DJ.

Thanks Ian that is useful to know.

Thanks

After reading the excellent thread here last summer, I discovered the preload on my Titan lsd had dropped below the magic 20 ft/lb. After also reading that I should have been having it serviced at 10,000 mile intervals (less than two years for me) I decided to swap to a Quaiffe ATB. I'm not going to go into Quaiffe v better plate designs, all I have to say is it is a personal choice and knowing other people running Sevens with ATBs, I decided it was a better option for me. Anyway, the point of this thread is that I have just opened a diff for the first time and swapped the two units over. If you are handy with changing bearings and using a dial gauge it is possible to DIY, and with the ATB delivered from Burton at £480, I did it for less than £600 once I had bought crown wheel bearings, driveshaft oil seals and new crown wheel bolts. It is important to say that I didn't disturb the pinion bearings. If you have movement in the pinion, a leaking seal here or your diff needs a general overhaul it is better to seek specialist help. If you want a guide I have written one up here: https://www.southernkitcars.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=11189 And you can download the Ford guide here: http://www.fordscorpio.co.uk/manual/rearaxle/DiffOverhaul.pdf Duncan

If it was mainly road use, I would say the Sigma engine. You have to use the gears more and drive it properly, so there is more satisfaction. I have an old Sigma 125, and it is surprising how little I can really use the full performance on the road. However, you like track driving, and on track days in a lower powered Seven, you are quick round the corners, but anything remotely aerodynamic just goes away on the straights. My acceleration really slows after 90mph, and if I was a competitive quick driver, track days would be frustrating. Fortunately, I'm happy just using the full performance on track once a year, and just wave everyone quicker past If you buy an SV and tour with a passenger and lots of luggage, the 2 litre will help them too. Duncan

New discs are from a Spitfire and only £15 each so I would suggest buying new. The big brake discs are ten times the price I believe.

Geoff Brown said: I think you will lucky to get clean/clear oil from a diff with a plate lsd fitted. My diff oil has always had particles in it at 2 year/10,000 miles oil changes. It didn't change much between brand new Titan fitted to 30,000+ miles, but it never looked completely clear. Duncan

Thank you for your comments I've come to the same conclusion,and as I could buy at £480 including VAT and delivery from Burton, it seems a bargain Duncan

I'm sure you are right Geoff. I think I have been lucky, and it was only a matter of time before it failed and damaged the crown wheel. When I had the diff fitted (not by Caterham) I was not made aware of any advised service interval. Thank you for starting this thread Duncan

That's a good question I've been giving this a lot of thought. I don't have the expertise to rebuild the Titan, so it would be rebuild labour plus the rebuild kit. £250 is going to be the absolute minimum, but I'd put money on it being more than £400 and probably near £500. Now I know about the preload torque, I can see a future where I keep nervously jacking up a wheel and breath a sigh of relief that it is more than 20ftlb. Also ATBs are very reasonably priced currently and my friend (who has been impressed with his and is a better driver than me with race experience) will help me fit it. In the end, I decided the ATB is going to suit my 95% road use well and I will be much happier knowing it isn't going to need regular rebuilds. If I was a competitive track driver with more power, I would probably go for the Tracsport LSD as I accept kerb hopping is going to be really bad for an ATB equiped car.

I have a friend with an MK Indy which has a Sierra diff, and he fitted an ATB last year. He fitted it himself and told me it is quite easy, and has offered to help me do it over the winter. I am lucky, because when I fitted my Titan, I had it installed in an old Ford diff, and left my original hardly used diff safely sealed and stored away. I plan to put the ATB into this lower mileage diff, so the pinion bearings should be fine. My friend suggested I buy new driveshaft oil seals and also crown wheel bearings to make it easier. All the parts were approximately £540. I believe the most difficult part is adjusting the backlash properly. If there is interest, I can take photos and post it here, but it won't be until after lockdown ends.

I found Rob's post interesting I completely understand several contributors to this thread have had extremely bad/expensive experiences with the Titan LSD, but I have done about 35000 miles with a sintered plate Titan and it has not been "unbearably noisy" and hasn't let me down. As Rob says it is likely that there are a silent majority of owners whose experience has been similar to mine. Thanks to this thread, I am now aware that the preload is too low on my Titan, and it requires a rebuild. I really don't fancy taking the diff out every eighteen months at my annual mileage, so I have decided to replace rather than rebuild. I have bought a Quaiffe ATB. As Rob said: With no maintenance, a price of £480 including vat and delivery from Burton Power, it seems a bargain. I accept I will lose drive when one wheel is actually off the ground, but the way I drive it isn't going to happen often and I really don't care about lap times. Duncan

I've just seen a video on Facebook where one of four loose bolts from an lsd (make unknown to me) went into the crown wheel during a lap of Brands! It sounded horrible.

Looks pretty grim!

I wanted comments good or bad, so thanks Dave

Thanks for your replies, I think I will invest in an ATB rather than have my Titan rebuilt. I can get one for £480, so it is less than half the cost of the Tracsport plate diff which will no doubt wear eventually anyway. Duncan