What are my LSD options?
 

I have a 1.8l 96 miata and I just found out that I have an open diff. What are my options? Torsens are pretty pricy. Is it that hard to put a non turbo rx-7 diff in. Or should I just live with it?

On more research It seems that it may be more trouble than it's worth to switch to an rx7 diff but it sounds more reasonable to just to add the torsen. Is the torsen upgrade worth the $$ and time?

You can also get cusco or kaaz or mazdaspeed or maruha clutch type diffs, all will give better performance than torsen

hmm.... do the KAAZ or others just go right in.. and can we use stock pumpkin?

KAAZ and so should drop right in afaik

RX7 lsd is easy as pie, and cheap to 200 bucks.

check out http://www.solomiata.com for lots of info on this.

lol so easy to make a joke. Maybe to easy

yes and yes

I'm going to do this RX7 Rear end soon

How much more work is it to do the rx7 swap over just adding a torsen?

it is the same amount of work dude swap the frigin LSD reset the backlash done, torsen is the same.

OK. I went with a 88 RX7 LSD. Is it better to have some one else set the backlash or buy the micrometer and dial indicator and do it my self. Where do I get it set at? How much? I'm just wondering if it's cheaper to buy the stuff of have someone else do it.

you can do it yourself, probably better off that way, just learn how to do it right....

you'd have to take it to a transmission shop otherwise, and they might charge $80-150.

Do you have a lead for a cheap 7-8" micrometer & dial indicator w/ magnetic base?

jegs summit etc. they are pretty expensive though. Alot of racers set it up by eye and feel, Gl with that method though it is not for the faint of heart. FWIW i got charged 60$ for some one who knows what they are doing check out my specs etc. well worth it to me, as peice of mind etc.

micrometer is the hard part.
you can also get some outside spring dividers/calipers for $15-20 at mcmaster and then transfer the measurement to a ruler or vernier calipers.
item 2060A62 for example.

mcmaster for the dial indy.
20715A44 for a set with dial and mag base. $29

what is the going rate for an rx7 lsd diff?

just the lsd $175-225

Just got the diff in today. Looks good. Should I rebuild it? Where do I get the stuff to do it or where do I take it? It only has 90,000 miles on it. Also what are the gear ratio on an 88 rx7 lsd?

count the teeth on the ring, count the teeth on the pinion....divide.

I didn't rebuild mine, but mine also has one hellofva preload, and it pretty much always locked :rofl:

you can buy all the parts from mazdaperformance if you do....

most of them were 4.10

I did the install last weekend. Man, that things heavy. It's a 4.1. So I keep the same ratio.

Well, you could have opened it up, used dial calipers and measured the thickness of the friction plates and discs. You would have known how worn out it was. I did this on one that had about 120k miles on it, found it had almost NO wear on it. I didn't add any shims to up the preload, didn't need it to wear out any quicker and it locks up just fine as it is. BTW, I only paid $75 for mine!

Didn't measure the wear but it grips up great. Paid $110 shipped across the country.

make looked good so it was ok with me, didn't want to open it up. So once installed I tested the preload. One tire on the ground, turning the hub with a troque wrench it took 190lbs. to get it to slip.