Everything that I know about the Sierra rear end!
I had:
Set-up using custom brake carriers
3.14 differential
Tripod inner CV
Tripod shaft
Tripod joint
Drum brake hub (10mm solid disk)
Custom brake calliper carrier (a steel sheet with some holes!)
Sierra calliper
Sierra disks
Actually I needed to turn down the hubs, and use Escort Mk3 front disks instead. As presently this lot doesn’t fit inside my 13inch revolution wheels. This will also require me to move some holes in the calliper carrier. Actually this is pretty neat design (although trimming down the hub is not very easy).
So my planned configuration is 10kg lighter than the LSD approach. Also the Sierra LSD doesn’t get the best reviews in lightweight cars.
Differentials Driveshaft and CV Joints
Several different differentials were used on the Ford Sierra range, with the exception of those for the 2WD Cosworth (7.5”) these are all 7” using the same housing.
Two different types of internals are used, LSD and non-LSD. The ratios can be changed between LSD and non-LSD differentials, and the casings and all mountings are the same.
Include Westfield document
The difference between the'
A ' and the 'B' type is in the
method that the drive shafts are fitted to the differential unit.
The 'B' type differential units are a common fitment to the Sierra cars.
There are two sizes of
differential unit. The large differential unit is
fitted to the Cosworths
and Granada, it measures 190mm across the top mounting faces.
The small differential unit measures 175mm across its mounting faces.
The choice of ratios are as follows:
Standard differential
RATIO FINIS NO.
PART NUMBER
3.97 6146561 8500 4006 DC
1.6/1.8 CVH. 2.0 DOHC
3.62 6146560 8500 4006 BC
1.6/1.8 CVH. 2.0 DOHC, 4x4
3.38
1630004 8500 4006 AC
1.8 CVH. 2.0 OHC. 2.3
Diesel
3.36 6124451 8500 4006 FB
2.9
3.14
6152100 87BO 4006 OB
2.0 OHC & DOHC, 2.3 Diesel
Limited slip differential
3.92
6171465 8600 4006 AAA
1.6/1.8 CVH. 2.0 DOHC
3.62 1648393 V87BB 4006 BAA
1.6/1.8 CVH. 2.0 DOHC 4x4
3.38
1648394 V87BO 4006 CAA 1.8 CVH.
2.0 OHC 2.3 D
3.36 6142222 8500 4006 AAA
2.9
Ford axle
codes (on VIN plate)
A=3.36 B=3.77 D=3.92
F=3.842 J=4.056 K=3.31 M=3.14
N=4.29 P=3.58 J=3.62
V=3.33 Z=3.59 2=4.27 3=3.62 4=3.82 5=3.26 6=3.12 8=3.56
Diff codes (this is only a idea I had to ID diffs, I think
it accurate)
Push in type shafts
KC 3.14 7"
LC 3.38 7"
MC 3.62 7"
JD 3.92 7"
DA 3.91 7.5"
Bolt on shafts
BA 3.14 7"
GB 3.14 7.5"
DAA 3.14 7.5" LSD
FA 3.36 7.5"
AAA 3.36 7.5" LSD
AC 3.38 7"
CAA 3.38 7" LSD
BC 3.62 7"
BAA 3.62 7" LSD
AAA 3.64 7.5" COSWORTH (this has the same number as
the 3.36 7.5" LSD BUT is ID'ed by 108mm drive flanges)
ADA 3.64 7.5" GRANADA COSWORTH
DC 3.92 7"
AA 3.92 7" LSD
GA 3.91 7.5"
ABA 3.91 7.5" LSD
Two different types of CV joints were used.
Tripod and Lobro
The LSD and non-LSD designs have driveshaft lengths that are different.
LSD diffs are always equipped with Lobro, as Tripods don’t fit (on one side)
Drum brakes are always equipped with Tripods (as Lobros don’t fit)
This means that putting an LSD on a Drum-braked car requires a hybrid drive-shaft (Lobro to differential, Tripod to drum brake) see below for how to do this.
Disk braked Sierras are normally equipped with Lobro, but either can work (see Rich Miles build details). BUT to put discs on you need a bracket for mounting the callipers.
For Lobros: I suspect that there are two types of shaft that go into the differential. 1 for LSD and one for open differentials. I say this as non-LSD differentials SHOULD be able to accept both Tripod and non-LSD Lobros.
The driveshafts themselves come in multiple flavours:
28 spline seems to be common to the outer CV joint, but inners are sometimes 23 spline. See details below.
( Performance_UK on
e-bay provided the information, and can supply standard
driveshafts if you wish).
Here
are two Tripod driveshafts options:
23
spline version
RH (driver side) driveshaft 796mm long, LH driveshaft is 767mm long,
28 outer cv splines and 23 inner cv splines
and
fits the following vehicles:
Ford Sierra 1.3 - 10/82 to 3/87
Ford Sierra 1.6 - 10/82 to 3/87 - NOT Estate
Ford Sierra 1.6 - 3/87 to 5/92 - NOT Estate - NOT ABS
26
spline version
RH driveshaft 835mm long, LH (passenger side) driveshaft, 795mm long,
28 outer cv splines and 26 inner cv splines
and
fits the following vehicles:
Ford
Sierra 1.6 Estate - 10/82 to 4/93
Ford Sierra 1.8 - 10/84 to 3/87
Ford Sierra 1.8,1.8TD - 3/87 to 4/93 - NOT ABS
Ford Sierra 2.0 - 10/82 to 3/87 - NOT Cosworth
Ford Sierra 2.0 - 3/87 to 4/93 - NOT 4x4 or ABS
Ford Sierra 2.3 - 10/82 to 3/87
Ford Sierra 2.3D - 10/82 to 2/90
As
stated above the 26 splines fit the lobro.
Diameters of driveshafts are variable also (the early 23spline variants have the smallest diameter, the LSD Lobro ones have the largest diameter). A mine-field.
The drum ones I have are all 26.95mm measured in the center of the shaft (2.3 diesel and 2.0 DOHC)
BAD NEWS. Word on the street is that the driveshafts that I have have a propensity to crack around the machined area (which relatains the boot). Tim Hoverd has experience in the RGB series of people snapping driveshafts on the grid due to this problem. Bugger, bugger, bugger.
The
ones on my RWD V6 are 28.5mm (as are the ones on my 24V rear axle)
BUT
they all are 27.4mm measured on the splined part (end) of the shaft.
They are also different lengths for the Sierra differential (not true for Freelander differential, where they are the same length).
Here is a list of the new driveshafts available from http://www.carparts-direct.co.uk/
|
Your Car
>> Ford Sierra << |
Order online and you'll pay just £3.00 plus vat carriage. This covers
delivery to your door. Click on part number to order |
|
ABS |
Engine |
GearBox |
From |
To |
Location |
LH |
£ |
Refund
deposit |
RH |
£ |
Refund
deposit |
|
w/o ABS |
1.3,
1.6 |
All |
10/82 |
4/93 |
RE |
73.45 |
50.00 |
73.45 |
50.00 |
||
|
w/o ABS |
1.6 |
All |
10/82 |
4/93 |
RE |
75.00 |
50.00 |
75.00 |
50.00 |
||
|
w ABS |
1.6 |
All |
3/87 |
4/93 |
RE |
78.13 |
50.00 |
78.13 |
50.00 |
||
|
w/o ABS |
1.8,
1.8TD, 2.0, 2.3D |
All |
10/82 |
4/93 |
RE |
75.00 |
50.00 |
75.00 |
50.00 |
||
|
w ABS |
1.8,
1.8TD, 2.0, 2.3D |
All |
3/87 |
4/93 |
RE |
78.13 |
50.00 |
78.13 |
50.00 |
||
|
w/o ABS |
2.3 |
All |
10/82 |
7/84 |
RE |
75.00 |
50.00 |
75.00 |
50.00 |
||
|
w/o ABS |
2.8 |
All |
12/82 |
5/85 |
RE |
75.00 |
50.00 |
75.00 |
50.00 |
||
|
w ABS 94 |
2.8,
2.9 |
All |
6/85 |
4/93 |
FT |
101.58 |
50.00 |
101.58 |
50.00 |
||
|
Inc. ABS |
2.8,
2.9 |
All |
6/85 |
4/93 |
RE |
71.88 |
50.00 |
71.88 |
50.00 |
CV joint covers are easy to get for the Lobro joints, but not for the Tripod joints. www.fordpartsuk.com have a pants website, but the people are excellent and they can supply these joint covers
Regarding weights:
http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid=30907
Sierra LSD is about 26kg,
Lobro shafts with hub and bearings 25kg (pair)
Sierra open diff is about 21kg
Push in shafts with hubs and bearings 20kgs (pair)
HUBS
The hubs for lobros and tripods are DIFFERENT and definitely not interchangeable. Similarly the hub bearing kits are different.
From a weight perspective;
Tripods joints are lighter than Lobros, and of the Tripods the earlier 1.6 and 1.8CVH versions are lighter than the 2.0 versions (also Rich Miles).
Tripod driveshafts are not as large diameter and hence lighter than the equivalent Lobro driveshafts.
Tripod driveshafts need to be used with Tripod (i.e. drum brake) hubs
Lobro can only be used with Lobro (i.e. disk brake) hubs
Brakes
Only some of the models were fitted with disc brakes at the rear, it isn’t clear to me which (some weren’t, i.e. 1.6, 1.8, 2.9D), some definitely were (i.e. 4x4, xr4i). The most common rear discs were 10.1mm x 253mm solid disks. The exception being 2WD Cosworths (and maybe 2.9litre models) which had vented rear disks of a larger diameter. These all use the same brake calliper, the Cosworth has a different hub carrier.
Some (maybe all) disk brake hubs incorporate an abs trigger wheel.
Fitting under a 13inch wheel
Fitting Sierra discs under a 13wheel using Sierra brakes is a tight fit, but can be made to work. I would recommend NOT using Revolutions as there is much angle grinding. After-market brakes can fit better (the handbrake cable is the problem area with the Sierra calliper). Best solutions involve smaller discs (Sierra disks are 253mm which doesn’t leave much space when the tyre is 300mm) but result in complex hybrid designs.
Mk3 escort disks are 240mm o.d. but better than that the offset is different bringing the disk inboard. The hub diameter is smaller, but people ahve turned the hub down. This requires modification to the calliper bracket but its only a chunk of mild steel, so I can always make a different one.
SUMMARY
LSD == Lobro == Discs
Open-diff == Tripod == Drums (but can be converted for discs using a diskbrake bracket)
Mixing and matching is limited, and somethings can appear to work, but don’t. Before you try something new, its worth checking either with the locost group or fsoc (fordsierraownersclub)
Suppliers:
http://www.kitfit-parts.co.uk/index.htm
Additional sites for reference information
http://forum.fordsierraclub.co.uk/
http://striker.r-one.co.uk/ (Tripod and Sierra disks)
http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid=8179
http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?fid=3&tid=3071&action=printable
http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?fid=3&tid=9122&action=printable (discussion on LSD’s tripods and lobros)
Sierra Haynes manual. This includes words and diagrams for Lobro and pictures for Tripod (they can’t have had a Lobro car to dismantle!)
http://www.locostbuilders.co.uk/viewthread.php?tid=45657