95 (GSX, manual)??

 

[Omega]

Yes.

If you don't have LSD and the new rear does, you need the drivers' side axle though.

 

[PharmEcis]

After reading this I'm assuming that all I need to swap to a lsd rear is the rear itself and the drivers side rear axle? The passenger side axle is the same either way?

 

[Omega]

Yes, assuming you are keeping auto rearends with auto rearends and M5 rearends with M5 rearends

 

[TurboMike]

I've got my LSD rear end in hand, I just need to figure out what I need now. This LSD drivers rear axle fits in the same knuckle/hub? Its just longer for the new pumpkin? And I can leave the passenger axle alone?