just bought a used lsd and wondering best way to tell if it needs a rebuild..cost for parts? its got around 100k on it so just not to familiar with these ..thanks

 

Pull it apart and look at the clutches. If the friction discs still look good, it's OK. Clutches are cheap, around $60 should get those replaced.

 

what are the telltale signs of a bad clutch disc...also are there shims to preload the pack for more holding before breaking loose...just trying to get all the info before disassembly..clutches from dodge or another supplier...thanks in advance

 

If they look like this they are bad.



The plate on the upper left (in the lower pic) still has a little lining left towards the inside but is still trash. Fresh lining is only about 1/16" thick, so as long as you can't see metal through it then it's functional.



There are no shims, the plates with internal teeth are dished to provide preload. If you want really tight action you can flip one, but it's really not necessary or recommended for street use. The way the diff is designed, the more torque difference there is between the two axles, the tighter the clutch pack is compressed.

By the way, if the side gears look like the ones in the pics, replace them. When the clutches on these diffs wear out, the spiders and side gears start to move further and further out of mesh. As you can see, these were meshing out at the tips. The complaint was excessive slack in the driveline...

 

thanks wanna for the pics thats exactly what i needed to see for evaluation of mine...will get apart soon and then repair as neede..also might have to get diff axles or side gears as this came out of an early truck...35 spl?...and mine is a 92 which would make it a 32 spl axle?...thanks again

 

You will need side gears, too, if you are changing splines, unless you have the shafts from the donor axle. Last summer, when I was looking into rebuilding the LS in my W350, it was going to be around $400 for a full rebuild- clutches, gears, bearings, etc. Clutches and gears should be around $200-250, IIRC. If you find them for less, let me know.