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Date:         Fri, 23 Apr 1999 11:52:18 -0700
Reply-To:     Aleksandr Milewski <n6mod@AMT.ORG>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Aleksandr Milewski <n6mod@AMT.ORG>
Subject:      Re : How VC's work -- Please Read
Comments: To: Gary Thaxter <gthaxter@DGTDESIGN.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <v02130400b3464f77554d@[142.51.225.135]>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

At 12:55 -0400 990423, Gary Thaxter wrote: | As far as the life of the VC, I do not see that the fluid could loose it's | properties with age, but contamination from seal failure will definitely | affect it.

It certainly does lose its properties with age. I don't have a synchro, but the Miata used VCs in the rear (only) differential. They last about 30k miles before they start to work like an open diff. My impression (confirmed by a card-carrying SAE member on the Miata list) is that the long polymer chains that give the fluid its thixotrophic properties break down with continuous shearing. Excess heat may also be a factor.

A "center diff" in a 4x4 will probably last far longer, since it's in shear mode far less than a rear diff.

Mazda switched to Torsens after a few years, and even Mazda comp doesn't sell a VC diff...they sell clutch-type limited-slip diffs for racers.

Just my $0.02

-Zandr '85 (2WD) Westy --------------------------------------------------------------------- Aleksandr Milewski N6MOD n6mod@amt.org http://www.amt.org/n6mod/


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