I've looked in the FAQ and the feild strip thread and couldn't find what I was looking for. I just baught an OBX LSD and when I get it i'm going to pull it apart, clean it, inspect the bolts for stripping, and stack the washers correctly.

But I would like to get stronger washers of the same size...so I can avoid them breaking like what happened to someone on this board. Can I just take one of those washers to a speciality nut/bolt shop and get the same size in a stronger grade? Is stainless stronger than high carbon steel?

Thanks

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by integ3 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
But I would like to get stronger washers of the same size...so I can avoid them breaking like what happened to someone on this board.</TD></TR></TABLE>


I'm 99% sure they broke because the LSD was incorrectly assembled.


<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Can I just take one of those washers to a speciality nut/bolt shop and get the same size in a stronger grade?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Well, I'm no metalurgist, but I can tell you that adding carbon to steel increases it's strength while making it less ductile. So carbon steel, especially "high" carbon steel, is going to be very strong, yet very rigid. In other words, it's not exactly what I'd want to make a spring out of since it's more likely to shatter than it is to bend.

Stainless on the other hand is much more ductile, yet much weaker. Which is the better material to make a belleville spring/washer out of? I haven't the foggiest. But I stuck with the OBX originals and it's been working out great.

 

Going with the obx originals is not an option for me, since mine (LSD9000, for b18b/b16) came with only 5 washers, and one of the washers had a circular notch out of the edge (pic below). I'm planning on ordering part number 9713K78 from http://www.mcmaster.com/

This statement comes from that website: "High-carbon steel offers higher strength, while stainless steel has better corrosion resistance and can withstand higher temperatures." Part 9713K78 is stainless.

I've read the mcmaster washers are a little taller, so I'll probably use the 4 good obx washers. I'm trying to decide which way to stack them (McMaster in bold)

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Modified by SpeedwaySlick at 6:13 PM 1/28/2007