The V8 Owners Forum -

Hi,
Can anyone tell me how to check if a car, Ford Capri 2.8i Special in this case, is fitted with a LSD without taking the cover off?
Cheers,
Paul

turn one of the wheels and the other one should turn the same direction as the one your turning,
if it turns in the opposite direction it is NOT an LSD axle

Jack up the back and see if both wheels spin the same way when you turn one of them, and if someone holds the opposite one still (and its not in gear) it should be bloody hard to turn the wheel you are at! If one goes forewards and one goes backwards without much resistance you have no or a completely knackered LSD.

Excellent, just as i thought, glad i am not going mad.
Can anyone explain this?
I purchased a RV8 Capri Special about 5 years ago and did the same check, both wheels turned the same way so LSD i thought, used it fine for all these years, sadly the body is getting beyond repair so decided to break it for use in the MK1 Escy, took the axle casing off and it is a standard diff?
I have other 2.8s one definately with and one without so know what they feel like to turn (more resistance with LSD) and this felt correct.
I cannot see anything to suggest the diff has been welded or locked up and surely i would have noticed it when driving in the wet as i would have been facing the wrong way most of the time!
Any ideas?
Cheers,
Paul

Im afraid, the only real way is to take the cover off, I had a 2.8i axle that would leave 2 black lines, turn both wheels the same etc, until it ate a planet wheel,

Someone said recently that alot of the 2.8i Specials had the axles changed for non LSD type under warranty because people complained of a ticking noise when driving? I have had a couple that have had non LSD diffs and you could tell the axle hadnt been off the car for a good few years? Anyone else heard of this?

What would cause a non LSD diff to turn the wheels the same way when span by hand? Just curious now

Cheers

If its not an LSD diff and the wheels both turn in the same direction you may find that one of the pinion cogs has friction welded itself to the diff pin ??

Thanks for the responses, when i get chance i will strip it down to see if anything is seized and hopefully update the post,
Thanks again,
Paul