Hey guys, I think I toasted my rear end tonight. Not sure on the extent of the damages just yet...need to check everything out when I can get underneath it tommorow. Anyway, I plan on upgrading to the comptech diff. and a set of 4.77s...but is there anything else I can do to beef the drivetrain? I'm pretty hard on the car (duh) and I would like to take care of as much as I can as soon as I can.

Just because I know someone will ask, I've the following mods:

Comptech Intake
ZEX Kit
Invidia Cat-Back
Clutchmaster's Stage II

I think that about covers it. I'll be ordering the gearset and the diff. housing tommorow. Somebody let me know if there's anything else I can do while I'm in there. Thanks in advance!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 95civicturbo &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">but is there anything else I can do to beef the drivetrain? I'm pretty hard on the car (duh) and I would like to take care of as much as I can as soon as I can.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

One thing, take it easy on the clutch dumps and launches as well as the quick shifts. Currently a few people are working on building a new diff housing/case that will be stronger but I can bet it wont be anytime soon. I've been thinking about replacing the honda diff with a cheaper more widely distributed diff such as a GM or ford unit. That takes time too and it's not 100% in my interests as I don't drag race. A few other people have looked at this project as well. It's not going to be cheap.

 

Yeah from what I'm hearing, S2000's have really REALLY weak rear-ends.. kind of kept me away from even thinking about one. I'm sure someone will get something that works though

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by MEANB18 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Yeah from what I'm hearing, S2000's have really REALLY weak rear-ends.. kind of kept me away from even thinking about one. I'm sure someone will get something that works though</TD></TR></TABLE>


actually, their rear ends AREN'T really weak. You put some wide tires in the rear and dump the clutch 9 or 10 times, in fact, you don't need 255 tires. Just the stock sized s02's and side-step the clutch at 7k+ rpms a few times and it's toast. Why do most drag racers launch while dumping the clutch at 7k+ rpms? B/c that puts the car into vtec faster, doesn't bog off the line, and gives the best 1/4 times. Tell me what other car could take that abuse? Let's put a stop to the s2000 rear ends are weak.

 

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

Let's put a stop to the s2000 rear ends are weak. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Thank you!

I'm sure if someone gave me a Porsche 911 turbo, I could break something on that car in a week or so too. No car is or ever will be 100% "bullet proof".

 

a few friends had similar problems with their FD3S doing the same thing on the rear. They made some custom braces as it seemed that flexing caused the breakage. Perhaps the same thing is happening on the s2k ... anyone have evidence of this ?
Even with a stronger casing and rear may not solve the problem if there is still flexing. The FD has a very similar rear setup and stronger didn;t stop breakage either.

greg

 

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


actually, their rear ends AREN'T really weak. You put some wide tires in the rear and dump the clutch 9 or 10 times, in fact, you don't need 255 tires. Just the stock sized s02's and side-step the clutch at 7k+ rpms a few times and it's toast. Why do most drag racers launch while dumping the clutch at 7k+ rpms? B/c that puts the car into vtec faster, doesn't bog off the line, and gives the best 1/4 times. Tell me what other car could take that abuse? Let's put a stop to the s2000 rear ends are weak. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Ok maybe I'm wrong. It just seems that a lot of the S2k's that are in with problems at the local honda dealership have been having this problem though. And these are coming from guys in their mid 50's (not saying thats really old) But I'm really doubting they are out there street racing a lot.

Not out here trying to start a ruccus, just posting what I thought was true or could be!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by MEANB18 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Ok maybe I'm wrong. It just seems that a lot of the S2k's that are in with problems at the local honda dealership have been having this problem though. And these are coming from guys in their mid 50's (not saying thats really old) But I'm really doubting they are out there street racing a lot.

Not out here trying to start a ruccus, just posting what I thought was true or could be!</TD></TR></TABLE>

Don't let them worry you. To an extent everyone is right. The diff isn't particularly weak. It just happens to be one of the weak links in this particular car. Does that mean it should deter you from buying the car...no. Does that mean it should deter you from dumping the clutch and doing burnouts at the dragstrip...yes. Unless you have endless time and money to put new diff's in.

 

Sooo...anybody got any suggestions other than what I'm already doing? Am I correct in my assumption that I can purchase the 4.77 rear end with the Comptech housing from Comptech as a complete, pre-assembled unit? I'm gonna try to order everything today. Thanks again.

 

I can't seem to find out how much that rear end from Comptech is..how much are they asking?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by CHEETAH &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">a few friends had similar problems with their FD3S doing the same thing on the rear. They made some custom braces as it seemed that flexing caused the breakage. Perhaps the same thing is happening on the s2k ... anyone have evidence of this ?
Even with a stronger casing and rear may not solve the problem if there is still flexing. The FD has a very similar rear setup and stronger didn;t stop breakage either.

greg</TD></TR></TABLE>

Greg, the main problem is the diff housing. It flexes and that changes the tolerances within the gearing. Most diff failures are due to the pinion gear skipping a tooth or many teeth and the grenades from there.

One possible solution besides restructuring the diff housing is to use thinner half shafts. Some have noted that the s2000 half shafts are too thick and have limited spring or wind thus putting more pressure on the diff assembly. It was noted that F1 halfshafts spring 360degrees on their starts.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by MEANB18 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Ok maybe I'm wrong. It just seems that a lot of the S2k's that are in with problems at the local honda dealership have been having this problem though. And these are coming from guys in their mid 50's (not saying thats really old) But I'm really doubting they are out there street racing a lot.

Not out here trying to start a ruccus, just posting what I thought was true or could be!</TD></TR></TABLE>

Perhaps you are incorrect in your logic and you're not creating a ruccus. Some people like to blame a manufactuer or part for their mistakes in driving. You'll tend to hear a lot more from people that have complaints than people that don't have any problems. There are many owners that have had no issues with their diff that go to regular open track events like myself (not drag-racing). Even a few drag racers have noted the importance of loading up the powertrain at the start to prevent shock to the drivetrain. This isn't anythign now. However, you add sticky tires like the stock so2's and high rpm launches and of course something is going to break. It's not rocket science. This "problem" is blown way out of proportion. I was at the gas station filling up my car as it sat on the trailer going to a track event and a guy in a civic rolls up and says you don't have any diff problems? I was surprised that the rumors have spread that far.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 95civicturbo &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Sooo...anybody got any suggestions other than what I'm already doing? Am I correct in my assumption that I can purchase the 4.77 rear end with the Comptech housing from Comptech as a complete, pre-assembled unit? I'm gonna try to order everything today. Thanks again.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Compech only sells the diff housing, not the internals and you must give them your housing as a core replacement. If you need to replace all the internals, it's not cheap, a pre-assembled diff from honda is over 2 grand.

 

So the rear end isn't weak, just not strong enough for drag launches and abuse.
A friend of mine who is a serious auto-xer has gone through several. Abuse.
I consider it weak. By my standards. It would be different if it only broke when you add slicks and launch it. Most rear drive cars can take hard launching for quite some time, slicks change things obviously. Sidestepping a clutch is crazy abuse, and really not needed, it shocks the entire drivetrain.
This is my opinion of weak, and my standards, but for the general public, it should be fine.
If my 99GT running on 315 drag radials broke the rear end after 20-30k miles, after a hundred launches at the track, and many many more street launches, I would be upset, but expect it. 300ftlbs of torque, 3300lbs and sticky tires and it has gone 85k+miles, it still only needs clutch packs in the rear. Now if I put on slicks, the axel housing will bend. This is still considered a "weak" link in the Mustang community.
I am waiting for aftermarket companies to step in and make an upgrade that can handle turbo'd horsepower, and at least some drag radial, then I'll buy one(price on the car keeps going down in the mean time-good for my pocketbook)