Installing Quaife LSD
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From: San Francisco
88 BMW M3, 11 BMW M3 Vert, 04 Porsche GT3
Installing Quaife LSD
Wondering if anyone had one installed in their C32/C55 in the SF bay area. I am thinking about pulling the trigger but this appears to be a fairly complicated install so I want to make sure I go to a shop that has done this before already. Appreciate any input on this. Thanks.
Sherman
Sherman
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2002 C32, 2012 S550
I wish I had the funds to do this!!
I think it's a tough job for a layman, but I think any competent mechanic should be able to do it. Like I would totally trust my mechanic to do it.
I think it's a tough job for a layman, but I think any competent mechanic should be able to do it. Like I would totally trust my mechanic to do it.
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it's not about the $, the extensive labor time it takes to do it, or even finding out who does it. that in fact is the easy part. the bad news is this. about a month ago i left a deposit on one at ASP in san carlos. i had gotten a great deal on it with parts and labor. i get a call about an hour after i left the deposit saying that quaife is out of stock on them across the entire US and they're actually in the process of designing a new one. so if you find someone who can get it for you and install it for the price i was quoted, power to you. i'd do it too. but as of right now, it's a no go.
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88 BMW M3, 11 BMW M3 Vert, 04 Porsche GT3
Hey Michael, I live right by San Carlos in San Mateo. So what was your quoted price for part/labor? I guess if they are out of stock the only way is to find a reseller who might still have one. Thanks.
Sherman
Sherman
it's not about the $, the extensive labor time it takes to do it, or even finding out who does it. that in fact is the easy part. the bad news is this. about a month ago i left a deposit on one at ASP in san carlos. i had gotten a great deal on it with parts and labor. i get a call about an hour after i left the deposit saying that quaife is out of stock on them across the entire US and they're actually in the process of designing a new one. so if you find someone who can get it for you and install it for the price i was quoted, power to you. i'd do it too. but as of right now, it's a no go.
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2025 AMG E 53; 2018 GLC300 4Matic; 2003 360 Modena
There are other posts about the install requiring shims, etc. I think its best to take the advice and wait for the upgraded version.
I was ready to pull the trigger and then saw the post, now the car is in storage - so I'll revive the buy / install next April. I plan on doing the work myself.
I was ready to pull the trigger and then saw the post, now the car is in storage - so I'll revive the buy / install next April. I plan on doing the work myself.
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2006 C55 AMG White/Ash
There are other posts about the install requiring shims, etc. I think its best to take the advice and wait for the upgraded version.
I was ready to pull the trigger and then saw the post, now the car is in storage - so I'll revive the buy / install next April. I plan on doing the work myself.
I was ready to pull the trigger and then saw the post, now the car is in storage - so I'll revive the buy / install next April. I plan on doing the work myself.
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88 BMW M3, 11 BMW M3 Vert, 04 Porsche GT3
I am thinking about buying one off ebay and getting it installed. Got a track day later on in December so what to make sure the LSD is in for that event.
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From: Seattle, Warshington
2005 C55, 2006 Ram 2500 MegaCab diesel, sold 2001 Dodge 2500 Cummins, sold 87 190e-16v, sold 97 e420
MB dealer in Lynnwood WA will install for me, I just need to find one, they are telling me between 4-6 hrs for an install as they have done a few already on E and CLK's.
It was going to be my winter project.
It was going to be my winter project.
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88 BMW M3, 11 BMW M3 Vert, 04 Porsche GT3
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My understanding is that anytime you open up the diff, you may need to re-shim, so it's not just a matter of the existing or revised design. You might get lucky and not need new shims, but you won't know until re-assembly and you can figure our the lash and all that, see how the gears are meshing up.
Getting the diff assembly in and out of the car is the relatively easy part, the (potentially) really difficult part is installing the new diff into the case without it making too much of a whine. That's where the shims come in. It would be best to ensure that whoever is installing the new diff into the case has ready access to these shims, or else you may be in for a bit of a wait.
Getting the diff assembly in and out of the car is the relatively easy part, the (potentially) really difficult part is installing the new diff into the case without it making too much of a whine. That's where the shims come in. It would be best to ensure that whoever is installing the new diff into the case has ready access to these shims, or else you may be in for a bit of a wait.
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88 BMW M3, 11 BMW M3 Vert, 04 Porsche GT3
Great advice Saaboteur. That's why I definitely want to go with a shop that has done a C32 before. Thanks.
My understanding is that anytime you open up the diff, you may need to re-shim, so it's not just a matter of the existing or revised design. You might get lucky and not need new shims, but you won't know until re-assembly and you can figure our the lash and all that, see how the gears are meshing up.
Getting the diff assembly in and out of the car is the relatively easy part, the (potentially) really difficult part is installing the new diff into the case without it making too much of a whine. That's where the shims come in. It would be best to ensure that whoever is installing the new diff into the case has ready access to these shims, or else you may be in for a bit of a wait.
Getting the diff assembly in and out of the car is the relatively easy part, the (potentially) really difficult part is installing the new diff into the case without it making too much of a whine. That's where the shims come in. It would be best to ensure that whoever is installing the new diff into the case has ready access to these shims, or else you may be in for a bit of a wait.
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From: Middle of IL in a corn field
2006 C55 AMG White/Ash
The way these diffs go together (the outer race and then the snap ring) I'm not sure you can shim one. I have yet to read about anyone that required shims. I won't just throw it in and hope for the best, but if both outer races are against the snap rings and there is no clearance, where do you put the shim to move the gear set over???
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I emailed Quaife directly to ask about the modified / upgraded / superseded version and the need for shims. I'll let this post know what the reply is.
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From: Middle of IL in a corn field
2006 C55 AMG White/Ash
As long as the distance from the ring gear mounting surface to the base of the bearing journals is the same (which would be very easy to machine to within thousandths) then nothing will change. If the snap ring is removed and there was a stack of one or more shims under the ring, then you would have the variability of shimming it. All the DIY I've seen only had the race under the snap ring. Knowing how things work mechanically, I'm betting these diffs are basically a drop in. You might want to put the bearings in a toaster oven at a couple hundred degrees and the diff in a freezer for a while before the new bearings are pressed on, but other than that, this is about as easy of a task as I've seen. If someone can tell me what other steps there are other than two snap rings and a magnet to pull the two races to remove the diff from the case, I'm all ears.
Last edited by Phil C55; Nov 24, 2011 at 09:18 AM.
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As long as the distance from the ring gear mounting surface to the base of the bearing journals is the same (which would be very easy to machine to within thousandths) then nothing will change. If the snap ring is removed and there was a stack of one or more shims under the ring, then you would have the variability of shimming it. All the DIY I've seen only had the race under the snap ring. Knowing how things work mechanically, I'm betting these diffs are basically a drop in. You might want to put the bearings in a toaster over at a couple hundred degrees and the diff in a freezer for a while before the new bearings are pressed on, but other than that, this is about as easy of a task as I've seen. If someone can tell me what other steps there are other than two snap rings and a magnet to pull the two races to remove the diff from the case, I'm all ears.
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This will probably be one of my next mods, especially now that I'm Kleemann powered. I was actually looking into it too until I saw Michael's post about no stock and an updated design.
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2006 C55 AMG White/Ash
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Hey, if it's as easy as that, I'm all over it. Best I grab one off eBay before the rest of you guys do then!! 
I had a helluva time with updating the ring gear on my S2000. I went from 4.10 stock to 4.44s. It basically required complete disassembly of the diff. I didn't trust myself to do it, other than the removal and installation of the entire diff assembly, so I had a mechanic friend of mine do the actual diff disassembly and reassembly with the newer ring gears. It whined all the time, I suppose he didn't do a good enough job, and I had all the OE shims available for him too. When I looked into the EPC for the C55's diff, it didn't list all of the separate parts for the diff, ie. it said the shims weren't available. Rather, it says that you can only buy the whole diff assembly as a rebuilt unit. Boo.
I had a helluva time with updating the ring gear on my S2000. I went from 4.10 stock to 4.44s. It basically required complete disassembly of the diff. I didn't trust myself to do it, other than the removal and installation of the entire diff assembly, so I had a mechanic friend of mine do the actual diff disassembly and reassembly with the newer ring gears. It whined all the time, I suppose he didn't do a good enough job, and I had all the OE shims available for him too. When I looked into the EPC for the C55's diff, it didn't list all of the separate parts for the diff, ie. it said the shims weren't available. Rather, it says that you can only buy the whole diff assembly as a rebuilt unit. Boo.
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I figure that as long as Quaife has the correct dimensions on the OEM carrier it should be a straight drop-in. What I don't know is whether they had access to MB carrier design drawings or if they had to reverse engineer their product dimensions. In the latter case tolerance stack-up could mean that things are off a bit.
Does anybody know fastener torque for the ring gear bolts and carrier bearing part numbers. My Service DVD and the EPC have nothing on either.
Does anybody know fastener torque for the ring gear bolts and carrier bearing part numbers. My Service DVD and the EPC have nothing on either.
Last edited by lkfoster; Nov 24, 2011 at 11:40 AM. Reason: added questions
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contact unitrax in cali. they are dealers for wavetrac and install lsd in m/b daily. they can do the install or sell you a wavetrac if the quaiffe isnt available
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2006 C55 AMG White/Ash
I figure that as long as Quaife has the correct dimensions on the OEM carrier it should be a straight drop-in. What I don't know is whether they had access to MB carrier design drawings or if they had to reverse engineer their product dimensions. In the latter case tolerance stack-up could mean that things are off a bit.
Does anybody know fastener torque for the ring gear bolts and carrier bearing part numbers. My Service DVD and the EPC have nothing on either.
Does anybody know fastener torque for the ring gear bolts and carrier bearing part numbers. My Service DVD and the EPC have nothing on either.
http://www.quaife.co.uk/sites/defaul...ings/QDF9V.pdf
It's pretty simple, dimension L4 is the distance from the ring mounting surface to the bottom of the bearing journal and dimension L1 is the overall distance between the bearings. Bearings are SUPER precise in measurement, so effectively if you put a bearing at each end of 153mm solid surface (L1 spec) and measured the whole thing in length from race to race, it will be exactly the dimension between the snap ring grooves. Dimension L4 is what dictates the backlash. This type of design is simple, but brilliant and doesn't require shims.
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2005 CLK 55 AMG
I bought mine on ebay and installed it myself. I checked the backlash and no shims needed. It's not exactly easy but I'm proud I did it. It's a weekend project for sure! Automotive Connoisseur Group Inc of San Diego can hook you up on that.
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From: Raleigh NC
2007 E63, 2006 C55
Re: Quaife
I had one installed in my SL600 last year, and very recently also had one installed in my E63. Great upgrade, worth every penny. Both of mine are the latest design QDF9V units, the design was apparently updated not too long ago. Highly recommended for high powered cars; not sure I'd do one in my stockish C55, but I absolutely would if I ever get the mod bug.
Be sure that the shop you use has the expertise do get it right, my indie has done many and got both mine perfect.
As fyi, I bought both my Quaifes from ACG San Diego, they sell it with a complete MB parts install kit (get the kit), they were competitive and easy to do business with.
Be sure that the shop you use has the expertise do get it right, my indie has done many and got both mine perfect.
As fyi, I bought both my Quaifes from ACG San Diego, they sell it with a complete MB parts install kit (get the kit), they were competitive and easy to do business with.
Last edited by NCE500; Nov 27, 2011 at 12:27 PM.
