Bad Rear Diff

[gbell]

It seems that my rear LSD is going out. For a while, when I change gear hard or slip the clutch fast I'd hear a "clunking" in the rear. So last time I had my tires rotated I had the tire place take a look. I thought maybe it was a bad U joint or carrier bearing. They said its my rear diff, so I took it to a local shop and had them look at it. They said the same thing and wanted over 2100 for a new LSD from Mitsubishi, not counting labor. Seems like a awful lot of money.

Anyways, I looked online to see what other's experiences on the rear diff were like. I can't find much on people replacing their rear LSD. I don't know of any aftermarket LSDs. Does anybody rebuild our rear ends? Seems like my best option is finding a good condition used diff. Also, is this something that is going to be a pain to do without a lift?

Thanks in advance.

 

[TALONTRAX]

How many miles on the car? I had an awd Subaru come into our shop with clunking noises from the rear diff area. It was also leaking slightly, so we replaced the 2 axle seals to fix the leaks & refilled it with new gear lube(75w-90 I think) & a tube of lsd clutch additive, & it was quiet & smooth again. If your car has over 100k on it, I would recommend trying this & also change the fluids in the center diff & transmission as well . . .

 

[lenny 15]

I had that clunking start happening when I engaged the clutch, and it felt like the clutch was slipping. Within six miles of when the clunking first started, my diff blew and the car couldn't move its self, since it still has the 2 spider factory center diff. I found a 4 bolt rear with 100k miles with axles and cups, and did the swap. I looked for a rebuild kit and couldn't find one. I think you are going to have to either buy it from the dealership or find one used.

Also, its easy to do the swap if you have two people. 4 bolts to the driveshaft, two on top of the diff, two on the back and one on the left and right side of the diff.

 

[Got Rice Galant]

Are you sure its not your carrier bearing? Usually the main cause in clunking in the rear when launching hard or shifting gears fast.

 

[gbell]

The movement itself is coming from the rear diff, so I am assuming its the rear diff, plus thats what both shops said. I thought it was a carrier bearing at first too. The car has almost 90k. It isn't a leaking diff, because I recently replaced the fluid, it wasn't low and I know it isn't low now.

 

[1LE]

Time for a Quaife rear diff. They're much nicer than stock and it appears a lot cheaper (I never thought of Quaife as being cheap, with fronts and rears at $1000 and centers at around $1300, but compared to the stock amount you were quoted...).

 

[gbell]

Where can I get a Quaife rear diff? I far as I knew Quaife only made front and center for us. I'd love to get a Quaife.

 

[1LE]

Where can I get a Quaife rear diff? I far as I knew Quaife only made front and center for us. I'd love to get a Quaife.

I'm sure lots of places can get them for you. One place is pure-tuning.com. They can definitely get Quaife parts since they got mine for me.

Quaife always used to have a rear available. DG used to run all 3 Quaifes on his autox car. I almost bought a rear Quaife awhile back too, but couldn't quite justify replacing the stock one which was still functional and I considered "good enough for now". Haven't checked recently, but I find it hard to believe that they would have stopped making it.

 

[gbell]

Quaife always used to have a rear available. DG used to run all 3 Quaifes on his autox car. I almost bought a rear Quaife awhile back too, but couldn't quite justify replacing the stock one which was still functional and I considered "good enough for now". Haven't checked recently, but I find it hard to believe that they would have stopped making it.

I've looked everywhere I can online and have yet to find a Quaife rear diff. I called pure-tuning and they told that the Quaife no longer makes a rear diff for us. Anyone know any other options besides Mitsubishi's super expensive LSD.

 

[1LE]

I've looked everywhere I can online and have yet to find a Quaife rear diff. I called pure-tuning and they told that the Quaife no longer makes a rear diff for us. Anyone know any other options besides Mitsubishi's super expensive LSD.

Ugh, I just went to the Quaife homepage to verify that, and sure enough, there's no longer a rear LSD listed

Man, I really should have bought one when I had the chance! Never thought they'd quit making them!