do i have an LSDiff or not ?

IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ON THE REAR DRIVE SHAFT OR AXLE, IT GOES HERE.
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stormblue
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do i have an LSDiff or not ?

Post by stormblue »

1999 AWD
the only rpo code is the gu6 ..... so know i have 3.42 gear ratio.
but i don't have GQ1 or G80 in my rpo list.
apparently .....i do not have a differential :yikes:
how the heck do i find out without having to remove the cover and dump the oil ?
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here is the rpo list
here is the rpo list
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Re: do i have an LSDiff or not ?

Post by doyoulikeithere »

I would suspect that if it doesnt mention anything as you have shown, it would be open and NOT the optional G80.
try jacking 1 tire off the ground and leaving it it park and rotate the one lifted tire. can you rotate it?
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Re: do i have an LSDiff or not ?

Post by LiftedAWDAstro »

No G80 code means no posi unless it was installed by the previous owner.

As for jacking 1 tire up and leaving in park, that tire won't spin either way. Also the standard G80 will still show as an open when both tires are in the air. This is due to there being not enough torque bias to make it lock in. Basically, 1 tire spins forward and the other will spin backwards.
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Re: do i have an LSDiff or not ?

Post by MountainManJoe »

Jack up the rear end so both wheels can turn freely. Back up the jack with something else to make sure it's really safe. Then crawl underneath and pull the emergency brake cable one ONE wheel so it cannot turn. Have someone gently apply throttle up to about 30mph. If the axle doesn't lock then you don't have a LSD.

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Re: do i have an LSDiff or not ?

Post by LAZ 1 »

Same basic question .... can I tell if the rear diff is Limited Slip WITHOUT the complicated parking brake pulling??

What lubricant should be used for the L/S ??

The previous owner of my 98 AWD Safari van was a mechanic and he told me that he replaced the broken rear diff with another limited slip. He also said that as far as he knew, ALL AWD Safaris and Astros came with the limited slip????

This van has a hidden hitch and an electric trailer brake, so it probably has some experience pulling a trailer. [ he also put some MOOG parts in the front end and it steers very nicely ]It seems nice and tight, but now and then I get a bit of "grabbing" which might be the rear axle working ... or ????
thanks
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Re: do i have an LSDiff or not ?

Post by LiftedAWDAstro »

The best way to tell if it has LS is to pull the rear cover and change the gear oil. Good maintenance anyway. Just make sure the fill plug is loose first. The standard G80 Gov-Loc LS will show as an open diff when jacked up. You need to get the cam to engage to lock it up. If there is a helical geared posi or a clutch style posi, you will get both rear tires to spin the same direction when jacked up. Depending on what LS he installed will tell you what you need for fluid. Basically the difference is the additive. Not needed with the stock G80 locker. Use standard 80-90 gear oil.
Current rides:
2013 Toyota Tundra DC 4x4
2008 Dodge Nitro 4x4
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Vans owned:
1986 Safari 2.5L 4 speed manual - scrapped
1995 Astro 2WD conversion 4.11 posi, shift kit, DHC rock rails - sold to Skippy
1998 Astro 4x4 D44, D60, NP231, full hydraulic system with 9k# Milemarker winch and snow plow - sold to Lockdoc
2003 Astro AWD all stock - traded for a 3/4 ton truck
2005 AWD, 4.10's - sold to skippy

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Re: do i have an LSDiff or not ?

Post by LAZ 1 »

Thanks.
The previous owner said he pulled the diff from another AWD Safari van.

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Re: do i have an LSDiff or not ?

Post by LiftedAWDAstro »

That doesn't mean it definitely has posi. Contrary to popular belief, the AWD's did not come stock with the G80 posi and the towing package (at least the mid 90's and newer) did not include 3.73 gears. They were both on the option list when you ordered a van.
Current rides:
2013 Toyota Tundra DC 4x4
2008 Dodge Nitro 4x4
2005 Nissan Sentra 1.8S Special Edition

Mileage spreadsheet

Vans owned:
1986 Safari 2.5L 4 speed manual - scrapped
1995 Astro 2WD conversion 4.11 posi, shift kit, DHC rock rails - sold to Skippy
1998 Astro 4x4 D44, D60, NP231, full hydraulic system with 9k# Milemarker winch and snow plow - sold to Lockdoc
2003 Astro AWD all stock - traded for a 3/4 ton truck
2005 AWD, 4.10's - sold to skippy
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Re: do i have an LSDiff or not ?

Post by Herbie »

LiftedAWDAstro wrote:That doesn't mean it definitely has posi. Contrary to popular belief, the AWD's did not come stock with the G80 posi and the towing package (at least the mid 90's and newer) did not include 3.73 gears. They were both on the option list when you ordered a van.
Confirmed. In my searches, late-model G80 AWDs seem to be the exception rather than the rule. Nearly every AWD I've seen started as a 3.42 open diff.
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Re: do i have an LSDiff or not ?

Post by doyoulikeithere »

Guess I'm just lucky, or maybe its because I only buy Gen 1.
I have had 2 AWD.
RPO says both came with G80, 3.73, and heavy tow pack....
2021 Yamaha Tenere 700 - Blue.
2016 Yamaha XSR900 - Silver.
1990 Astro - AWD - Brown.
1987 Astro - With 5 Speed & 4wd - Silver & Blue.
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