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.....I finally got my garage built, just in time for new axles. They were changed just before I got the car and they were going, after 5 years. Not bad I suppose, but I don't want to do it again, so I got Insane Shafts, the 500HP versions for the '94 version. According to all my research the only difference was the thickness where everything goes into the transmission, and the '94 seals fit right in. I may have to replace the seals again someday, but not the shafts. I'll update this when it's done to let everybody know you can still get a really good intermediate shaft for the model, but it's made for the '94.
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Last edited by 1990IntegraLS; 03-28-2018 at 01:42 PM.
I've heard of that swap, but know nothing of that engine. The B18A1, tho low in HP and bottom end torque, is a tough little engine. 300k miles is expected with them. Mine only has 175k, and always well taken care of. I'm the second owner, the 1st was a college professor.
If I ever wear it out, I'll probably just rebuild it and add a phase 2 Crower cam.....or maybe just a turbo, but I'm not sure if I'll ever have too.
I don't have to drive it everyday, so it could go a long time. I like the cornering and have done extensive work on the suspension. That can already get me in lots of trouble. Lol, I'm trying to slow down.
I got my new "insane" shafts this morning, and started looking for the differences starting with the seals. Only one seal is different, the one in the clutch housing, which without being under the car today, I think is the intermediate shaft side (driver"s side).
It appears the weakness that the three aftermarket manufacturers (I called on the phone) referred to, is in the seal, not the shaft. The 1990 seal is sized OD 56mm, ID 40mm. The 1994 version is OD 56mm, ID 35mm. So the newer seal is thicker in its construction. They must've had a leaking problem and fixed it by making a thicker seal.
I'm not taking any thing apart till tomorrow, so I won't know the shaft differences till then. Is the newer shaft actually thinner to fit in the bigger seal? I'll find out maybe tomorrow...or the next day. No hurry.
Well I got into it a bit and decided it was time to do the ball joints and wheel bearings too. I had bought them 4 years ago when I got the car. I knew I'd need them....and the upper control arms, all OEM. I'm glad I bought all that stuff. Yea!
I don't have any presses, so I had to take the knuckles to a place that specializes in Acura/Honda. Not cheap ($291), but they did a good job. They said I did the wheel bearings at the right time. I look at it....that I'm saving money. I couldn't touch a car like this for the now $7k (including some new tools)I have in it. Lot's of it is new.
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I did the easier, passenger side first. I've never done this before, but it went smoothly.
Here's the difference between the '90 and '94 versions. The new one isn't Acura, it's a bit thicker.
The biggest difference is both male ends, but there's one other change....
The dimension of the the part that inserts into the seal is smaller. 35mm vs. 40mm. Making for a bigger seal. The outside diameter is the still the same.
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I got this done. Pretty smooth for the most part. The hardest part was working under a car that's only 14 inches off the ground.
I did find a leak, but it turned out to be the Trans' filler plug....a new washer fixed that. The new Trans seals are good.
Next will be the bushings in the lower control arms....in two or three months.
The car is already much smoother, with the new ball joints, wheel bearings and upper control arms, and I'm really glad I bought all that stuff 5 years ago. The OEM parts are disappearing, now.
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After the axles, I got the ball joints and front wheel bearings, then OEM bushings in the front LCAs. I'd done the rear a couple years ago. So now ALL the bushings have been replaced, all the wheel bearings, AGX struts, all rotors, calipers...brakes.
A lot of work, considering in the middle of all this I retired, built a house and moved 400 miles from where I'd been working...and the paint too.
Now I need to study up on the front engine mount and figure out how to get to it. Hopefully just pulling the radiator will let me access it.
02-01-2018, 11:07 AM
New home, new axles
Re: New home, new axles
