DA808CHOPSHOP

Here is the situation. Had two transmissions, one was a Del Sol hydro with a broken differential and a bad case but had good gear sets. The second transmission was a LS hydro with broken gear, but perfect differential and perfect case.

I took the gear set out of the LS, leaving in the working differential, and put the Del Sol gear set in the LS case. The LS and Del Sol final drive gear had the same amount of teeth so even though the ring gear on the differential that I kept in the case had 2 more teeth, I didn't bother changing it.

I put everything back to the Helms manual spec. Transmission shifts in all gears, no gears grind or pop out. Car drives normally except for the fact that it whines. When I say whine, I mean that it whines like all honda's do in reverse except that it whines like that when I am going forward.

From what I have read, it may be the input shaft bearing? I just want to make sure it is the bearing before I tear the transmission apart again.

I also noticed that the passenger side axle sticks out about 4mm and i can shake/wiggle it with my hand even though the c ring is snapped in place, when car is jacked up. This is the fourth set of brand new axles that I have tried, all different years, even switching from ABS to non-abs, even though ALL 90-01 Integra passenger side axles are the same. The axle cannot be pushed in any farther, it feels as if it is hitting the bar inside of the differential. Taking the c ring off the axle does not make a difference, and hitting it with a 2x4 and hammer doesn't either.

These parts where also changed so whining could not be from these parts:
new axles
new throw out bearing
new Honda MTF filled to the top

The car doesn't whine while in neutral, idling or when revved up.

Whining increases intensity/pitch when speeding up and in higher gears.

I am kinda hoping that since the transmission was dry, something in the transmission just needs to soak a little in the MTF.

Wondering if the wiggling of the axle is causing the whining? If so, why can't the axle go all the way in or is it supposed to be like that?

Thanks

0parts@synchrotech

Whenever you do gear swaps. The ring gear and countershaft need to be a matched set. Just because they have the same tooth count does not mean they are the same thickness and pitch. You cannot use a B16 Hydro countershaft with an LS Ring gear or vice versa. Use the correct matched final drive gear and countershaft and that should help solve that issue

DA808CHOPSHOP

James, thank you so much for this detailed information. Hope this helps others in future builds.

94EG8

Just to expound on James' point even if they were two identical transmissions you'll still get gear whine if you mix and match used gears like that, they develop a wear pattern.

MR.johnson

i have mix matched parts on my transmissions and for sure its hit or miss but most of the time its quiet.

DA808CHOPSHOP

Could you elaborate on how serious this gear whine is to the transmission? Would I be able to drive it for awhile until the gears shave themselves down to make their own wear pattern? Or is gears going to start breaking and the tranny going to explode?

94EG8

In your case you're going to break something at some point. Those gears aren't the same pitch, they'll never wear together properly. Don't drive it until you get it fixed.

Also, the bolts holding the ring gear on are left hand thread. It's best to loosen them all a little at a time first otherwise it tends to strip the threads.

DA808CHOPSHOP

Thanks for the information! You all have been very helpful with my first transmission project.

Does anyone have any info on the the axle problem? Someone suggested that the intermediate shaft may be too far in, preventing the passenger axle from fully seating? I find that weird since the intermediate shaft bolts up.

94EG8

Not possible, the diff pin sits between the two axle ends and wont allow this happen.

Btw, I'm not sure exactly what you did when did this build to start with, but if you didn't take everything apart before, do it this time and clean everything thoroughly. If you don't a lot of times an old piece of broken bearing cage or Hondabond will end up plugging an oiling hole in the main or countershaft, which in turn starves a bearing for oil, and then burnt bearing, see pic below, the right hole is clean and unobstructed, the left hole, in the middle of the spline is plugged solid:

Aquafina

iTrader: (3)

Do more R&D. You'll notice an odd wear pattern develop followed by part failure. Regardless of any noise being present or not.

DA808CHOPSHOP

Just to clarify, what is safe to use to clean the interior parts of the transmission? I was thinking brake clean?

Its it safe to spray that stuff all over all parts including gears, shafts, bearings?

Last, after it has dried off and most metal shavings ect. is cleaned out, do I need to lube the input shaft bearings and such, and with what, grease or oil?

Thanks

94EG8

Personally I like brake clean, but you can also use Varsol. I like to use a toothbrush to clean things like gear teeth, synchros, needle bearings, etc.

Yes. Any bearings are going to sound dry after you do it, put a little oil in them and check for noise/roughness. If they still don't sound right replace them. Inspect the gears, sleeves, synchros, and synchro springs carefully.

Yes, after everything is cleaned, blow it out with compressed air, then lubricate everything. You especially want to get all the bearings, and lubricate the inside the of the brass synchro rings.

DA808CHOPSHOP

Ok, ring gear is now changed to the right one. All parts including case has been brake cleaned and been air compressed out.

Question about my differential. I now know why my passenger side axle wobbles or has play. The axle is actually going all the way in, snap ring and all. It wobbles because the spider gears seem to be somewhat loose. The axle has about 2mm of play when it is fulley seated. it is basically pushing the spider gears in that 2mm causing it to wobble.

My question is, how loose or how much play should an Integra LS differential have? All the teeth on all the spider gears are all the same size and look in great condition.

I have a broken differential that I took apart before, should I add extra shims or thrust washers and put them in the good differential to make it nice and tight? I believe that would stop my axle from wobbling when driving?

Emeraldbomber

I can confirm. I just made this expensive mistake. The diff and the final drive will shatter in months.

Aquafina

iTrader: (3)

What is the backlash on the diff?

DA808CHOPSHOP

I do own the correct tool to measure the diffs backlash.

Tranny does not whine anymore, looks like changing the ring gear did the trick. However, it's seems as if my differential passenger side hole that accepts the axle is worn? Axle is fully seated and snaps into place, yet wobbles bad. Can the differential hole get worn down?

Aquafina

iTrader: (3)

That is what checking the backlash would have told you. I would pull it out and check it. All you need is a dial indicator and stand.

DA808CHOPSHOP

How many of you would have thought that the axle wobble was due to the diff's axle hole being worn down? With diff out of case, I can see clear wear marks on the inside of the axle hole on diff.

Had an extra diff with good bearings laying around. Transferred the good spider gears over. Whining has stopped due to correct ring gear and now axle does not wobble due to unworn axle hole on the diff.

Thanks guys!