I've seen a lot of talk about how the diff in these cars are horrible and a couple improper launches can severly cost you.
I have a few questions to see if anyone knows.

I know there is cryo treating and better gear sets...However...
Is there a stock diff out there that would be equal to or stronger than the S2000's? Obviously you would have to have spacers and/or adapters to make it fit right but aside from changing everything else (axles, bearings, etc.), would another diff work?
If no other stock diff...is there an aftermarket diff out there that would actually be cheaper than upgrading everything in your own stock diff? I've seen a couple for around $2k-$3k but that's hardly worth it IMHO.

 

A diff,(any diff...) is just as good,as the driver,who launches it...

 

What Emil said is absolutely correct.

Everyone who has convinced themselves that the S2000 diff is weak needs to read this post, by Billman, over and over, until it sinks in. A number of us, myself included, have done the very same thing, and the DIFF IS NOT WEAK. Weak drivers and stupid mistakes can distroy ANY driveline, and if you make the diff stronger and still abuse the car something else will break. Just learn to drive properly and treat the car with respect and you'll be fine.

OTOH, IF you are going with larger rear tires or R compound tires (anything that improves grip significantly) then you're either going to have to avoid hard launches, or build up the entire driveline to take the punishment. With OEM tires and 300 WHP or less, the diff is more than up to the task, as long as it isn't abused (ie. exposed to things like traction compound, punishing technique, etc.).

If you don't know how to launch a car hard without punishing the driveline, don't do it, because you CAN break the S2000 differential, but it WON'T break during hard launches unless YOU break it. If you know what you're doing you'll be fine, and if you don't, you'll break the diff even if you have upgrades. Put in Comptech reinforcement and you'll break gear teeth or other parts. Abuse and ill treatment will always find the weakest link.

 

Words...!!!
Give me a diff,any diff,and ask me to break it...

 

[QUOTE=RED MX5,Jun 16 2007, 06:40 PM] A number of us, myself included, have done the very same thing, and the DIFF IS NOT WEAK.

 

Hahaha, wish we still had our old '69 SS-350 Camaro. I put "cheater slicks" on the car and promptly broke a motor mount. Put big block mounts in (which had a hard limit on the amount of movement) and promptly broke a U-joint. I don't think the other parts of the car were strong enough to break the 12-bolt GM differential.

Now if you want me to trash a diff in a stock RWD import I think I can find a way, but that old Chevy was a tough cookie.

 

[QUOTE=RED MX5,Jun 16 2007, 07:52 PM] Hahaha, wish we still had our old '69 SS-350 Camaro.

 

According to what I see, I responded to Emil exactly an hour *after* he made the post.

Maybe S2kI has a flux capacitor in one of their servers.