I've got a 1990 with ~160k on the stock diff, and i just got the turbo setup running the other day (only running 5psi). I pulled into work this morning, after a little bit of spirited driving, and went to reverse into the parking space and **** started making nasty noises and binding. No clutch dumps or anything but moderatly quick shifting. The right side axle isn't going into the diff straight, it's cocked off at an angle and the piece that holds the axle seal has pulled out of the diff. Is this the typical way the 1.6L diffs blow or has something else happend here? Sucks its broken after only 3 days of driving.

 

1.6 diffs have been known to go to **** under STOCK power

Get a 1.8 diff (and driveshaft and axles)

 

This.

 

yep its broke get a real diff or you will be breacking more of them they are junk.

 

Sounds broke to me,

Time for a 1.8L diff conversion...

 

Mine had massive gear whine and then the front pinion bolt came off.

Replaced it with a 4.1 torsen. Laying down power in corners is way better and I get a little more out of 1st now.

It's pretty easy. Here's Hakuna's guide:

http://www.miata.net/hakuna/0012/aindex.htm

 

Where's the best place to pick up the 1.8 diff conversion stuff?

 

Here's a decent thread on what's needed:

http://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread...en+swap+source

Easy way: http://www.mazmart.com/ItemDetail.aspx?id=254

Cheaper way is sourcing the parts from a local junkyard.

 

Thanks, i'll need the whole assembly with the housing correct? The 1.8 diff won't bolt into the 1.6 support (aluminum piece with the mounts) will it?

 

I don't believe so...

But if you found a 1.8 diff with a cracket housing, a new housing isn't very hard to get and well worth buying if you got it for cheap.

 

Damn, the problem is I can't find a housing at all, the wreckers around me are useless

 

post up a WTB thread....someone here will help you out...

 

Got one from a 94. It's not a torsen :( but it's semi local and I can have it by tomorrow. I can always upgrade to the torsen later. Thanks for all your help.

 

wow im glad you figured that **** out man. make sure to get the driveshaft and stub shafts as well. and u should be very pleased. Kudos for actualy following our advice.

 

Now i seem to be a little confused. I thought the 1.6 diff failure method was typically the ring gear. I now have the diff out of the car and taken all apart. I was expecting to see a few broken teeth and some other munched bits but this seems slightly more....catastrophic.







Are the 1.6 diffs really this weak or is this out of the ordinary for a failure?

 

No, they're really that weak.

 

Go big or go home. The red '94 we are parting out in the Classifieds has a Torsen, lemme know if you're interested.

 

wow! that looks like more fun than my tranny pic!!!


great job on sourcing a new unit. The 1.8L diffs will hold power from all but the most radical setups (excluding wheel hop)

 

My buddy Matt who wont RLTA in Mod 2-years in a row with more WHP than anyone here is on the same r&p he started on.