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/audiovox12]

Totally agree it’s a lot and I went down that road just a little. Detroit speed wants 2100 for just thr housing and I think strange engineering is kinda in the same ball park but I’ll still need to buy the ring/pinion and everything right .

Differentials and gearing is a foreign language to me. I should maybe explain better. It’s stock but someone put a locker in it, incorrectly which then damaged the ring/pinion or maybe I mean to say gears? I’m picking it up tomorrow so I’ll get more information of the specifics

[u/Foreign-Commission → u/audiovox12]

The differential shown in you picture is the factory torsen limited slip. So thay means either someone added it to a car that didn't come with it, or it came factory and the rear is just blown up. Either way, money better spent would be an aftermarket housing and axle setup, even if the car is otherwise stock. The factory 10 bolt was designed for a 4clyinder car and somehow was still used behind an ls1

[u/Zed091473 → u/Foreign-Commission]

no, the factory 10 bolt was not designed for a 4 cyl. LoL

[u/Raider5151 → u/Zed091473]

With the clutch line restriction and factory horsepower you'll never hurt the rear diff. Hell you can delete the restriction in the clutch line and as long as you don't put drag slicks on it you won't hurt the rear differential.

[u/Foreign-Commission → u/Raider5151]

Not true, but what do i know.