Rattly gear lever syndrome
Discussion
) but if anyone knows a cure maybe you can share it? Ta 
Not yet - I've rebuilt the seized front caliper for the time being, but will switch to the uprated brakes later this year.
I've discovered another piece of bodgery inflicted on my car by the importer - it seems that some of the early cars (mine is 006) were deemed to be too quiet for the UK market - so the rear muffler box (next to the fuel tank) was cut out and a couple of lengths of straight pipe welded into place. The exhaust system is stainless steel, the bits of pipe welded into it were mild steel - hence it's all rusted away. So I'm waiting on a new exhaust system to turn up in the mail from Oz later this week.
Changing the diff was a good learning experience - the BTR diff unit fitted to the HSV is also used by TVR and Marcos - there are a few transmission specialists who are familiar with them and carry bearings and rebuild kits. I used DOME in Bromsgrove to fit the new diff center.
After talking to some of the technical people at BTR about the Hydratrak diff unit and reliability problems if used for track driving I decided to try the Kaaz LSD center that Linden are using on their CAPA modified coupes. My wife managed to bring the diff back from Oz in her hand luggage, makes a change from the usual duty free.
The new diff was incredibly stiff when first fitted, but has started to loosen up nicely now - it's now possible to get on the power much earlier in the corner and it feels like there is much more grip available under hard acceleration. The other side benefit is that it's now possible to do proper donuts if you are feeling like a hooligan.
I've discovered another piece of bodgery inflicted on my car by the importer - it seems that some of the early cars (mine is 006) were deemed to be too quiet for the UK market - so the rear muffler box (next to the fuel tank) was cut out and a couple of lengths of straight pipe welded into place. The exhaust system is stainless steel, the bits of pipe welded into it were mild steel - hence it's all rusted away. So I'm waiting on a new exhaust system to turn up in the mail from Oz later this week.
Changing the diff was a good learning experience - the BTR diff unit fitted to the HSV is also used by TVR and Marcos - there are a few transmission specialists who are familiar with them and carry bearings and rebuild kits. I used DOME in Bromsgrove to fit the new diff center.
After talking to some of the technical people at BTR about the Hydratrak diff unit and reliability problems if used for track driving I decided to try the Kaaz LSD center that Linden are using on their CAPA modified coupes. My wife managed to bring the diff back from Oz in her hand luggage, makes a change from the usual duty free.
The new diff was incredibly stiff when first fitted, but has started to loosen up nicely now - it's now possible to get on the power much earlier in the corner and it feels like there is much more grip available under hard acceleration. The other side benefit is that it's now possible to do proper donuts if you are feeling like a hooligan.
The diff shouldn't be anywhere near three grand - the Kaaz diff center was A$2000 - Hydratrak diff centers are readily available here and can be fitted without too much bother.
The output shaft bearings had started to go and the heat buildup had knackered the ali carriers, I suspect that this may well have been a big part of the vibration.
The output shaft bearings had started to go and the heat buildup had knackered the ali carriers, I suspect that this may well have been a big part of the vibration.
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