Failed Titan Limited Slip Differential

[dstb]

Hello.  My not long ago purchased 2014 360 seems to have a a failed LSD.  This is based on louder and louder knocking noises and when I spin the wheels elevated on jack they do not spin together.  The other does not move at all.  I'm not looking for diagnosis support but what to do next.  I've attached an article that states the 2010-2015s were cursed with this LSD. Caterham offers a Titan replacement but I don't want the same unit and the same problems in a few thousand miles.  I'd rather replace with something better.  I'd appreciate any assistance or knowledge particularly with those who have experienced this issue.  Thanks. 

BMW Limited Slip Differential - A Titan(ic) Problem?.pdfFetching info...

[Croc]

 

The fail rate on those Titans was fairly low relative to total units installed so you really were just unlucky to get a bad one.  Still not acceptable for any owner though so I can understand why you want to go a different route rather than repeating the same component.  

 

What I would investigating doing is re-using the existing casing (not sure about this) or getting a Sierra 7" diff housing and installing Tracsport LSD internals.  I have one in my UK track car and never had an issue.  Choices of final drive ratio to suit Caterhams - model it out to determine if you have the best ratio - Caterham ratios chosen for production are not always right for the intended use but you can fix that with this replacement diff.  Its the best LSD diff option you can install in a Caterham.  The catch?  Tracsport is best suited to buying components to do the work yourself.  Steve the owner is a brilliant guy but he is run off his feet in what is a single person component business.  I was at his workshop last year (a fantastic old mill in a small town in the Midlands) and seen the quality of the work but he will take forever if you ask him to do a complete diff.  If you buy the components and do the work yourself in the US then it will be done quicker. Second option on the linked page.

https://www.tracsport.com/lsds

 

 

If that does not suit then I would have a chat with Raceline - Chris Smith is the guy I deal with.  They can do a Sierra casing with Quaife ATB LSD internals.  They know their Caterhams so it will work.  I have had this solution in a past Caterham with no issues.  There are a choice of ratios so you need to model your gearbox ratios and final drive to make sure you are choosing the right final drive ratio.  You can in theory buy direct through Quaife but they are better suited to wholesaling - I got jerked around trying to buying a gearbox last year and ended up buying the same gearbox through Raceline at the same price with all the answers I needed to my installation questions.  As with all Quaife products, frequent oil changes are recommended while the gears are bedding in. 

https://www.raceline.co.uk/products/part_section.asp?categoryID=6 &SectionID=87

 

 

One open question for you to check as I do not know the answer off the top of my head, is whether you need to change prop shaft or rear half drive shafts by changing from the Titan housing to a Sierra 7" diff housing.  Easy enough to get a new prop shaft made here in the USA once you measure up but its important to check now.  I suspect the answer is no change as thats the type of cheap decision to save money I could see Caterham making.   

 

[dstb]

Thanks for the informative response Croc.  Option 1 would not work out for me since I will not and likely could not do the work.  Still working on who will do the work.  I will check out your other options. 

[BlakeJ]

For reference, my 2017 Seven 420 (nee 360) had a Titan BMW LSD fail. Tracsport in the UK provided (and installed) their LSD into a new BMW diff that they bought directly from Caterham UK. Then they shipped it here and I installed the “pumpkin” as a whole, rather than having the LSD shipped here and having a transmission shop install it into the carrier Stateside. 
It was a fine solution for me. 

[KnifeySpoony]

What was the approximate cost for that service?

[dstb]

BlakeJ, thanks.  Are the Tracsport LSDs lasting longer than the newer Titans with sintered plates?  Caterham claims the new Titans are holding up but I have no mileage reference points.  Are there any other advantages to the Tracsports?

 

[BlakeJ]

The Tracsport is quite well known for performance and durability in these circles. I haven’t heard of any complaints from anyone using one. 

My 2017 Caterham with LSD ought to have had the updated Titan design (I think), but still crapped out, so I opted to swap to the Tracsport. 
Maybe folks in the peanut gallery will chime in here?

[Drakman]

This happened to my 2014 Roadsport as well.  I did the usual research and initially i wanted a OS Giken (Japanese] diff center for the BMW diff, i couldn't get one at the time, i do believe they are available now though.  I ended up getting Ollie at RRT in the UK to build me a Drexler to suit the Caterham.

 

I'm not sure i can say this here, delete if not allowed, the Caterham Lotus 7 forum in the UK has 60 or more pages of info on Titan diff failures and lots of updates about the best alternatives.  Crap, it says there are 802 pages not 60, must be posts?     https://www.caterhamlotus7.club/search/?q=Titan Diff failures&quick=1

 

 

[dstb]

Thanks for all comments.  BlakeJ, I saw something somewhere that the problematic carbon plate Titan's may have gone as late as 2018.  Caterham told me they have race cars using the sintered plate Titans for years without problems.  Not exactly hard data.  I guess they are noisier as well.  How long ago did Tracsport do that work for you?  Was that the Ultra Sierra 7" LSD?  I shot them an email but no response as of yet.

[BlakeJ]

Tracsport installed their LSD two or three yrs ago, if memory serves me. 

[Drakman]

Apologies, I found the post i was looking for, there are only 30 pages.  Makes interesting reading if you have a failed Titan though.

 

https://www.caterhamlotus7.club/forums/topic/263872-bmwtitan-lsd-viability/#comment-263446

[dstb]

thanks