I visit this forum semi-frequently and thought some of you would be interested...

So, I recently purchased a OBX LSD for a friend of mine who has a B16 powered Del Sol. It seemed to get decent reviews and it came with a "Lifetime Warranty". Although, it hasn't been on the market for a long time. Upon installation it seemed to work ok. However, after attempting to take the transmission off the car after a week or so proved to be quite difficult. Although, the OBX unit is supposed to be a copy of quaife's ATB unit it appears that isn't exactly true. Trying to remove the passenger side axle is nearly impossible. Infact, we had to destroy the axle to get it out. In the mean time, and also ended up bending the tranny housing.

Here is a picture of the problem...
I know, I need to lighten this picture up some....


So, I contacted the vendor I purchased it from and he agreed to return it to OBX for inspection. 2-3 weeks pass as I wait for a decision.
Here is the Conversation that followed...

(7:42 PM 5/12/2005) Me: Any word from OBX?
(7:47 PM 5/12/2005) Honda-Tech vendor: Its being shipped back to me. They said they only cover manufactor defect damage. That this doesnt fall under those terms as a manufactor flaw. So it will be shipped back to you within the next 3-4 business days .

So, I arrive home yesterday and the OBX LSD is sitting on my front door.

So, with no other choice left I call my credit card company, and dispute the charges. I was initially worried that I wouldn't get my money back b/c I paypaled him the money, but my CC doesn't care.... Money returned. Although the product's purchase price was refunded, I'm still left with shipping costs, a damaged axle, and a damaged tranny case.

OBX's Lifetime warranty is obviously worth nothing... consider yourself warned!

There are many more threads on HT with people discussing the same problem...
here is an example https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=1206925

I have heard of one or two people having the same issue with quaife's, but I have checked mine and it does not suffer from this problem as it is beveled on the inner part of that gear/spline. I also have yet to read anything saying that quaife didn't fix the problem.

Honestly, I understand that being a new product you are going to run into a few problems, but what concerns me (and the reason I'm writing this) is that OBX was givin a chance to make the situation right, and they chose to do nothing. Just keep scammin' people out of their money.

Cliff notes: OBX

 

I can attest to how bad the thing sucks and how their customer service is even worse...I hope I meet Peter one day, so I can shove my paper weight up his rear...

 

Who is the vender if you don't mind me asking...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by tazmoe &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Who is the vender if you don't mind me asking...</TD></TR></TABLE>

I don't think it should be considered the vendor's fault at all. The vendor is simply relaying what they heard from the manufacturer.

 

Just when we thought OBX was turning around to carrying giving good quality products.

I can attest to their poor customer service. I've tried contacting them a few times regarding the fitment of pulleys to no avail.

 

Personally I am thinking about a class action law suit. If we could get enough people together.

 

i'm pretty sure in that 26 page obx lsd thread i warned everyone!!

 

I don't know if I want to give that information out, as it may negatively effect his business. I feel he did everything in his power to correct the situation. He understands me decision and accepts it.

Also, told me that he no longer sells OBX parts. I feel the message is getting through.

 

Well, I don't have anymore product evidence , but I do still have the axle. Count in me in...

 

Certainly glad I waited.

I *was* considering the OBX diff for my ITA civic.

OBX sucks...

Someone should forward them this thread.....ok I will.

 

Y'know, I don't quite get it. I know the OBX is like 1/2 the price of a Quaife, but OBX has been forever known as a cheap knockoff company lacking in quality. OBX headers/exhaust manifolds break, stuff doesn't fit right, stuff is poorly manufactured, etc. This is "getting what you pay for." Did I miss a few weeks where they turned into a reputable company producing top-notch stuff?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by sscguy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Y'know, I don't quite get it. I know the OBX is like 1/2 the price of a Quaife, but OBX has been forever known as a cheap knockoff company lacking in quality. OBX headers/exhaust manifolds break, stuff doesn't fit right, stuff is poorly manufactured, etc. This is "getting what you pay for." Did I miss a few weeks where they turned into a reputable company producing top-notch stuff?</TD></TR></TABLE>

i think the headfake was their copying quaife's design, which takes the very important task of designing a diff out of their hands and lends itself to people thinking that their diff is a decent product., it makes it solely a duplication process, but i guess they couldn't even get that right.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by sscguy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">This is "getting what you pay for." </TD></TR></TABLE>

If theres one thing that holds almost 100% true in motorsports its that Cheap Stuff is Cheap Stuff.

Buying stuff like this is never a good idea. Most of the time it costs you MORE in the long run because it either breaks and kills other parts in the process or you just get sick of the piece of **** and go buy a REAL part after a year or so.

Buy good **** or stay stock.

Scott, who says theres no such animal as "really good and really cheap."

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Catch 22 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Scott, who says theres no such animal as "really good and really cheap."</TD></TR></TABLE>

Well, not if you are buying new stuff......

RJ - used parts *****

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Catch 22 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> theres no such animal as "really good and really cheap."</TD></TR></TABLE>

yup...and .Rj's mom is proof of that, she is only the latter.

 

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

yup...and .Rj's mom is proof of that, she is only the latter.

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

but .RJ's mom is &gt; OBX

 

This is a perfect example to stay away from anything with the name OBX on it.

OBX =

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by jisu009 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Someone should forward them this thread.....ok I will.

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

Oh, lovely. I'll get ready for that law suit.

 

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

Oh, lovely. I'll get ready for that law suit.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Honestly... what can they do about it. People buy their products... they suck, so people compain about it (wha's going on here). Is this any worse than Consumer reports reviewing their product and finding out it's crap? There are also quite a few people who have sizable repair bills b/c of there products. I know I've saved my receipts.... I'm no lawyer, but I doubt they have any ground to stand on.

 

Don't worry about it. I was just noticing the thread.

Worse things have been said here, and reputations and fortunes have certainly been made and LOST here, usually for a good reason.

 

I have heard nothing but bad things about that OBX LSD. I'm sure as hell going to stay away from it. Thanks for yet another the heads up on the suckyness of it.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Scott, who says theres no such animal as "really good and really cheap."</TD></TR></TABLE>
Advanced Auto Parts blank rotors $19 a pop, and just as good as $50 brembo ones. That's the only example I can think of

 

You guys have the best Advance Auto stores. The ones up here charge like $75 per rotor

 

I understand that OBX has a reputation, and I know what that reputation is.

Now putting that asside along with "you shouldn't have to do that" comments, what about putting a beveled edge on it before installation? Unfortunatly there are people like me who don't have many choices. I can not purchase a Quaife for my specific car because they no longer make a 35mm bearing unit.

 

Honestly, I considered doing that. But what happens if I put it back in (axle removal problem solved) and then the thing explodes (next week or next year). Do you honestly think OBX is gonna stand behind it? Or do you think there going to blame it on something else and say "not a manufacturing problem". **** happens and it could happen to anyones product, but what I'm getting at is with the OBX's history of Customer Service I wouldn't expect it. I suppose I can't say for sure but how does that saying go.... Fool me once, shame on you.... Fool me twice, shame on me.

 

35mm bearing unit? What car are you driving?

Keep in mind, beyond the simple small differences in design, there are other issues with the OBX. Someone a few months back had the Quaife and OBX side by side, and took them apart to compare. The OBX was put together incorrectly, with many pieces loose or improperly torqued, things installed BACKWARDS and so on. If you had no other option (something other than the Quaife design maybe? There's hordes of LSD manufacturers out there), the OBX could be gone through thoroughly to make sure everything was assembled correctly, and then modified a bit to make sure it'd work just like the Quaife, but it seems like a real big hassle.