Which Mk1?

Author
Discussion

rdodger

Original Poster:

1,088 posts

210 months

Sunday 16th November 2008
quotequote all
Which ones had a ltd slip diff?

Cheers

MonkeyBusiness

4,032 posts

194 months

anonymous-user

61 months

Sunday 16th November 2008
quotequote all
Can you tell from the outside?

I discovered that mine appears to have an LSD when I was replacing the exhaust by rotating the rear wheels and found that they both turn the same way, but the car is just a bog standard 1992 1.6.

Is the wheel-turning thing 100% certain way of telling that you have an LSD?

Chris71

21,548 posts

249 months

Monday 17th November 2008
quotequote all
The wheel turning isn't 100% and neither can you tell from the outside IIRC. Also, be aware that some had mechanical diffs that stay locked and some had hydraulic diffs that revert to open after a period of time (about 40,000 miles was mentioned).

anonymous-user

61 months

Monday 17th November 2008
quotequote all
Mine has about 150,000 kms on it, so I think we can rule out the hydraulic option.

So just how do you tell 100%?
I assume it will affect the choice of oil you put in also, and what they do for brake testing at the MOT?

anonymous-user

61 months

Monday 17th November 2008
quotequote all
Doesn't affect the oil required, nor the MOT brake test as the brake test tests the axle together rather than each side individually.

The only LSD available on the 89-93 1.6 was a viscous LSD and on the 94> a Torsen mechanical diff. Rotating wheels when in the air means nothing to either as they are not permanently engaged like a clutch diff.

anonymous-user

61 months

Monday 17th November 2008
quotequote all
But it the car had a normal diff the wheels would rotate in opposite directions, and they don't, so the car can't have a normal diff? Right? Erm...

skinny

5,269 posts

242 months

Monday 17th November 2008
quotequote all
put it in gear to lock the propshaft. a viscous diff will turn wheels in the opposite direction but will be stiff - both open and torsen spin opposite ways more freely when you try that.

anonymous-user

61 months

Monday 17th November 2008
quotequote all
The car was in-gear when I tested it - the rear wheels turned easily enough and both in the same direction, so what does that mean?

Edited by anonymous-user on Monday 17th November 18:27


Edit : actually that must be wrong - the car must have been in neutral...I'll have to try this again at some point.

Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 18th November 12:56