LSD needs replacing??

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adla11 - 25 Sep 2006 20:02 GMT

Hi, I love my '89 Cressida, but it's starting to get a little long in
the gears...

There's a troubling grinding sound which appears to be coming from the
back end of the car. I drove around with mechanic and he said that he
can tell by the sound that: 1) the sound is from the LSD, 2) that it's
"slipping" too much, 3) therefore it needs to be replaced.

My question is, can you really tell all this just by listening to the
sound? Or is he overstating the case, and maybe there is some less
drastic (and costly) cause/cure?

Thanks for any input.

Adam in Canada

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N8N - 25 Sep 2006 20:07 GMT

> Hi, I love my '89 Cressida, but it's starting to get a little long in
> the gears...
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
> Adam in Canada

It's possible that he's right, does this noise only occur while going
around corners? If so, have you tried replacing the gear oil in the
differential? (make sure you read the recommendations in the manual;
if it specifies a limited slip additive make sure you include it.)
Really, if it's just the limited slip that's failing, you can drive
like that for years, you just won't have a functional limited slip.
(this is assuming of course that it's a clutch-type limited slip; not
sure if the same holds true for a Torsen type.)

nate

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RayV - 25 Sep 2006 20:24 GMT

> Hi, I love my '89 Cressida, but it's starting to get a little long in
> the gears...
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
> Adam in Canada

There is some good advice about this problem posted here:
http://tinyurl.com/zbn6t

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jeffcoslacker - 25 Sep 2006 21:13 GMT

adla11 Wrote:

> Hi, I love my '89 Cressida, but it's starting to get a little long in
> the gears...
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
> Adam in Canada

I'd try draining the fluid out of the differential, there is an
additive for limited slip differentials that may solve this problem, it
should be available at any autoparts store or the toyota dealer, fill
the diff with 90W gear oil and add the additive, see what happens. I'd
at least do this before giving up on it. LSD's are prone to noises when
the additives in the gear oil break down over the years...

Signature

jeffcoslacker

http://www.automotiveforums.com

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adla11 - 25 Sep 2006 21:50 GMT

Thank you for the good suggestions. Yes, I had suggested to the
mechanic that maybe a fluid change would get us by. But he said, no,
he can tell by the noises that the diff needs to be replaced.

So, that's what I'm really wondering about. Is it really possible to
be so sure of that based just on the noise?

> Adam in Canada
>
> I'd try draining the fluid out of the differential, there is an
> additive for limited slip differentials that may solve this problem

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Scott Dorsey - 25 Sep 2006 22:43 GMT

>Thank you for the good suggestions. Yes, I had suggested to the
>mechanic that maybe a fluid change would get us by. But he said, no,
>he can tell by the noises that the diff needs to be replaced.
>
>So, that's what I'm really wondering about. Is it really possible to
>be so sure of that based just on the noise?

He's right, it needs to be replaced. But try a fluid change first; it's
a ten-minute job and it may help you eke out a few more miles before it
finally fails.

Basically, any sounds from the differential mean it needs to be replaced.
The best you can do is to postpone that replacement for a while. How
long? Maybe a long time, maybe not very long at all. If it were me, I'd
try and postpone it as long as possible, but then I am cheap.
--scott

Signature

"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

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phaeton - 25 Sep 2006 23:03 GMT

If your LSD is causing you to see things and hear things, and question
the things around you, it is functioning as designed. No need to
replace.

-phaeton

(sorry, couldn't help it. I am prepared for the oncoming flameage)

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Steve - 26 Sep 2006 14:37 GMT

> Hi, I love my '89 Cressida, but it's starting to get a little long in
> the gears...
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
>
> Adam in Canada

I SERIOUSLY doubt that a Cressida even has a limited-slip diff. And if
it does, LSD's usually "fail" by just not holding well. The clutches
wear down, and it doesn't limit slip anymore- but this is generally
completely silent. It essentially reverts to an "open" differential. On
rare occaions, the clutches will start "chattering" which can be
mistaken for "grinding" to an inexperienced ear.

Assuming its not actually an LSD, a loud grinding that only occurs
during cornering is most likely a broken gear tooth or bad bearing on
the "spider" gears. That defintely needs replacement. IF the noise
occurs going straight, its a bearing or ring/pinion problem, and that
also needs replacement.

If however it is a LSD that is just "chattering," a fluid change with
limited-slip additive (Chrysler Sure-Grip additive is an excellent one)
will probably shut it up. Given the relative cost, I'd at least try a
fluid change with additive- IF you can be sure its got an LSD in the
first place.

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adla11 - 30 Sep 2006 04:20 GMT

Thanks for the excellent suggestion. I understand your skepticism
about it being a limited-slip, because they are extremely rare on this
model. However, mine is one of the rare ones that has it.

Well, it sure sounds like grinding to me, but maybe it's just
chattering. I think I might indeed try changing the fluid. Since the
alternative is going to add up (when I add in the other problems of
failed electronic parts, and the need for a new head gasket) to more
than the car itself is worth.

> I SERIOUSLY doubt that a Cressida even has a limited-slip diff. And if
> it does, LSD's usually "fail" by just not holding well. The clutches
> wear down, and it doesn't limit slip anymore- but this is generally
> completely silent. It essentially reverts to an "open" differential. On
> rare occaions, the clutches will start "chattering" which can be
> mistaken for "grinding" to an inexperienced ear.

> If however it is a LSD that is just "chattering," a fluid change with
> limited-slip additive (Chrysler Sure-Grip additive is an excellent one)
> will probably shut it up. Given the relative cost, I'd at least try a
> fluid change with additive- IF you can be sure its got an LSD in the
> first place.

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John S. - 26 Sep 2006 18:10 GMT

The LSD needs replacing...hmmm... A few years earlier Timothy Leary
might have been able to suggest a replacement.

You could try:
Peyote
Psilocybin Mushrooms
Morning Glory Seeds
Cannabis
Dried Bananna Peels
Magic Mushrooms

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