Today my Diff went to heaven

[Smolck]

So I have a 3.46 diff taken from my old 323i auto. I just swapped pinion flanges and it bolts right up. So total it had over 330k miles on it (255k in the 323 and the rest in the ZHP) and today, while driving like a moron, it exploded.

I was doing a 0-60 timed run and upon launch the car revved to 4000rpm and then I hear BOOM! And the car lost all forward motion. Had my bro in law tow me home (thankfully I had chosen to be a child close to home) and looked underneath and my driver side axle is pushed out from the diff. When you put it in gear the driveshaft turns, but nothing happens.

Always something!

Thankfully my friend has a BMW salvage and my new 3.46 diff is sitting outside waiting on me to go get it. Should be back on the road tomorrow!

[QC_ZHP]

Lol, the title made me laugh. Definitely sucks, but you gotta pay to play. Luckily, they can be found for <$200.

[Smolck]

Lol, the title made me laugh. Definitely sucks, but you gotta pay to play. Luckily, they can be found for <$200.

Again, my friend hooked me up. $100.

I blame the headers. They make me drive like an idiot. Though the diff has been leaking and whining for quite some time now. But I just refilled it not 2 months ago.

[QC_ZHP]

Again, my friend hooked me up. $100.

I blame the headers. They make me drive like an idiot. Though the diff has been leaking and whining for quite some time now. But I just refilled it not 2 months ago.

DOH! missed that part. Good to hear though man

[ELCID86]

By the open diff for sale here as a backup! Jk. Sounds like Jon is taking it. Glad you got it sorted out.


Thumbs, iPhone, Tapatalk (http://tapatalk.com/m?id=1).

[Smolck]

At first I thought I busted my driveshaft. THAT is a lot harder part to find. Definitely going to rebuild it when I do my clutch this year. Nothing feels worse than when your car revs and nothing happens (and you are in gear).

[danewilson77]

Damn.

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[johnrando]

Damn.

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+1. Glad you'll be hooked up though.

[Avetiso]

Good thing I have a 3.38 laying around... I think I might keep it handy.

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[derbo]

Did you just drop the clutch? :)

[alexandre]

At first I thought I busted my driveshaft. THAT is a lot harder part to find. Definitely going to rebuild it when I do my clutch this year. Nothing feels worse than when your car revs and nothing happens (and you are in gear).

How come ?

[derbo]

This reminds me when I first broke my axle on my civic..

I broke it at Sears Point and that was embarassing. Launched it and the revs just went up! The car just rolled down the strip to the side. I could get it into gear and see my RPM go up but the car didn't move at all.. LOL.

my aftermath..

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/crazyxzer0/20060815%20First%20Axle%20Broken/IMG_5147Small.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/crazyxzer0/20060815%20First%20Axle%20Broken/IMG_5136Small.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/crazyxzer0/media/20060815%20First%20Axle%20Broken/IMG_5136Small.jpg.html)

[Hermes]

Damn Shad, that sucks... glad your buddy hooked up you. This definitely scares me with my plans for my E21. Right now my LSD has a lot of room before my torque limit, but when I do a 6 cyl swap it will be really close... and that diff is worth $550 so I don't want to grenade it. This is exactly why my buddy and I are thinking about modifying our rear ends to accept E28 LSD's rated at over 400 ft/lbs torque.

[derbo]

do it JP!

[Hermes]

oh we will... but we still have a lot of other stuff to figure out. I'm just waiting until I have to pass smog in July before I start tearing into that project

[Smolck]

Did you just drop the clutch? :)

Sure. Doesn't everyone? Stop, put in 1st gear, rev to 3000rpm and side step the clutch while putting my right foot through the floor board. My 0-60 run stopped abruptly at 25mph.........


Anyways, after a few hours of running all over town I have the new diff in my garage, fluids and degreaser (cause its dirty!). Unfortunately I'll have to swap the input and output flanges, so that means torquing the preload on the pinion nut, oh joy.

[midlandtech]

Damn that sucks dude. How much of an impact on acceleration does a 3.46 make? I'm probably going to end up doing a swap if there is a significant impact on acceleration.

Sent from my Galaxy Note 3

[JupiterBMW]

Sorry to hear man, glad you got a quick replacement... As for the diff FS on here, I'm passing...

[QC_ZHP]

Damn that sucks dude. How much of an impact on acceleration does a 3.46 make? I'm probably going to end up doing a swap if there is a significant impact on acceleration.

Sent from my Galaxy Note 3

Definitely wakes the car up a lot and for the price they can be picked up for, one of the best mods to do IMO. The shorter gearing puts the car in a better RPM ranger after shifting and it keeps pulling. I have the 3.38 so 3.46 will be a bit more noticeable. Still getting 22mpg

[Lanister]

This reminds me when I first broke my axle on my civic..

I broke it at Sears Point and that was embarassing. Launched it and the revs just went up! The car just rolled down the strip to the side. I could get it into gear and see my RPM go up but the car didn't move at all.. LOL.

my aftermath..

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/crazyxzer0/20060815%20First%20Axle%20Broken/IMG_5147Small.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/crazyxzer0/20060815%20First%20Axle%20Broken/IMG_5136Small.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/crazyxzer0/media/20060815%20First%20Axle%20Broken/IMG_5136Small.jpg.html)

Boosting a civic is just asking for trouble ;)

[derbo]

Sure. Doesn't everyone? Stop, put in 1st gear, rev to 3000rpm and side step the clutch while putting my right foot through the floor board. My 0-60 run stopped abruptly at 25mph.........


Anyways, after a few hours of running all over town I have the new diff in my garage, fluids and degreaser (cause its dirty!). Unfortunately I'll have to swap the input and output flanges, so that means torquing the preload on the pinion nut, oh joy.

Actually, I usually rev to the launch rpm and get the clutch near the catch point, pull the ebrake and then let the clutch lunge the car a bit to reduce the instant shock of energy transfer. I used to drop the clutch and that's why my civic axles sheered like that hahah.

sent from Moto X Dev Edition

[Lanister]

I remember living in fear if snapping my transfer case on my DSM but clutch dumping is SO fun :)

[Hermes]

I can safely dump the clutch all day on my E21 at the moment, but I don't have enough power to spin the wheels :(

[Smolck]

Here is what broke......output flange



http://youtu.be/ggvY3gX9XNY

[midlandtech]

Damn that sucks. Was the 3.46 from a 323? What all is needed to bolt into out car? I'm looking to buy one in the near future.

Sent from my Galaxy Note 3

[BCS_ZHP]

Diffs from a 323/325 (e.g, the 3.46) have a 4 bolt input flange whereas Diffs from a 328/330 (e.g., the 3.38) have a 6 bolt input flange. So to use the 3.46 you have to swap your 6 bolt input flange onto it. It can be a bit of a challenge to remove but while you have the input flange out you have an opportunity to replace the input seal. And on the output flange side, the bolt pattern is the same but you'll want to remove these to change the output seals. The output flanges pop off very easily. The rest of the diff swap is unolting the mounts, sway bar, driveshaft, not hard bit time consuming because lots of bolts.

[Smolck]

Diffs from a 323/325 (e.g, the 3.46) have a 4 bolt input flange whereas Diffs from a 328/330 (e.g., the 3.38) have a 6 bolt input flange. So to use the 3.46 you have to swap your 6 bolt input flange onto it. It can be a bit of a challenge to remove but while you have the input flange out you have an opportunity to replace the input seal. And on the output flange side, the bolt pattern is the same but you'll want to remove these to change the output seals. The output flanges pop off very easily. The rest of the diff swap is unolting the mounts, sway bar, driveshaft, not hard bit time consuming because lots of bolts.

Since the 330 has larger half shafts (axles) the output flanges are indeed different. Not only larger, but different bolt pattern too. Sucks cause I can find a ton of 325/323 diff flanges, nobody has 330s

[BCS_ZHP]

Yup, I stand corrected, output flanges different too. Not sure if you can even buy the output flanges for a 330 anymore, believe Stuart told me once they are no longer available.

[Hermes]

Shad, if you're still unable to find anything by Monday call my buddies. They were parting out a 330 not too long ago and probably still have the diff on a shelf. Autobahn Dismantlers, 619-444-2290 - ask for John or Sean and tell them JP sent you

[Smolck]

Shad, if you're still unable to find anything by Monday call my buddies. They were parting out a 330 not too long ago and probably still have the diff on a shelf. Autobahn Dismantlers, 619-444-2290 - ask for John or Sean and tell them JP sent you

Thank you!

And My local dealer can get me one, but not for a week. I need my car back!

[BCS_ZHP]

Did the guy in Atlanta ever respond?

[Smolck]

Did the guy in Atlanta ever respond?

Nope. I just sent him a pm on fanatics too

[BCS_ZHP]

Hopefully he's just out for the night & will contact you tomorrow.

[midlandtech]

so do the output flanges get swapped from the stock diff then? pardon my ignorance on the subject this will be my first diff swap.

[BCS_ZHP]

Yes, I swapped a 3.38 in for the stock ZHP 3.07. The input flanges are the same so I didn't have to change that. For the output flanges, use a claw hammer (like household repairs, not car repairs), get the ends of the claw under the end of the flange and pop it right off. When you buy the new output flange seals, it comes with new clips which get stretched a little by the claw hammer prying/popping action so no worries.

[midlandtech]

awesome thanks for the help! Sorry for the thread jack.

[Smolck]

Guys, don't break your output flanges. What a nightmare finding the right diff/flange. Only one in the U.S. according to BMW. The rest are in Germany.

[BCS_ZHP]

Glad you found one, I thought they were no longer available.

[midlandtech]

Wow that sucks glad you found one. is she all back together yet?

Sent from my Galaxy Note 3

[Smolck]

Wow that sucks glad you found one. is she all back together yet?

Sent from my Galaxy Note 3

Nope. Been up on jackstands with the diff removed since Saturday. Dealer had to order the part overnight so I am supposed to pick it up in the morning. But I have to spend all day in Atlanta so I likely won't get it running till Wed. Why can't crap like this happen when I have $$$$ to burn? This would have been a PERFECT time to send my DME to Seth!!

Oh well. And FYI, if any of you are trying to swap diffs, the only flanges that bolt up to the ZHP are another ZHP or a 325/330XI (otherwise you have to swap your flanges) The 325xi is sweet because it has the 3.23 which IMO, would be PERFECT for me. But do like the 3.46 dig from 2nd gear.

[midlandtech]

Sweet I'm bidding on one on ebay right now.... 4 more days and I could be the owner of a 3.46

Sent from my Galaxy Note 3

[Damian]

I have a 3.38 from my wrecked 02 330I automatic. Can I just take out the diff and swap into my new 03 ZHP 6spd?

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[BCS_ZHP]

I have a 3.38 from my wrecked 02 330I automatic. Can I just take out the diff and swap into my new 03 ZHP 6spd?

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk

Input flange on that 3.38 is fine, you'll need to swap the output flanges from your 3.07 over to the 3.38.

[Smolck]

Well, the new flange is in my hands. Ayone want to put the diff back in for me, it's heavy (and cold).

[jsfbmw]

I blame the headers. They make me drive like an idiot.

Love this statement. No matter what the catalyst, there always seems to be something in our cars that triggers that "let's be an idiot today" syndrome.

[wsmeyer]

Well, the new flange is in my hands. Ayone want to put the diff back in for me, it's heavy (and cold).

Bring it over, it's 80 degrees here :)

[Smolck]

Car is back on all 4s again and driving well. I really missed my car. Yesterday I rented a car which turned out to be a 2013 mustang GT 5.0. Something like 410 horsepower, I wouldn't trade my 200k mile ZHP for it EVER!

[ELCID86]

Car is back on all 4s again and driving well. I really missed my car. Yesterday I rented a car which turned out to be a 2013 mustang GT 5.0. Something like 410 horsepower, I would trade my 200k mile ZHP for it EVER!

"would" please clarify!!

[QC_ZHP]

Car is back on all 4s again and driving well. I really missed my car. Yesterday I rented a car which turned out to be a 2013 mustang GT 5.0. Something like 410 horsepower, I would trade my 200k mile ZHP for it EVER!

How was it though? They're supposed to be really good cars.

[Hermes]

"would" please clarify!!

I think he meant to say never

[Smolck]

"would" please clarify!!

Meant to put wouldn't.


How was it though? They're supposed to be really good cars.

It was a powerful beast. But the long nose and short rear makes it understeer like a roadster, until you go near the gas pedal then it tries to kill you. Braking is decent, but the car nose dives under hard braking which means if you have to brake in a corner, the back end tries to come around on you. The interior is plain, I don't like the retro steering wheel either.

I dunno, as a die hard Mustang guy (I had a bunch of the 5.0s from the late 80's early 90's) I like the power, but now having driven BMW's for the past 7 years, I expect more from a car than just raw power. And quite honestly, with my 3.46 diff and headers, my car is pretty dang fast from a dead stop anyways. But does braking, and cornering a whole lot better.

I get to drive a lot of rentals, and I get a lot of Hemi Chargers, Mustangs, and Challengers. None of them would be a car I would own. MY ZHP is better.

[johnrando]

Just thought of this for your diff.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmxaFf-lpZY

[QC_ZHP]

It was a powerful beast. But the long nose and short rear makes it understeer like a roadster, until you go near the gas pedal then it tries to kill you. Braking is decent, but the car nose dives under hard braking which means if you have to brake in a corner, the back end tries to come around on you. The interior is plain, I don't like the retro steering wheel either.

I dunno, as a die hard Mustang guy (I had a bunch of the 5.0s from the late 80's early 90's) I like the power, but now having driven BMW's for the past 7 years, I expect more from a car than just raw power. And quite honestly, with my 3.46 diff and headers, my car is pretty dang fast from a dead stop anyways. But does braking, and cornering a whole lot better.

I get to drive a lot of rentals, and I get a lot of Hemi Chargers, Mustangs, and Challengers. None of them would be a car I would own. MY ZHP is better.

I hear ya, I grew up in Mustangs as well, but I don't see myself every getting back into one after driving BMW. Still have a soft spot for them though.

[Smolck]

I hear ya, I grew up in Mustangs as well, but I don't see myself every getting back into one after driving BMW. Still have a soft spot for them though.

Every time I hear that distinct sound of a mustang with flowmasters I roll down my window and listen. And while they were fast for their time, it seems odd that those old 5.0s at 302 cubic inches put out 10hp LESS than our 182 cubic inch ZHP's do. Granted it had more torque, but still slow from the factory. But man did they respond to the traditional power tricks well though. Headers, intake, H-pipe, disconnect the front sway bar, yank the serpentine belt and sticky tires was good for mid 8's in the 1/8th mile. I added a 175 shot of nitrous to mine and boy did she move out with that! I think I used about 2 bottles per week back then, on a stock short block with 155k miles. Ah, those were the days......

[QC_ZHP]

Every time I hear that distinct sound of a mustang with flowmasters I roll down my window and listen. And while they were fast for their time, it seems odd that those old 5.0s at 302 cubic inches put out 10hp LESS than our 182 cubic inch ZHP's do. Granted it had more torque, but still slow from the factory. But man did they respond to the traditional power tricks well though. Headers, intake, H-pipe, disconnect the front sway bar, yank the serpentine belt and sticky tires was good for mid 8's in the 1/8th mile. I added a 175 shot of nitrous to mine and boy did she move out with that! I think I used about 2 bottles per week back then, on a stock short block with 155k miles. Ah, those were the days......

I do the same, great sound from both the 5.0 and 4.6, but you're right on point with the fact that they're underpowered for the sheer size of the motor. They're still one of the best bang for your buck cars on the road. My old '94 5.0 had H/C/I + a Vortech V2 and it MOVED out. Good times, but we graduated to better things (ZHPs).

[Smolck]

I do the same, great sound from both the 5.0 and 4.6, but you're right on point with the fact that they're underpowered for the sheer size of the motor. They're still one of the best bang for your buck cars on the road. My old '94 5.0 had H/C/I + a Vortech V2 and it MOVED out. Good times, but we graduated to better things (ZHPs).

Vortech, what a great name from the past. A buddy had one of their Mondo blowers on his race car. Close to 23psi of boost IIRC. Crazy. I always wanted a Pro-Charger for mine, just never had the funds when I was that age so nitrous had to do. My 93 LX 5.0 had a 175 shot also with a ported stock upper intake and heads, long tubes, and some other custom stuff. It was a monster. I beat a couple 911's in it. NOS is the great equalizer!

But I wouldn't trade a minute of time in the ZHP.