98 z28 lsd opens up often
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 97
Likes: 5
98 z28 lsd opens up often whats up guys, I got a 98 z28 manual almost at 100k miles... long story short, I love swinging and drifting it but sheeeeesh the rear end keeps opening up and only 1 tire gets power... when I turn right and dump clutch it always opens. Turning left is a hit or miss... Any idea what I would need to rebuild the diff so that its almost always spinning both wheels without welding it. Also why would it open up if its an LSD? are the clutches in there really just worn orrrrrrr?? Thank you in advance for any help!
TECH Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 22,304
Likes: 3,619
From: Central Cal.
LSD = Limited Slip Differential
Nowhere does it say NO-slip.
Plus what you're doing is the worst kind of abuse to the whole drivetrain.....
Get a Detroit Locker. It'll take the abuse.
Nowhere does it say NO-slip.
Plus what you're doing is the worst kind of abuse to the whole drivetrain.....
Get a Detroit Locker. It'll take the abuse.
Eaton True-Trac is what you want. Why is your current carrier allowing only one wheel to spin? Because it's probably an Auburn carrier which are known to wear out as they use the inner part of the actual carrier as part of the locking aspect for the cones and it becomes a wear surface. once it wears-it will not lock both axles together anymore under all conditions. Eaton is the way to go. Very easy to install and set up. Guaranteed that it will lock both axles together under torque application. Uses locking helical gears instead of clutches. Guaranteed for 1000HP for LIFE. My shop has installed hundreds of them and never a problem, or complaint, or failure.. We can install one from start to finish in just under 3 hours.
Eaton True-Trac is what you want. Why is your current carrier allowing only one wheel to spin? Because it's probably an Auburn carrier which are known to wear out as they use the inner part of the actual carrier as part of the locking aspect for the cones and it becomes a wear surface. once it wears-it will not lock both axles together anymore under all conditions. Eaton is the way to go. Very easy to install and set up. Guaranteed that it will lock both axles together under torque application. Uses locking helical gears instead of clutches. Guaranteed for 1000HP for LIFE. My shop has installed hundreds of them and never a problem, or complaint, or failure.. We can install one from start to finish in just under 3 hours.
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,648
Likes: 2,575
From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
1998 was the last year of the GM-installed Auburn LSD for the 4th gen F-body. At 100k and the listed type of abuse, I'm not surprised it's having issues. But, it's also possible that someone didn't fill it with the proper type of lube at some point. The Auburn is very sensitive to lube type and grade, this unit requires 80w90 conventional + 4 ounces of LSD additive to operate as the factory intended. When an Auburn is on its way out, you can sometimes get it to work a bit longer by omitting the additive (which is a friction modifier intended for street operation - it might chatter a bit during normal unlocking without this).
Definitely wearing out or worn past the seviceability use. The more it's used as a differential, the more the Auburn cone clutches wear. The Auburn carrier is not a rebuildable item.
Launching!
Joined: May 2023
Posts: 286
Likes: 94
From: AZ
whats up guys, I got a 98 z28 manual almost at 100k miles... long story short, I love swinging and drifting it but sheeeeesh the rear end keeps opening up and only 1 tire gets power... when I turn right and dump clutch it always opens. Turning left is a hit or miss... Any idea what I would need to rebuild the diff so that its almost always spinning both wheels without welding it. Also why would it open up if its an LSD? are the clutches in there really just worn orrrrrrr?? Thank you in advance for any help!
