So I have a Cusco Clutch type differential. I've had it for about 30k+. A few weeks ago I was getting some jumping from the diff, felt like a broken axle, replaced both of them and it didnt fix the problem. So I ordered the parts from Cusco and hace since rebuilt the diff. However I am still getting this "jumping" from the diff. I have done the proper break-in which consisted of a figure 8 for 30 minutes. Still doing it.

I've used synchromesh, Honda MTF, motor oil, friction modifier additive, LSD additive, and everything else I can think of. Cusco said there is really no break-in for it, just to go easy on it for a few hundred miles. They recommended GM Synchromesh with a LSD additive but its still giving me this jumping.

You guys have any Idea of what it could be? Or things I can do? Tonight I will be going to an empty parking lot and do more figure 8's. Ive changed the fluid atleast 4-5 times since the new install, and its been about 6-700 miles since.

TIA

Jim

 

Perhaps it was rebuilt a little more aggressive?

My ATS LSD clunks and pops like there is no tomorrow on low-speed turns. I don't mind though as I never drive the car on the street.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Todd00 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Perhaps it was rebuilt a little more aggressive?

My ATS LSD clunks and pops like there is no tomorrow on low-speed turns. I don't mind though as I never drive the car on the street.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I could live with that if I didnt know how smooth it was before. I would get chatter before but now its ridiculous jumping.

I will say that if your clunks and pops, check your wheel bearings frequently!! The clunking and popping is bad news for them.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Todd00 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Perhaps it was rebuilt a little more aggressive?

My ATS LSD clunks and pops like there is no tomorrow on low-speed turns. I don't mind though as I never drive the car on the street.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I have to drive mine on the street sometimes, and I get the strangest looks from those clunking while I'm turning in parking lots.

 

My Cusco is quiet? Even with r compounds on it ?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Rene M &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">My Cusco is quiet? Even with r compounds on it ? </TD></TR></TABLE>

So was mine! Now I have no clue whats going on......... Anybody know some contact info for Cusco? Somone that knows what they are talking about?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by walker111 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

So was mine! Now I have no clue whats going on......... Anybody know some contact info for Cusco? Somone that knows what they are talking about?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Maybe it was NOT broken in when it was quiet?
My ATS LSD is behaving the same way. The first couple events it was quiet. But now it clanks pretty loud, but the performance is MUCH more obvious.

 

I had 30+ thousand miles on my old one. If that isnt broken in than they make a damn good product

 

How much better is it now than it was before the rebuild?

I have yet to hear one performance clutch-type diff in a FWD car that doesn't make noise on low speed turns. Maybe the pre-rebuild diff just wasn't doing that much.

 

It makes/made noise, that is not the issue. Right now I have an extreme clunking when makeing any turn. As soon as I turn the wheel any where but straight I have te clunking/binding/jumping that I have been explaining.

To make the matter worse it is only after its been driven for a bit. When the car sits overnight I can get into it in the morning and its fine but after about 30 miles it starts performing like stated.

I am not new to the sound of a clutch type lsd, I know that there is noise and slight binding associated with it, but what I'm feeling is just not healthy.

 

Not that I think this its gonna help, but going to pick up some different fluid tonight. Some 75w-90, mugen reccomends that in there diffs....

 

When my diff makes the 'clunks', you can feel it in the wheel and definitely hear it. It's real obvious. That's why I ask just how loud it is.

I am using an ATS D20 which is one of the most aggressive on the market, but I can't help but wonder just how bad yours really is.

ATS recommended that you really should use their fluid upon break-in, then you can switch to something else comparable and easier on the pocketbook.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Todd00 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">When my diff makes the 'clunks', you can feel it in the wheel and definitely hear it. It's real obvious. That's why I ask just how loud it is.

I am using an ATS D20 which is one of the most aggressive on the market, but I can't help but wonder just how bad yours really is.

ATS recommended that you really should use their fluid upon break-in, then you can switch to something else comparable and easier on the pocketbook.</TD></TR></TABLE>

You can feel the clunking in the wheel and hear it. Its not extremely loud but you do know its there. I just dont think its normal, for any lsd for that matter. Like Rene said above his is not that loud. I've actually stood on the core support and watched the inner joint of the axle while its doing it and you can def tell that its jumping. Might not have been the best idea but I had to see it first hand.

The company I bought the rebuild kit from didnt recommend any specific fluid. They didnt even try to sell me cusco fluid. They said synchromesh would be fine. They also didnt give me a break-in just to go easy on it for a few hundred miles. I did everything I should and its still not right.

Have you spoken with anyone with the same diff as you and asked if theres does the same? After I change out the fluid, if it still does it I will try post up a video...

Thanks for your input

 

So I was just pm'd another possibility. Maybe that when the trans heats up the disc's expand and and dont allow the clutches to do what they are supposed to do? But if thats the case there would be some adjustment on the housing itself, I didnt see any. Its on or off.

If that is the case then it would eventually go away when the friction material finally got low enough. But it doesnt explain why it did this before I rebuilt it.

 

listen to what other have told you, its is the nature of aggressive clutch type LSD's.

I have driven in 3 cars with clutch type lsd's, and all of them do this at low slow speed turns. yes you can feel it in the wheels, yes it feels like something is broken. On two of the cars it makes the noise when just starting out and going slow.

the diff's i speak of are KAAZ or ATS. Im sure you could call up either company and ask them if it was normal for the clutch diffs they sell to do this and they would say "yes".

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by slammed_93_hatch &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">listen to what other have told you, its is the nature of aggressive clutch type LSD's.

I have driven in 3 cars with clutch type lsd's, and all of them do this at low slow speed turns. yes you can feel it in the wheels, yes it feels like something is broken. On two of the cars it makes the noise when just starting out and going slow.

the diff's i speak of are KAAZ or ATS. Im sure you could call up either company and ask them if it was normal for the clutch diffs they sell to do this and they would say "yes".</TD></TR></TABLE>

I am listening, but you should read. I've stated a couple of times that MY diff did not do this when I got it or during the 30,000 miles I put on it. Rene also said that his does not do it.

I am listening, I apprecaite everyones input. Work with me though, I'm not a moron I know what its "supposed" to feel like...

 

did you own it from new? maybe the first build on it wasn't as agressive, and the rebuild was. these aren't something that you just flop in there, you can make adjustments on them.

 

Dude, I agree with what you are saying but I got the diff with a fresh re-build and it wasnt doing it. I rebuilt it the same way it was rebuilt before. I understand that there is a noise/binding with a clutch type lsd, but this is not normal.........

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by walker111 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">, but this is not normal.........</TD></TR></TABLE>

I bet you it is, the first time i drove one, i serously thought i broke something, i stoped the car and got on the radio asking about what the heck all that noise was, i was reassured it was just the diff.

 

its normal

you should hear the noises that comes from the rear of my car. (kaaz 1.5 way clutch)

when i put it in, it was silent
after break in, little noisy
15? events later, loud
its loud as **** when it heats up after a session on track

depending on temprature or load or what fluid i run it can range from totally silent (makes me nervous that my 1000$ differential is not working) to loud

when its cold, its very quiet. but after a session it sounds like someone throwing a hammer at the back of my car.

call cusco and find out what fluid they reccomend. i guarntee they have one.

 

Yeah, since you did not own it when new, I'm thinking the last rebuild wasn't all that great (or they lied to you) and this one is, hence is why you are hearing the noises. As everyone has said, it's perfectly normal for a clutch-type LSD to do this. Yours is really not that different than a Kaaz, ATS, etc.

Again, do you notice a performance increase?

 

So this clunking that I'm experiencing that has already killed a wheel bearing is normal?

I hate to not agree with you guys but I just cant! Noise is one thing but when a performance part starts killing other parts its not normal!! I wouldnt/dont mind the noise, its the clunking that I feel killing my car is what I cant get past!!

I did some more figure 8's last night and switched the trans fluid again. After 200+ dollars worth of fluid over the past week I finally made it to work without the clunking. Thats 60+ miles If I can make it back home without it I might be in the clear.

The fluid I used was Penzoil Synthetic Gear Oil 75W-90 GL-5. You Kaaz owners should not use this stuff since Kaaz says not to use synthetic oil.

 

Jim, is there anyone near you, possibly from this forum who can come and drive the car themselves? Also, have you taken the diff back out and inspected it after the clunking? Anything look out of place?

 

It was clunking before the rebuild. While it was apart the only thing that showed wear was the disc's. It was re-installed and the clunking was there still. Everything else was fine...............

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by walker111 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">So this clunking that I'm experiencing that has already killed a wheel bearing is normal?. </TD></TR></TABLE>

How do you know that is what cause the wheel bearing to go bad? Wheel bearing, in my experance, are something that can be fine, then just take a crap on you and get bad real quick.