Quaife Diffs

[Gus 5]

have just got off the phone with Birds UK, quaife does not sell direct and they are the distributor.

Prices for an E30:

718.52 GBP + VAT (which i may or may not be able to claim back) for the Unit itself

around 1073 GBP for it installed in a differential

not cheap!

does someone want to find out how much to get one in NZ??

Edited July 5, 2007 by The Gus

[cainchapman 0]

You can get the VAT back on the diff.

The other option is to get it shipped offshore and then you will be VAT free.

[E30-323ti 66]

I enquired years ago, Palmside in Chch are the NZ distributors I believe.

$1750 rings a bell.

Why so interested in a Quaife Gusto??

From what I've heard they aren't that flash in an E30, and the stock LSD are pretty good when modded with extra clutches & modified ramps etc... (but all that costs of course).

When I ran the torsen I wasn't impressed, was a bit unpredictable, and locked up tight pretty quick at times.

Thats with running no rear sway bar so there is plently of meat on the road, as big rear bars = wheel unloading/lifting = quaife/torsen no good.

[Gus 5]

yeah, that sounds more like what i had in mind...

good points, the turbo does handle differently than the clutch LSD

i need an LSD as i bought turbo sans diff...my other option is to go for a clutch pack diff and uprate it..that seems like the easier/cheaper and better option.

darren knew someone in auckland didnt he who did LSD rebuilds and upgrading?? that sounds like me

[E30-323ti 66]

If you're wanting something "tricky" Dan @ Diffsonline (USA) has modified centres that he sells (built to what ever specs you want).

Most diff specialists in NZ will be able to swap out the centre and do all the preload/backlash crap.

I don't think many would be up to modifying the centres though (extra clutches, changing ramps etc...), as it is pretty delicate machining work.

What did andy want the diff for??

[Gus 5]

i had forgotten about dan...can clutch pack diffs be made to do variable locking %? hope thats not a dumb q

andy needed the diff for race car..something that wont wear out due to race rubber...hopefully wheel lifting not too big of a problem. locked small case diffs dont last too well haha

[E30-323ti 66]

i had forgotten about dan...can clutch pack diffs be made to do variable locking %? hope thats not a dumb q

andy needed the diff for race car..something that wont wear out due to race rubber...hopefully wheel lifting not too big of a problem. locked small case diffs dont last too well haha

They have a preload on the clutch packs, which is what people usually refer to as the lock-up % (25% stock 40% etc...), the stock LSD carrier has the same ramp angles for accel & decel, what is commonly done is to flatten the accel & steepen (or leave as is) the decel ramp, this means while differential action is occuring and power being is delivered it increases the lock-up at a quicker rate, like-wise for decel if the ramps are steepened the diff is less able to load the plates and provides less locking effect, good for turn-in etc...

Dan also sell KAAZ LSD centres for the 188 diffs which I'm sure have 2 different sets of ramps already machined so you can tear it down and put the spider gears in the "other" ramps.

They were a bit cheaper than the quaife too from memory ~$1100us incl shipping.

Be interesting to hear how andy find the quaife on the track.

He's running a "decent" sized rear bar isn't he??

[Gus 5]

thats his site there

http://www.diffsonline.com/product/customdiff1.shtml

with US dollar, prices pretty good. comparable to a quaife as soon as you start playing with options. core charge not cheap though, but beats shipping a diff back to them.

on his list, the adding of clutch packs adds pre load?

have heard good things about variable lockup diffs, the 3 clutch pack variable for $1 825 seems to be the way to go?? it would have to be better than the quaife though for that price? although i notice he sells the quaife units too, same $2 3xx as the kaaz 1.5 way. the variable lockup diffs would only have 1 way lockup?

[E30-323ti 66]

Dayum, the prices have gone way up, to go with the flashy new website too!!

I think he started getting the quaife units in for the E39 540's as they run their own 220 diff and quaife were the only LSD supplier (and works fine with the ASC-T, ABS, etc...)

But he has a very good race car reputation for building top quality & performing diffs and support, just ask over on bimmerforums.

[conrod 1]

Kayne Barrie does good work on BMW LSD's, can add extra plates, has a jig made up to change ramp angles etc. I'll try to dig his number out for you.

[Andrew 30]

Glenn: I really liked how the turbo handled with the quaife - Found it quite a lot more predictable - especially on throttle lift off. Haven't played with it in the turbo yet - but with 100 more hp I didn't want to be running a welded 4:45 !

[CamB 48]

They have a preload on the clutch packs, which is what people usually refer to as the lock-up % (25% stock 40% etc...), the stock LSD carrier has the same ramp angles for accel & decel, what is commonly done is to flatten the accel & steepen (or leave as is) the decel ramp, this means while differential action is occuring and power being is delivered it increases the lock-up at a quicker rate, like-wise for decel if the ramps are steepened the diff is less able to load the plates and provides less locking effect, good for turn-in etc...

Mal Clark @ Bygone Autos has been busy getting this done (changing the ramp angle and adding clutch packs) to a few small case diffs (and to an E36 one I think). You need to supply your own LSD though, but even factoring in that it should work out under $2k (potentially well under). Depends what you pay for the LSD in the first place.

Edited July 5, 2007 by CamB