I dropped twice... make sure the tires break!

I dropped on sand at 5k and the tires slid all over the place. I dropped on nice dry pavement at around 5500rpm and short squeak and I was off.

 

The book suggests annually or every 15,000 miles. I consider this to be the absolute LEAST. If you drive the car hard in general or track the car, you should be doing this fluid change twice, maybe even three times a year and this is assuming you are at that "average" annual mileage. And that very first change after you get the car new, should be done within the first few thousand miles to get the initial break-in crud out of there. And using the correct type of fluid helps, too - not what some dealers were putting in (and may still be putting in by mistake).
I made it sound too simplistic when I only stated it was a matter of launch technique and equipment maintenance. Part of launch technique includes always knowing what your tire pressures are and how this relates to the type and condition of pavement on which you are doing this. By this, I mean you must be able to "read" the road surface for temp, type and condition. Not knowing all this stuff and compensating for them is what may contribute to a dead diff. And knowing if your diff has been "excercised" enough and could use a short breather is the quality of a "wise" driver.
Imagine doing a clutch dump as follows:
1. Driver not sure of how to do this in terms of rpm, how to let clutch go and what to do at the friction point.
2. Road surface is warm/hot, very high grip factor, lots of rubber already laid down from previous vehicles.
3. Tire pressure below normal.
4. Intake is heat soaked.
5. Diff has just been heated up from a long run at high speed and no chance of any sort of cool down.
6. Once tires get spinning, driver doesn't know when to quit and shift into second, just keeps redlining it for a block or so.
(Well, you get the picture.)

 

My diff fluid looked really thin and watery after 23k miles
Changed to LE-607.

 

I'm still on the stock clutch with about 45k on the odo. I do change my diff fluid about every 10k miles...sometimes sooner. I totally agree with X-viper, taking care of maintenance is very important. Everyone listen to "the man" X-viper and you'll all be alright.

Johnny

 

Sometimes ignorance is a blessing in disguise. You were enjoying the launches, right? Now you're not. This is a good thing?


How much can a new rear diff cost? Why not just enjoy the car (with proper maintenance of course) and let the chips fall where they may?



Of course, this advice is coming from someone who leaves his car in the garage and takes the beater any time there is a chance we'll need to park it in a non-perfect location. I could learn to take my own advice.

 

I know what you mean... i usually take my beater truck when it's raining, i can't park in a good place,,,etc