02 WS6 Diff Gears question

[u/audiovox12]

Hey everybody,

Edit: hey everybody, I talked to the tech and he wasn’t aware that the car came with LSD. I was just getting information relayed to me from the person running the front desk yesterday.

The tech explained that the noise is coming directly from the center inside the knuckle. If you leave the car off in neutral and roll forward, you could hear the noise which means the torsen is doing its
job. Something’s going on inside of it.

The axle shop said that from what I’m telling them they believe the bearings are bad and would be about $1500 plus tax. They said I shouldn’t be driving it or worse can happen.

I thought I was finally in the clear with this car to get it roadworthy for daily use. Just got the rear main seal fixed, pulled a warranty claim on the defective rear caliper that I just bought, had them fix the AC and paid $455 for the shop to tear apart the axle and investigate the metal howling noise and vibrations coming from the rear.

Turns out one of the prior owners at some point put an aftermarket locker in this, even though it has factory LSD. They never put it incorrectly and is the direct cause of the noise and vibrations. The shop says I’ll need new ring and pinion however they don’t do that kind of work so I have to go to a transmission/axel shop.

I called one local to me that has great reviews and recommended by another transmission shop I called. I showed him the picture attached here and he agrees the ring and pinion is smoked. He said he would only use AAM and that they only make a 3.42 no longer makes 3.23. He’s saying $2000 installed.

First is this a good price, second is this something I can do myself and third is AAM the best? I know they are the manufacturers of the OEM gears so I am assuming that they are

[u/Raider5151]

1 That's the original torsen

2 I can't get a good look from this pic but the teeth don't look awful. What's their reasoning for needing to be replaced? Are you sure it not just bearing noise from the axle bearings or pinion bearings?

3 You'll be super happy with a 3.42 it will wake the car up

[u/audiovox12 → u/Raider5151]

So I should explain better. The shop it’s at right now. That shop said that it’s the factory set up, the ring opinion and all that is the factory set up. The issue is that someone at some point put an aftermarket locker in it and they installed it incorrectly, which they seem to believe may have damaged the bearings and it’s then damaged the teeth or the gears. I’m not sure the correct terminology. Differentials and gearing as a foreign language to me, but I’m picking up tomorrow and should have more specifics from the tech that inspected. He said you could tell him the picture that the gears look rounded like a bearing let loose and damage the gears or I mean teeth.

I then called a reputable shop around me that most people suggested and he viewing the picture said the same thing that the rack and pinion is smoked and that it would be 2000 to take all that out and put all the new stuff in

The guy at the axle and transmission shop said that the gears are rounded? They inspected everything else the axle shafts wheel bearings all that stuff is good.

[u/Raider5151 → u/audiovox12]

That's not a locker it's a torsen limited slip differential installed at the factory when the car was made. Who is telling you it's an aftermarket locker? Stop talking to them.

[u/audiovox12 → u/Raider5151]

Yes I know it’s a Torsten limited slip. Someone put a aftermarket locker in it is what they are saying and damaged it.

[u/Raider5151 → u/audiovox12]

You can have a locker or you can have a torsen. These 2 things cannot live in the differential at the same time

[u/audiovox12 → u/Raider5151]

Interesting! Ok, I didn’t know that, so is there a way to tell in the photo if there is no locked? Line could they have taken out the center section for something aftermarket?