Wisc, I'm fairly sure there is (at least) some visual evidence out there that seems to contradict your "is not any stronger than the pre 04 diff" statement. I will, of course, agree that the clutch delay valve will lessen shock to the whole drivetrain.

I KNOW this doesn't mean much - being the internet and all, but, I distinctly remember reading an article (not from temple of VTEC and not from s2ki) a couple of years back that listed every single change Honda incorporated into the MY04. The list was at least 30 points long. I wish I could find it. Anyway, it listed the diff as one of the "upgrades". I noted this because a. I hadn't yet purchased my car and b. I have a friend with a MY01 and his car had been in the shop twice for diff work.

 

I'm envious. I ordered the assembled pumpkin in a comptech housing in the group-buy and I'm still waiting. Just recieved a tracking number for a US postal service shipment, but no clue about what it is. It may be the yellow box.

Has anyone recieved an assembled diff from Rick's by US postal service?

Steve

 

mine got shipped today I think

 

Steve

It was the Yellow box. I shipped all of the outstanding orders for them today. I will be updating everyone in the next day or so on order status and place in-line. I have also ordered a few more cores to help speed things up a bit.

 

Currently in transit!!!! Will update you when i receive it and take my new 05 diff and gears to the honda dealer for install! Only $200 bucks to installl from the dealer This setup is gonna be smoking!! i/e/h + 05 diff and gears

 

You should be O.K.for a 13's flat E.T.
Keep us posted.

 

my question is this:

they increased the housing strength. how does increasing the housing strength do anyting for the bearing caps (not part of the housing) which are likely the most common point of failure. that being bearing cap flex, which causes the gear to pull away from the pinion, forcing the teeth to ride on the edges, thus leading to an eventual failure of the ring/pinion.

a stronger casing is great and all, but it doesn't address this bearing cap flex issue. is there something I'm missing??

again, i can't even remember ever hearing about a diff that failed due to the housing being weak....


in other words, it's like going into the doctor's office with a broken leg, and coming out with an arm on your cast. what kind of failures did a stronger outside housing and casing address, when the problems mostly were internally with other parts?

honda obviously had some design issue or oil flow characteristics they changed with the new design. however, IMO, their answer for the bearing cap flex was the delay valve.

 

Wisconsin S2k, there was a post about a diff the cracked in two like an egg, right down the midde. I don't remember if the car was AP1 or 2 but I think it was an AP1.

 

the housing is the reason for the failure, some thought it to be the caps in the past, but when the towers (where the caps bolt to) spread under load, (ring tries to push away from pinion) then the problem occurs, either the carrier cracks like an egg (splits) or the towers splay, and then the caps pop off, or split. honda changed the housing material, and changed the design of the caps just a bit. it is minor, to us, but its obvious their research showed that it needed very slight change to work.
over 2500 clutch dumps, and proud. stage 2, 400hp/400 tq pressure plate, and stock disk. and diff is quiet as new.

 

the only ocurrence i've seen of this was the one stratocoaster mentioned. a search on the forums reveals only one other case of this.

so while the stronger housing may address this issue, it still doesn't address the main issue of bearing cap flex. i have never seen anyone say that the old housing has a recurring problem with the towers spreading apart.