My LSD makes a loud whining noise when engaged.
By engaged I mean when one front tire is on a slippery surface and the other has traction.
Like in the snow, or going up the driveway (sloped) with one tire on the grass and the other on the concrete.

I have a torsen in my 442 Calais, and it's never made a sound.

Anyone else get this noise?

Ron

 

Nope, your crazy!

 

Gee, thanks for the informative resonse.

 

Its most likely the gears making noise.

 

Duh....I got that.
What I want to know, is this normal. Do the rest of you hear it?

Ron

 

sorry buddy, it was a bad day. I can't say mine does that. It could very well be normal. If it's that bad I would say take it to the stealership.

 

I've never heard a Quife unit while it's slipping. It could be the normal sound the viscous coupling makes when it's slipping.

 

No problem, I have bad days as well.

Ron

I don't think there is any sort of viscous coupling in a torsen. It's all gear driven.

Ron

 

Yep, gear driven.

 

So have we even figured anything out yet lol.

 

In my Mustang I have an Auburn pro race posi and when we put it in there was a grinding while turning. It turned out that we had the wrong diff fluid in.

May not relate to this problem but throwing it out there just the same.

 

He said his 442 was a torsen. Is that the car we are talking about? Because a Cobalt is a Quife.

 

I've heard it before, it's not a nice sound. but It doesn't sound like anything breaking to me.

 

Quaiffe is a brand name. http://www.optionimports.com/quaife.html
The differential type is "torque sensing" AKA Torsen.

Torsen is also a brand name. http://www.torsen.com/
You can go here and read about the history.

When you look at the cutaway views, you will se that they are the same design.

My guess is that the patent ran out.....but I'm not sure about that.

I actually installed the unit in my FWD 442, so I have had one in my hands to look at.
When I broke the Cobalt trans, I tried to get the dealer to let me have the Quaiffe before they disposed of the trans, so I have not had one of these in my hands to look at.

These types of differentials are now made for RWD vehicles as well.

Ron


So I'm not the only one who has heard the sound. Thanks, that's what I was looking for.

Anyone else?

Ron

 

Well, I learned something. I thought the Quaife unit was a viscous coupling.

 

yeah mine makes noise its normal Quaifes are vurtually indestructible.

 

Yep, quite a howling noise. Had lots of it with all the bad weather we have been having. Doesnt seem to be hurting anything.
Diff seems to function like a limited slip still. I have to take her to the dealership for her first oil change next week, I will ask about it then.

Cheers

Richard

 

I hear the lsd too when I'm autocrossing and hit the gas a little too hard coming out of turn...wasn't for that my tires would be worn even worse than they are now.