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How can I tell what diff. I have?

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Old 06-22-2010, 01:36 PM
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Default How can I tell what diff. I have?

I bought my 1990 a couple months ago. He said in ad it has the 1.8 diff upgrade with half shafts. When I went to pick up I confirmed by asking if it was the Torsen... he said yes.




I had a buddy tell me that if you spin one wheel one way the other should go the other direction. (while car is in the air)



How can I tell what diff I have?


TIA


JB
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Old 06-22-2010, 01:40 PM
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http://www.miata.net/garage/diffguide/index.html
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Old 06-22-2010, 01:42 PM
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I just read through that guide. I have a Torsen Type II!
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Old 06-22-2010, 01:44 PM
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Originally Posted by kjoudrey
Thanks.


I figured there was something like that. I just didn't search the right terms
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Old 06-22-2010, 01:46 PM
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Any easy way to tell? With it on the car?
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Old 06-22-2010, 01:57 PM
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Flat foot it around a corner. If the back end kicks out, you have a torsen. If the inside tire makes a smoke show, you have an open. Just to be sure, do it twice.

With a torsen, you can't jack it up and spin it. With no load, it will act like an open. Knowing that, it allows you to go up driveways on only 2 wheels using the parking brake as an artificial load
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Old 06-22-2010, 02:06 PM
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I've spun out a few times on the track, and done a few (heoretical)donuts. I'm guessing it is a torsen?


It will def. kick out if I give it too much in a corner....
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Old 06-22-2010, 03:46 PM
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The only way to tell for sure is to pull an axle and look inside the diff.
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Old 06-22-2010, 03:50 PM
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Can you peak into the pumpkin from the fill hole?
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Old 06-22-2010, 03:52 PM
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Originally Posted by chpmnsws6
Can you peak into the pumpkin from the fill hole?
No.


At lunch I took it sideways, so I'm guessing it does hav the Torsen?
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Old 06-22-2010, 03:58 PM
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Thats the only "easy" way I can think of. When my car was open diff, it'd do a sweet one wheel peel around corners. Once I put the torsen inside the opens pumpkin, it would turn them both over..... Allowing me to be a drift champion....
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