Reshimming LSD diff heads

[l1ttle_d3vil]

I got an ae85 LSD diff head but the LSD on it is worn.

my understanding is only certain types of LSD's can be reshimmed; is this correct? and is the ae85 lsd one that can be reshimmed? I assume they would be the same type of lsd as the ae86.

what is involved in reshimming it? just machining up some spacers to slot in or what? if I pulled the diff head out, made up the spacers and gave it to someone more knowledgeable than myself to put together; how long would it take approximately?

cheers

[panda_dan]

I was unaware that there was an lsd unit available for the ae85 diff head. Where abouts did you get the lsd from?

[wde_bdy]

Photos please, you are likely to find it is a 4 pinion non LSD S series head.

Callum

[l1ttle_d3vil]

already been through all this viewtopic.php?t=37957&highlight=lsd+ae85
it was bought from a fellow toyspeed member who assures me it is definitely LSD. it is in the car at the moment which is a daily driver so cannot get photos until atleast the weekend maybe.

so, assuming this is an LSD diff head and the LSD is the same setup as an ae86, can these be reshimmed?

[TRD Man]

If, in fact, your AE85 diff is an LSD it's most likely it will be a TRD unit.
If so, and despite the fact that it's a smaller unit, it takes the same repair kit as an LSD for AE86.
These are still available.

[l1ttle_d3vil]

for how much? does this do the same thing as getting it reshimmed?
which would be the better way to go?

and is there any way you can tell for sure if it is a TRD lsd or not?

[Mr Revhead]

repair kit = shims so yes.

[l1ttle_d3vil]

ok so are the shims in the repair kit anything special? or can I just machine some up on the lathe? or are there other parts in the repair kit that would need replacing at the same time?

[Jebus]

Shims can be cut out of sheet shim steel, easy enough to do and install.

Dont need to machine nothing, and at the end of the day the chances of your diff actully being LSD are 1 to a million.

[l1ttle_d3vil]

so there is a particular type of steel used for the shims.
Would I need to pull the diff head out first to work out what sized shims I need or will "one size fix all?"

and I have been pretty much guaranteed that it is an LSD diff head. and the head is bolted on to my ae85 diff housing. it may not be a genuine ae85 LSD, but whatever it is it fits into my ae85 housing/axles without any problems.

[TRD Man]

The repair kit contains 'plates'. It is these 'plates' that wear.
These are not round as a washer is round.
These plates have lugs, some on the outside and some on the inside.
These lugs are critical.
It is preferrable, if you actually have a TRD LSD and if you are going to replace these plates, that you use the genuine article. A repair kit is about $200. An AE85 TRD LSD is irreplaceable.
Shims are the thin round washer like pieces that we use to 'tighten' up our LSD and/or adjust it's breakability. These are about $2 each but you won't want any of these anyway.

[l1ttle_d3vil]

These are about $2 each but you won't want any of these anyway.

sorry if this is a stupid question, but why not?
how is spending the extra few hundred $$ on the repair kit going be an advantage over using $2 shims?

say this is some LSD out of a completely different car [that happens to fit into mine] and nothing to do with TRD, what would be my next step? would I not be able to use the TRD repair set? would shims be my only choice of fixing it?

[edwagon]

Re-read the post carefully
If your LSD is single spinning, it is worn right out and the plates (friction surfaces) need replacing. (this is you)
If your LSD is in good cond and you just want to "tighten" it, then you may be able to shim it. (this doesn't sound like you)
The plates are not something you can make yourself, lathe or no lathe.

The first thing that you need to do is decide whether your diff head is LSD or not, by pulling it out and finding out for sure. If its not, nothing short of a mig welder will stop it single spinning.

[Mr Revhead]

yeah i took reshimming to mean replacing the clutchs, which it isnt

[l1ttle_d3vil]

cool, now I understand. my understanding was in putting shims in, that would space the plates out slightly further, hence making them grip. i didn't realise once the plates are worn they can't be fixed by putting shims in.

thanks for the info

[l1ttle_d3vil]

I pulled my "LSD" diff head out on the weekend and compared it with my standard one.
to me they both looked pretty similar; there were only a couple of small differences between the two. they may just be from different model ae85's though...

do these LSD's look completely different to an open diff head from just looking at them (while they are all assembled)?
I will get some pics of my "LSD" later today and post them up.

[Drifter4ag]

better be carefull ....
some ae85 diffs have a stupid head that looks like an LSD cradle but is infact an open diff ... hope you diddnt get ripped.