Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Just had the diff rebuilt.
A question:
One of the sun and/or planet gears was replaced during the rebuild and they seem to move ever so slightly up and down (arrowed in the pic). Very easily, and only about half a mil.

What does the team think?
Is this normal?
I've no reason to think it isn't.
I'm just curious.

The fella that rebuilt it said I was lucky the gear bit that broke off just shot out the back of the cage and dropped into the bottom of the diff carrier and didn't grind into the CWP.

A small amount of end float in those gears are normal. I just checked a spare diff centre I have that was in perfect condtion when removed to fit a LSD and it has end float in the gears like you describe of about half a mm

cheers
Rohan

Thanks Rohan

A Fountain of Knowledge.

Paul

Now Pauls had his question can we digress a little...

Rohan

Which type of LSD did you use and your thoughts on the matter,as I have one in the shed for when I get some free time..

John

Yes,I know all about John Lennon etc.etc.

john.p.clegg wrote:Now Pauls had his question can we digress a little...

Rohan

Which type of LSD did you use and your thoughts on the matter,as I have one in the shed for when I get some free time..

John

Yes,I know all about John Lennon etc.etc.

Well my friend, which one do you have in the shed?

I don't have and LSD but an ATB, and although I know it's technically better than the Salisbury type LSD, there is a disadvantage in that you never know when it's actually doing some ATBing. In that the LSD is reactive and you can hear it working, the ATB is seamless. When I say you can hear the LSD engaging and disengaging - I have to say my experience could be out of date as it was in 60/70's Lotus Cortinas.

Brian

It's a quaife LSD... edit..rather ATB ..just waiting for some spare time...

John

I have used a Quaiffe diff centre now for many years in the Elan - it limits the slip so i call it a LSD - you can call it a lot of other things depending on the marketing guru you talk to at the time

The spiral gear style LSD like the Quaiffe works better in a light car with a relatively soft rear suspension like an Elan I think as they dont give a sudden change from understeer to oversteer when they start working. This is because they go progressively from no lock to almost fully locked as the speed differential builds up between the wheels versus a clutch plate or spring loaded ratchet style which has a sudden change at some point from locked to partially locked as the speed differential between the wheels builds up.

regards
Rohan

Looks like Quaife call it a LSD also....

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/QUAIFE-DIFF-QDF25 ... 1363wt_932

John

john.p.clegg wrote:Looks like Quaife call it a LSD also....

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/QUAIFE-DIFF-QDF25 ... 1363wt_932

John

John, my friend - I've already told you the story about that.