I’m about to fit a standard diff into my Elan which I purchased some time ago. The diff fitted in my car was designed for hill climbing and was too low geared for normal road use.
The second hand diff I have is in excellent condition but someone has removed the nut off of the end and this has meant that the preload settings have been completely lost.
Does anyone know of a UK (preferably South East) based firm who will be able to reset the preload?
Failing that has anyone had experience of doing this, worst case I will do it up so it goes tight and try that but I think there’s a fair bit more science to it than this!
The good news is that now the engine has been stripped I can see its done little or no work since being heavily rebuilt using all steel crank, forged rods, wasted bolts, flowed etc etc! Its now back together again so thanks to the guys who provided the torque settings!
Search for “differential preload” for some information on this topic. When I recently replaced the pinion bearings, I discovered that the new crush sleeve I used was considerably heavier gauge than the original, so I really had to crank on the nut to get to the correct preload. I had a more-experienced friend spot me and we did it by feel, in addition to rigging a scale to measure the torque required to move the pinion.
I took mine to a gearbox specialist years ago in Abbey Wood SE London. I can’t find him on Yell.com but I’d think almost any gearbox man should be able to do it. Where are you?
Paul
I would not worry too much IF the other bits have not been disturbed. I would put on anew nut and wind it up until the torque to move it was similar to the manuals figures.
I have for racing had some that have been high in terms of turning torque and some that have been slack - all no problems. Good modern oils maybe?
Also I know of some race people who dispense with the crush washer, others have a solid spacer and yet others use the standard crush washer plus a 0.1" shim!
So what does that damn crush washer do other than cost ?6 a time??
Richard