Labor Day Diffy Riddler...curious thing.

[Guest Anonymous]

OK. Spent part of the afternoon cleaning and re-sealing my new 3.90 open 2002 diff (came in my favorite color--free!) and made an interesting observation. I removed the output shafts and the casting that holds the output flange seal and bearing surface (held on with four 13mm bolts). On one side, it was just the casting and a seal of different design than the one I was replacing...the one in the casting had no springy-thing set in the rubber to provide tension around the shaft. The other side came off and showed a seal that matched my new ones (with spring) along with not one but three thin metal gaskets and a fourth circular metal gasket that seemed to seal between the outer thin metal gasket and the body of the diff.

What's going on?

I'm mainly just curious, as I put it all back together as I found it (with new seals, of course), and since it was free I've really got nothing to lose other than my installation time.

Insights?

Tim

'76 2002, now sporting 19mm bars front and rear and soon to have a 3.90 again

'03 Golf, all detailed up and ready to show off to the MINI salesperson

Wants a MCS

[Guest Anonymous]

The metal gaskets are shims (and maybe yours needed A LOT of shimming on one side). Not exactly sure what they're compensating for (length of the output flange? size of internal gears?) but the manual I was looking at last night (I'm also in the process of re-sealing my diff) was very explicit that they should replaced exactly as found.

Did you replace the front seal on yours? I got scared off because the manuals made it look like the front had a crush tube thing that could only be correctly adjusted with special tools.

Matthew Cervi

'73 tii

[Guest Anonymous]

...just the output shaft seals and rear cover (well, I will be doing the rear cover as soon as I get my gasket from Max...which was ordered last week in July...but that's another story). I too was scared off by the seeming complexity of the input shaft seal.

Thanks for the answers! Makes sense I suppose. It always amazes me the slight, slight tolerances these cars have adjusted here and there.

Tim

'76 2002

'03 Golf

[Guest Anonymous]

...though I dunno if the windshield will last that long (already have a small crack in it!!!). Already thinking about which intake to buy...

M

[Guest Anonymous]

That sucks...some people have gone through 5-6 windshields so far. But check out http://bridger.us/mini...scroll down a few stories...apparently MINI has traced the cracking windshields to flexy A-pillars, which they are now reinforcing on current/future production. Don't let Towson tell you they won't replace it!

How's the break-in mileage otherwise?

Good to see you last week...let's set up a dinner date for Beth and I and you n' Deborah!

Tim

[Guest Anonymous]

All seals have springs. The shims adjust the ring depth

[Guest Anonymous]

I believe the input nut has a torque setting