Quaife QDH3Y axle/snap ring groove problems

[cwojcik]

Hey folks, I recently installed a Quaife QDH3Y into the transmission of my car and noticed that the passenger side axle does not fit correctly. Please note that it's a Legacy, not an 818, but I wanted to post here because there seems to be almost no interest in or information on this differential anywhere else on the internet, and I hope that what I have to share could help somebody here, or confirm that the issue exists. For reference this is a 2005 Legacy GT with a 5MT which is nearly identical to a 5MT from a 06 and up WRX, or any 5MT with a push style clutch. When the stock gearbox stripped 3rd I decided to put a fresh one in and install the QDH3Y.

The driver's side axle installed normally and seats all the way in with no issues. However, the passenger's side does not go quite as far in. Judicious hammering and reinstalls showed that it was not getting stuck on anything.

Driver's side:

https://i.imgur.com/TY6IAV3.jpg

Passenger's side:

https://i.imgur.com/aJ69f7K.jpg

I removed the axle and reached in with a bent piece of wire to find the snap ring groove in the female splines in the differential, so I could measure its position. It was a few mm further out than on the old stock gearbox.

In speaking with Quaife, they sent me the drawing for the fit-up of the differential.

https://i.imgur.com/trjMuCI.png

I re-drew it to more easily calculate the distances from the snap ring groove to the bearing shoulder which is what will determine how far out the axle sits.

https://i.imgur.com/GDwNkSp.png

As expected, the passenger side axle is about .159 inches or 4mm further out than the drivers side by design. Now, this wouldn't affect anything except with the axle not fully seated the seal leaks a little.

Has anybody else run into this issue? My fix is going to be to machine a bigger bore into the sundial that is 4mm further out, and press in a different seal in the right location.

[Hobby Racer]

I had the same diff in my 818 when I had a 5 speed. I had the same stick out as you but I had no leaking issues.

[Hobby Racer]

You may want to read this thread.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?24003-Installing-a-Quaife-QDH3Y-LSD-in-2007-WRX-Issue

Seems some batches of the Quaife QDH3Y were not machined correctly, leading to a bearing offset issue.

[lance corsi]

I’m so glad you started this thread. I’ve recently torn my ‘02 Wrx 5sp apart to install a Torsten style diff. I will be using the stub shafts that were previously in the original open diff. When I removed them, they were retained by snap rings and the design of the Torsten diff will not accommodate snap rings but there is a groove inside as your drawing shows. Do you know what the part no for the c-ring used to retain these axle shafts? I’ve e- mailed two different Subaru dealerships with my query with no reply. Thanks.

[cwojcik]

I had the same diff in my 818 when I had a 5 speed. I had the same stick out as you but I had no leaking issues.

Interesting, maybe that seal got messed up. I used a fresh one but maybe I’ll get another and try reinstalling.


You may want to read this thread.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?24003-Installing-a-Quaife-QDH3Y-LSD-in-2007-WRX-Issue

Seems some batches of the Quaife QDH3Y were not machined correctly, leading to a bearing offset issue.

I did see that. Luckily mine appears to meet the drawing, and the sundial screws into the right location. If I had one of the bad ones, it would push the sundial out the side of the transmission quite a bit.


I’m so glad you started this thread. I’ve recently torn my ‘02 Wrx 5sp apart to install a Torsten style diff. I will be using the stub shafts that were previously in the original open diff. When I removed them, they were retained by snap rings and the design of the Torsten diff will not accommodate snap rings but there is a groove inside as your drawing shows. Do you know what the part no for the c-ring used to retain these axle shafts? I’ve e- mailed two different Subaru dealerships with my query with no reply. Thanks.

It’s most likely 28333AG010. You can look at the exploded view of the front axle for a 5MT turbo car from after 2005 I think to see them. I took that PN from my Legacy front axle exploded view. If somehow that doesn’t work, and I don’t see why it wouldn’t, it’s cheap enough to just try it. :)

One thing to keep in mind with the Quaife is that the snap ring grooves are not cut at an angle, or at least not as shallow as on the stock diff, so it took a lot more effort to get the axles back out. Just something to keep in mind for bench fit-up.

[Dave 53]

Interesting, maybe that seal got messed up. I used a fresh one but maybe I’ll get another and try reinstalling.



I did see that. Luckily mine appears to meet the drawing, and the sundial screws into the right location. If I had one of the bad ones, it would push the sundial out the side of the transmission quite a bit.



It’s most likely 28333AG010. You can look at the exploded view of the front axle for a 5MT turbo car from after 2005 I think to see them. I took that PN from my Legacy front axle exploded view. If somehow that doesn’t work, and I don’t see why it wouldn’t, it’s cheap enough to just try it. :)

One thing to keep in mind with the Quaife is that the snap ring grooves are not cut at an angle, or at least not as shallow as on the stock diff, so it took a lot more effort to get the axles back out. Just something to keep in mind for bench fit-up.


I removed the stub axle shaft from the OEM open diff by removing the retaining circlip. The circlip was easly accessible on the open diff. But the circlip cannot be reused on the Quaife because it isn't accessible the way it is on the open diff. So now what / how is the stub shaft retained on the Quaife?

Can you confirm that the 28333AG010 clip works with the Quaife?

With the clip on the axle shaft, is there a trick to get the shaft to slide into place in the LSD or will the clip self-compress as the shaft slides in?

Are you saying that if this clip is used and you want to remove the stub shaft from the Quaife, you just have to pull really hard?

Is there some other method to retain the stub shaft?

[Dave 53]

The 28333AG010 clip does not work. Seems to be the proper diameter (26.5mm). But, it's 2.0mm thick and the grove in the axle is 1.5mm. Please help..... Different part number? Source for clip? McMaster-Carr does not have it. Do I need to machine the grove in the axle?