Ive arranged to go take a look at a '96 some time this week. My plan is to have a spare long block and put the diff in my current turbo project.
Assuming it still has the stock 1.8 diff (a rubber damper at the driveshaft connection right?) Is there a field test to find out if it has a torsen without asking to test for one wheel peels?

 

If it's a PEP or Leather package, it should have a Torsen, according to teh intarwebs.

 

Just give Mazda a call with the VIN. I email them from time to time asking about options on cars such as Torsens, and they also recommend calling with the VIN;1-800-222-5500 Select Prompt 2, then Ext. 1156. Should be able to tell you on the phone.

 

That tells me what the car left the factory with. Im asking if theres a quick and dirty way of telling what its got.

also, I may have solved my own problem. With the back wheels in the air, trying to spin both tires in the same direction and if no turn, torsen. I just had to google harder I guess.

https://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php?t=367070

 

That sounds a little suspect. I can push my Torsen car in my driveway without any significant effort. That thread you linked to has some people coming to the same conclusion.

 

Only quick way to tell isn't put one tire on a gravel shoulder with the other on pavement and see if you get both tires to spin when you clutch dump it.

Otherwise you need to pull an axle. A quick Google would answer this question for you .

 

good ******* gawd. this lame advice still going around.. just pull remove the upper diff bolt and have a look with a flashlight. 100% know what is in there. takes 2 minutes.


A torsen- look for the helical gears.


open - has the planetary gears.

Thanks Lance Shall for the images.

 

Hey, **** you too it works.

 

eat ****.

 

It doesn't work fail-proof though. Suddenly overwhelming both contact patches will get both wheels spinning, even if one has better traction than the other. VIN check and visual inspection are really the best options, and you don't look like a **** thrashing a car you haven't even bought yet.

 

With the rear in the air, a torsen almost acts like an open diff, but what I've found is that with an actual open diff, the wheels will turn in opposite directions pretty readily. The torsen just seems to let one wheel spin while the other barely moves. I've found that turning the pinion by hand with the Torsen causes both tires to turn forward as well.