I did a miss-shift and went 3 to 1 during accel. Rear tires locked and hoped. Other than the possible engine damage, my rear end is whining pretty bad. I am going to replace bearings, seals, ring and pinion, but it seems like i might also have a different problem; when on jack stands and the drive shaft disconnected, both tires WILL NOT spin independently or each other, like the limited slip is permanently locked. Sounds like i need a new limited slip, too, but would like to know if this has happened or anyone has heard of the limited slip locking. I know the clutches can wear out...but fuse? Or spring pressure somehow increases?

 

Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, the wheels are SUPPOSED TO turn at the same time!!!! That's a sign of a PERFECTLY FUNCTIONING "posi"-type limited slip! A '96 Z28 more than likely has the Auburn LSD, and they operate much like the old clutch-pack posi's ... both wheels will attempt to turn at the same rate, until/unless one wheel is forced to stop/slow down (ie: turning a corner).

The Torsen diffs will allow the wheels to easily turn opposite directions with the wheels in the air, but they're still a limited-slip diff under load.

BTW, stop doing the 1-2-1 shift pattern!!

 

Yup, i am foolish. I just looked in some of my old books. I was thinking the clutch packs create friction when under load rather than the clutch packs are "locked" and when you turn, and the clutch packs are fighting the input. Thanks for the reply.

 

..... except your car doesn't have "clutch packs" .

 

ok. I shall rephrase: "clutches". Not a pack of them. Just "clutches".

 

Ok, I will re-phrase that: NO "clutch/clutches/clutch-pack" at all. None. Nothing. Nada. The Auburn uses spring pressure and hydraulic pressure to keep the axles turning together. There is nothing inside that diff that resembles a clutch.

I'm sorry if I mis-lead you in my first post by saying: "...they operate much like the old clutch-pack posi's..." - but note the key word "like" .

The Torsen diff?? Now there's a completely new design again ... it uses a space-aged cluster of worm gears and other do-hickeys inside to make it function as a LSD ... I have NO IDEA how it works!!