It looks like my Kaaz finally wore out. It started the enduro weekend with fresh fluid and right out of the gate it felt sort of ratchety when the rear would get loaded up in a turn (sort of like they do when they are new). It made it through the weekend, but I think it's done for. When we put the car up on the lift, the axles seemed to have a lot of play in them - I have been told this is an indication that the LSD is worn out. When I drained the fluid, it was black and thick and smelled even worse than Kaaz fluid normally does.

Before I drop the money on the new LSD (not a Kaaz), can anybody add any insight on whether or not these symptoms seem to indicate a worn out LSD?

-Pete

 

I've got over 60k miles on mine, many thousands of those are track miles. I tore mine open a year ago and the clutches had just barely broken in.

Kaaz fluid is crap. Use Redline 75/90 gear oil for LSD's with a new diff. As it breaks in and seems to have more slip in it, start using a blend of the 75/90 LSD fluid and the 75/90NS (non-slip) fluid. The more NS fluid you use, the more the diff will lockup. If you use too much NS fluid, add redline friction modifier to make it slip more.

Play in your axles would indicate worn cv joints (probably on the inside), not a worn diff. Does the car vibrate under acceleration?

 

BTW, Kaaz USA told me they've never really seen or heard of anyone actually wearing out the clutches on one of their diffs. The housing wears out before the clutches do.

 

Oh yeah, one more thing: the fluid's "slipperiness" will change after it gets hot from track use, etc. If it feels weird after heavy use, the first thing to do is change the fluid.

 

The shop that works on my car is going to open it up. I can't think of anything else that would have made the rearend act that way - or cook the fluid like that.

I should clarify, by axles, I mean the stub axles - they moved up and down which I am told indicates a worn LSD. My first thought was that it was the bearings.

The car doesn't vibrate under acceleration, only feels weird in a turn when the rear is loaded up.

 

I only ever ran the Kaaz fluid and I changed it every 2 track weekends - if anything, I changed the fluid too often.

 

Maybe the housing is worn out....it still seemed to lock up OK....

 

that sounds exactly like you need a rebuild.

I think Marty went through the same thing this past weekend.


When are you coming out here to race????

 

I am planning a full rebuild - the ring and pinion are new, so I am going with a brand new LSD and all new bearings/seals in the diff.

I don't have any plans to make that trek...that is a long haul trailering.

 

Play in the stub axles is not good... But I would check the bearings before ordering a new diff.