Results 1 to 10 of 10

Thread: sheared off allen bolt heads in my e36 LSD? Diff...(flanges spinning opposite)

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Location
    Fresno and Long Beach
    Posts
    286
    My Cars
    1996 328i

    sheared off allen bolt heads in my e36 LSD? Diff...(flanges spinning opposite)

    Hi everyone,

    So I thought I was going to have an easy day of dropping my e36 3.23 LSD Diff today to replace the cover gasket and flange seals...Unfortunately I was in for a HUGE surprise! 6 allen bolt heads sheared off had been sitting inside the diff for who knows how long. This is not the only problem...When I spun one flange, the other spun in the opposite direction. There is a giant S stamped on the diff case and it looks to me that the internal carrier and gears look like an LSD, so why the opposite direction? Is it possible that the LSD is not spinning the flanges in the same direction because the bolt heads have sheared off and torque is not quite right? I had no issues with the diff as far as drive-ability except for a bit of a whine which I thought was mainly due to a cover gasket leak.
    Please help!
    e36 LSD.jpg

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Location
    Castlegar,BC,Canada
    Posts
    379
    My Cars
    94e36M3RIP, 95 318 S50
    No big deal. Probably worn out clutch packs and need new bolts.

    I bought this kit for my car. 3 clutch upgrade. They have a 2 clutch kit also. Both have new Carrier cover bolts ( if that is what you are referring to as shearing off)


    https://www.thayermotorsports.com/co...ade-street-kit
    Last edited by guymandude; 11-15-2017 at 11:32 PM.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Location
    Fresno and Long Beach
    Posts
    286
    My Cars
    1996 328i
    Thanks for the info...Do you think it's possible that I could get by with just replacing the bolts and that would get the LSD working properly again? I don't want to spend too much $ at the moment. I'm tempted to get the 2 clutch kit for $200 though if needed. https://www.amazon.com/Thayer-Motors...rential+clutch

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    New England
    Posts
    25,402
    My Cars
    F90 M5; E36 M3 Turbo
    Failed carrier cap bolts are not uncommon. Hopefully you found the problem before any damage. You might want to disassemble before buying parts to see what you need.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Location
    Austin, TX
    Posts
    2,181
    My Cars
    S54 E36 M3, E32 740il
    Quote Originally Posted by thisdavidg View Post
    Thanks for the info...Do you think it's possible that I could get by with just replacing the bolts and that would get the LSD working properly again? I don't want to spend too much $ at the moment. I'm tempted to get the 2 clutch kit for $200 though if needed. https://www.amazon.com/Thayer-Motors...rential+clutch
    I had all 8 of mine break off. I bought a 3.38 to replace it and didn't even crack it open until years later. I actually just ordered just the bolts from BelMetric to fix my original diff (a whopping $0.79 each). https://www.belmetric.com/8x10-fine-...ad-p-5134.html

    When the last bolt gave up it ruined the output flange bearing. But surprisingly, everything else was OK. I'm replacing output flange bearings, adding a third clutch plate and dog ring to make it a three clutch, and it should be good to go.

    Those carrier bolts are what holds the LSD unit together - so yes, if they're mostly broken they're probably not holding the LSD tightly enough for it to function.

    If you're not in a hurry but REALLY don't want to do anything else, I'd get the bolts first and then see if it holds torque. I don't know if you'll be able to back out the studs with the unit still in the carrier, but if you can, that would be easier than removing it and taking the whole thing apart.

    If you DO have to remove it from the carrier, like I'm doing, you could also consider buying just one dog ring and clutch plate and converting it to a three clutch with Thayer's instructions. You'll need new output flange seals and likely also need output flange bearings (this is a likely source of your whine). None of this is very hard, or even too terribly time consuming. Just make sure you follow the instructions, note the location and position of things, and then put it back together exactly the same way.

    -Josh: 1998 S54 E36 M3/4/6 with most of the easy stuff and most of the hard stuff. At least twice. 271k miles. 1994 E32 740il with nothing but some MPars. 93k miles.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Location
    Fresno and Long Beach
    Posts
    286
    My Cars
    1996 328i
    Thanks for all the great advice! I bought the 2 clutch kit from Thayer...https://www.amazon.com/Thayer-Motors...rential+clutch
    Would I see much benefit to keeping my original oem clutches and adding 2 of the thayers to make a 4 clutch? Or should I do 2 thayers and 1 original? Or just do the 2 thayers and throw out the originals? I'm not sure how the clutches wear over time, but the originals might be toast.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    New England
    Posts
    25,402
    My Cars
    F90 M5; E36 M3 Turbo
    3 clutches is great. I did one a few years ago. 4 clutched really changes things noticeably. A friend did his with 4 while mine was 3. 4 hooked up nicely. Our cars are 500-600 rwhp turbos. 4 can be a little twitchy on development. 3 was much like usual but with better traction. But if I do it again with the power I have I will do 4.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Location
    Austin, TX
    Posts
    2,181
    My Cars
    S54 E36 M3, E32 740il
    Quote Originally Posted by thisdavidg View Post
    Thanks for all the great advice! I bought the 2 clutch kit from Thayer...https://www.amazon.com/Thayer-Motors...rential+clutch
    Would I see much benefit to keeping my original oem clutches and adding 2 of the thayers to make a 4 clutch? Or should I do 2 thayers and 1 original? Or just do the 2 thayers and throw out the originals? I'm not sure how the clutches wear over time, but the originals might be toast.
    I agree - you should at least do three. There's no reason to not use your originals to make it a three or four clutch.

    If you don't use all 4, I'd offer to buy your final used clutch / dog plate, but I can't even find any used to see what the going rate is. I had a friend do the same thing as you and send me his extra clutch / plate to rebuild my old diff into a 3 clutch. We could work something out if you want to go that route...

    -Josh: 1998 S54 E36 M3/4/6 with most of the easy stuff and most of the hard stuff. At least twice. 271k miles. 1994 E32 740il with nothing but some MPars. 93k miles.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Location
    Fresno and Long Beach
    Posts
    286
    My Cars
    1996 328i
    Quote Originally Posted by blckstrm View Post
    I agree - you should at least do three. There's no reason to not use your originals to make it a three or four clutch.

    If you don't use all 4, I'd offer to buy your final used clutch / dog plate, but I can't even find any used to see what the going rate is. I had a friend do the same thing as you and send me his extra clutch / plate to rebuild my old diff into a 3 clutch. We could work something out if you want to go that route...
    Maybe we could work something out. I actually have two 323 LSD diffs. I'm now planning to fix up my diff which still has all bolts in tact. I'll just be replacing all the bearings on that diff...pinion front and rear def need replacing, sides don't really need it but I'm doing it because it's open and the perfect time.

    I might consider parting out the other 323 if parts are needed by others. I can post pics if there is any interest.

    To save money I'm thinking of keeping the two oem clutch system in the diff I'm fixing and returning the new thayer clutches.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Location
    Austin, TX
    Posts
    2,181
    My Cars
    S54 E36 M3, E32 740il
    Quote Originally Posted by thisdavidg View Post
    Maybe we could work something out. I actually have two 323 LSD diffs. I'm now planning to fix up my diff which still has all bolts in tact. I'll just be replacing all the bearings on that diff...pinion front and rear def need replacing, sides don't really need it but I'm doing it because it's open and the perfect time.

    I might consider parting out the other 323 if parts are needed by others. I can post pics if there is any interest.

    To save money I'm thinking of keeping the two oem clutch system in the diff I'm fixing and returning the new thayer clutches.
    I think that's smart. I've read it's generally not the clutch plates themselves that wear out, but some other problem that makes the LSD stop working.

    Having said that, it's always smart to wait until it's back together working properly before you return them.

    -Josh: 1998 S54 E36 M3/4/6 with most of the easy stuff and most of the hard stuff. At least twice. 271k miles. 1994 E32 740il with nothing but some MPars. 93k miles.

Similar Threads

  1. PLEASE HELP Ignition will not turn off in my E36..
    By JBFMCAR in forum 1991 - 1999 (E36)
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 12-04-2008, 08:14 PM
  2. Replies: 12
    Last Post: 11-05-2008, 09:50 PM
  3. PLEASE HELP Ignition will not turn off in my E36..
    By JBFMCAR in forum 1992 - 1999 M3 (E36)
    Replies: 11
    Last Post: 07-28-2008, 10:45 PM
  4. Hardwiring my Startac/Timeport cellphone charger in my E36.........Possible??
    By JuBu in forum General BMW and Automotive Discussion sponsored by Intercity Lines
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 05-29-2002, 08:56 PM
  5. metal pedals - installing the e46 kit in my e36
    By gizzard in forum 1992 - 1999 M3 (E36)
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 01-02-2002, 09:31 PM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •