Center differential problem?

[Turboturd]

I already tried posting about this on Talk, but haven't received much help. Essentially, I rebuilt my AWD trans, I did a Jack's stage 2.1 except that I didn't modify the center diff. Now the rear wheels aren't spinning while driving. Neither is the driveshaft. I removed the TC, it looks great, and spins fine (I used another output shaft I have laying around. The output shaft from the trans and the TC show no signs of wear or damage to the threads.

So, do I have a center diff problem? Or maybe the viscous coupler is bad? What should I try next to determine what is wrong?

There were no bad noises from the trans while driving, it works fantastically, it's just FWD!

Also, the trans is a 90 model, but I have another 92 trans at home, will the center diff and viscous coupler swap?

Any help appreciated,
Connor

 

[pauleyman]

Why dont you just use the spare trans parts?

 

[Turboturd]

The lower housing of the center diff is different on the 90, can't swap it without changing some other things, which means disassembling everything again at the very least. Honestly, what I've got into the trans is already more than I wanted to spend, I just want it back together the easiest way possible now. I feel like everything I do to this car fails. I've owned it two years now and have driven it ten miles. I've named the car the red devil because it just keeps fighting me

 

[pauleyman]

I guess it depends on your experience level. I told you it was broken. 90 or 91 will work btw.

 

[Turboturd]

Yeah. You were right Paul. I just wasn't ready to tear it all apart at the time without checking everything else easy first. Everything has been slow with this car because of my new job and the fact that it's always bad news. I have good mechanic skills, I've rebuilt everything on a DSM at least once except for the transmission and rear diff. It's just not something I'm comfortable with because I'm such a visual person. I need to watch it get torn down once completely and explained for me and I would go at it. Unfortunately there isn't a great complete photo or video DIY that I've seen yet and not many people have the time to teach those things anymore.

I chipped the reverse gear on the spare trans trying to remove it the other day and gave up . Maybe I just need to break one all to hell and get it over with. But spares are getting harder to come by these days

 

[Turboturd]

Is it all of 91 that will work? For some reason I thought I read about the switch happening at mid to late 91. Either way, I have no leads yet

 

[pauleyman]

Dont confuse model year with build date. 92 model years would have to be built during 1991 somewhere to hit showrooms by fall. That isnt to say there isnt a 91 car that has later gearsets. Caps can tell youright where the build dates split. Next time use a bearing splitter to grab the gear and a puller on the splitter. I assume youre talking about the intermediate gear right next to the viscous. If so thats not reverse.

 

[Turboturd]

I meant the 5th gear intermediate, not reverse. Wasn't thinking. I got the shift fork and 5th/reverse assembly off before that without a problem. One day I will buy some decent tools and try to disassemble it myself. But this year is not that time. I'm ready to be done with this car so I can sell it or drive it and move on to another project.