questions related to 2001 vlsd rear diff forester

[bheinen74]

got some questions on a VLSD rear diff from a 2001 Forester from an automatic.

1. Whats the ratio?

2. When i removed it, the stubs are actually part of the axles, popped right out, I did not buy the axles, left them ttached to the forester.

3. My plans are either......

a. convert to 3.9 to use in my 94Legacy Sport, but how do i do the stubs? should i have bought the axles from the forester to use the inner cups to make hybrid for use in the Legacy SS or

b. probably could let my dad have it to put in his 98 forester if "a" does not go easily. Its probably direct swap to his Forester, thing is he doesnt really need a vlsd, he needs new tire set, and it is my long awaited plan to make my 94SS have a VLSD

 

thanks all.

[Gloyale]

Ratio is 4.44 IIRC......only other option would be 4.11 so either way you are gonna have to pull the chunk and fit it into a 3.9 case.

 

If you are really in a pinch, the old style stubs, if unbolted from the diff, will slip in and work.....not a daily driver solution though, just an emergency measure.

 

I think you could go back and get the axles from the forrester and use them. I don't think they moved the tone ring to the axle on Forresters until 2003.

 

Or even better get some 95-99 Legacy axles. Those will definately work. (we used them to put an 04 outback VLSD into a 90 Lego)

 

Either will fit your Legacy directly, no need to swap cups.

[bheinen74]

1. I need to take the center guts out of the Forester case, take the 3.9 ring gear off my 944SS, and bolt to the guts, then reinstall in the Legacy SS case, that way ring gear and pinion gear are paired back.

 

-my question will be, do i keep the bearings on the guts of the vlsd chunk, or do i need to swap side retainer bearings.

 

2. I need to source some 95-99 Legacy, outback, whatever rear axles to make this work right? The Forester vlsd has no stubs, the stubs are part of the axle, and i understand the 95-99 has stub also built into the axle.

 

-my question, what exact model years of those 95-99 should I go look for (the forester axles are like 4.5 hours away one way i aint going back for them, but have lots of legacys in the JY near me close....

-second question to this part: my rear axles in my 94SS are superb condition, I prefer to frankemate the inner cups from a 95-99 to mine so i dont have to remove the honking big axle nut at the end...just reboot with a big hose clamp after the inner cups are swapped, or is there something about the 94SS outer axle that wont mate to the newer style inner with stub? If i have to I can swap the entire axles, but like i said, my current 94SS are top notch boots all good, original green paint like new, etc, etc, and likely better condition than ones i would end up with from the crusty junkyard. just going to need some stubs attached to them for the new vlsd chunk .

 

3. Think thats about it, this will not happen for a few weeks, i gotta take a lift kit off my BRAT first......

 

4. ? Someone off the usmb. near KC just wreck the front of a 93 legacy?, it had one good jdm passenger headlight (now mine), the left was smashed from the wreck, and it had a STi factory exhaust on it and a custom grill in the backseat cracked but very useable with some kitty hair and paint.

Edited October 20, 2010 by bheinen74
oops need keep ring gear in the case it came in its matched to the pinion

[bheinen74]

Forester Diff has been dissected, guts are out.

since nobody has posted, I figured i will ask again.

-Do i keep the carrier bearings on the vlsd chunk when i install it in my 3.9 94SS diff case? Or do i need swap carrier bearings to maintain the 3.9 carrier?

 

going to junkyard tomorrow to get the axles, then I can pull the 3.9 from the car and put that ring gear on the vlsd chunk, then grind the 3.9 innard to fit the chunk. I found my grinder tool from when I did the lsd on my BRAT to grind the inside of the pumpkin, so I should be good to go.

 

Next question, the vlsd is a sealed unit, meaning i just dump the normal gear oil in, no additives, that sound right.

 

Need some answers, got 2 days of 65 degree days to get this done, before it goes to highs of 40. last warm enough weather to work in a non heated garage this week, then i am done til srping march/april thaw.

brent

Edited November 8, 2010 by bheinen74
searched

[Gloyale]

Forester Diff has been dissected, guts are out.

since nobody has posted, I figured i will ask again.

-Do i keep the carrier bearings on the vlsd chunk when i install it in my 3.9 94SS diff case? Or do i need swap carrier bearings to maintain the 3.9 carrier?

 

going to junkyard tomorrow to get the axles, then I can pull the 3.9 from the car and put that ring gear on the vlsd chunk, then grind the 3.9 innard to fit the chunk. I found my grinder tool from when I did the lsd on my BRAT to grind the inside of the pumpkin, so I should be good to go.

 

Next question, the vlsd is a sealed unit, meaning i just dump the normal gear oil in, no additives, that sound right.

 

Need some answers, got 2 days of 65 degree days to get this done, before it goes to highs of 40. last warm enough weather to work in a non heated garage this week, then i am done til srping march/april thaw.

brent

 

I'd use the side cups that where with the VLSD originally, so you have matching races. Check for just a hair of backlash, not too much, but not tight. Adjust shims if needed.

 

For the VLSD, you should not need to grind anything.

 

Straight gear oil.

 

95-99 axles will work directly. So will early Forrester axles. Possibly early WRX WAGONaxles as well. (WRX sedan is wider by a hair)

 

I would personally just install the whole axles, rather than hybrid them. The one 32mm bolt on the axle is less work (and much less greasy) than removing and replacing an inner joint.

 

Either way should work.

[bheinen74]

its done, and already in the car, worked on it late into the night.

Did have to grind the ears off the case to fit it in.

only problem is the muffler fell off when i dropped out the old one...it was a fart can and too loud anyway so this is my chance to quiet it up some.