Rear Differential ISSUE!! NEED HELP!

[PBP'sGSX]

So i bought a 97 manual eclipse gsx with 115k miles mostly stock besides exhaust, dsm link and different with a 60k miles engine due to original one crankwalking but I've had nothing but issues with it. IT'S MY DAILY DRIVER. It has been in and out of shops, it originally had an ecu problem then it had an exhaust issue. The previous owner put a 3in exhaust on but welded it too close to the rear left axle boot and caught it on fire. So i just dealt with paying for that to be fixed and the exhaust. Now, yesterday I was driving home from work and my car had been previously been making a whining noise on the highway since it was fixed then before i could make it home it started smelling like something was burning, i thought it might be my exhaust burning excess grease but then smoke started pouring out. Before i could stop i heard a loud pop and then the noise went away. I pulled off on the side got underneath and the rear differential was smoking and all the fluid was leaking out and I poured some water on it because it was so hot. I wanna beat the crap out of my car. I love it and hate it all at the same time. Now i don't know what to do, my mechanic friend said he cant rebuild it and said I need a new one and he would install it. But I was wondering if it can be rebuilt and where could I take it? or Does anyone have a manual lsd laying around they would be willing to sell? Mine is a manual 4bolt open diff if that helps?

Any advice would help.

 

[silicosys4]

1. Reroute exhaust. It shouldn't be catching things on fire.
2. The only time you should be pouring water on ANYTHING in your car to cool it off if something is actually on fire. This is one way to warp and/or crack metal.
3. If your friend can't fix it, that doesn't mean it can't be fixed. Any reputable tranny shop should be able to at least give you an estimate of replacement cost.
4. Rear differentials are pretty easy to replace by yourself. Good used 4-bolt lsd rear diffs are fairly common in the classifieds here, on ebay, and occasionally in junkyards if you get lucky.

Good luck.

 

[PBP'sGSX]

Oh its rerouted now and lowered down an inch. The exhaust seams to be getting really hot too. I noticed when i got underneath the exhaust was almost glowing it was so hot. Is there anything i can do to make it cooler? but how much is a differential? and does anyone on here do rear differential rebuilds?

 

[dot45]

Oh its rerouted now and lowered down an inch. The exhaust seams to be getting really hot too. I noticed when i got underneath the exhaust was almost glowing it was so hot. Is there anything i can do to make it cooler? but how much is a differential? and does anyone on here do rear differential rebuilds?

If the exhaust is that hot, sounds like your running lean, or the timing is a bit off.

 

[PBP'sGSX]

I will have to check it out with link whenever I get the rear diff fixed but as for now it's sitting on the side of the road till I get it fixed.