DeTomaso Mailing List: March 2000, Message #45

     Jack,
     
If that's what you saw, that's what you had. However this is not the way this 
diff is designed to work. As you see the diff has no springs to keep the 
friction plates pushed together for locking action. The locking comes from the 
design of the pieces holding the "X" with the small wheels in the diff center. 
Torque transmission causes the plates to be pushed against each other with a 
force proportional to the transmitted torque. The play inside the diff between 
the plates is to be carefully shimmed to where the plates spin freely against 
each other. The 3.5 ft-lbs indicated is parasitic drag only. If there's a 
preload the diff will pretty much be working as a spool. As soon as the plates 
rub against each other they will heat, expand somewhat, try to lock even harder,
heat even more etc. This happens in all limited slip diffs, but if they're 
spring loaded the springs will allow for that. The ZF design will lock up 
completely unless there's some play in the plate assembly.

Tomas

______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Re: Re[2]: FW: Transaxle question
Author:  JDeRyke@aol.com at Internet-europe
Date:    2000-03-01 11:45


Just relating what we got with a good torque wrench on a '72pre-L with a tight 
4-plate ZF, and my 72L with a 50,000-mile 3-plate diff, Tomas. Yours may 
vary.... I think the type of gear lube influences how or whether it works, as 
well. Cheers- J DeRyke