Well putting the OS Giken LSD into an Australian delivered R56 JCW is a real pain in the rear. The gearbox in the Australian Delivered cars is different and requires some of the gearsets to have to be removed while splitting the gearbox casing & also requires a specific dealer tool (which by the way the Aussie dealers no longer carry as they don't break open gearboxes any more they just put new gearboxes on if there's trouble).

Then the carrier bearings are also different so the R53 ones everyone over there in the states use do not fit. My Car was apart for nearly 3 months while sourcing new carrier bearings that would actually fit. BMW was useless in trying to source them from and could not supply them. They ended up coming from a Ford dealer out of the gearbox of a focus XR5!

One thing I can say is the OS Giken clutch and flywheel combo is a lot lighter than the Mini items. So much lighter it is hard to believe.

Hopefully I get my car back this weekend.

 

So I have completed the Giken LSD project along with adding the JCW sport suspension springs to lower the MINI about 1/2 an inch. I have to say the results far exceeded my expectations.

First off there is NO more torque steer. The transmission is quieter. No more wheel spin making a turn from a stop sign or red light. I'm still working on the twisties but it just handles and feels a lot better over all.

The only deviation in the plan was that the R56 transmission had E-12 bolts instead of the T-40 TORX bolts holding it together. Everything else went great. I did replace the carrier bearings and races for the LSD along with the output shaft seals. Also, the MINI-Madness video on YOUTUBE tells you to fill the transmission after installing the LSD. DO NOT DO THIS!!! You will have transmission oil running out all over the floor.

I speak from experience. It will run out the fill tube while you're trying to bolt it back together. Once you flip it upright to stop the oil from running out the fill tube, oil will start running out the output shaft holes. At $20.00 a bottle this method gets real expensive in a hurry. The transmission also needs to remain fairly dry so it doesn't dump oil all over the floor when it's being installed in the MINI.

My advice, to you, which I got from Ian Stewart of Maitland Imports, is to only add enough oil to get things wet. After the transmission is installed and ready to go fill it with the trainsmiision oil. While still on the lift slowly run the transmission through all the gears. Drain and refill with new transmission oil. This is the only way you can be sure the transmission is free of any contamination since it was opened up.

All that being said, materials and labor for installing the LSD and JCW sport suspensions springs ran about $4,000.00. So if you have the cash just laying around, I highly recommend doing this project. You will not be disappointed. If you don't have the cash, start saving your pennies. It's worth every penny and will be worth the wait.

 

Scott I forget did you have an OEM LSD prior to this?

Also, did you do the clutch as well?

Glad you like it...I'm jealous!

 

I had an open diff. Also the clutch was just replaced by the dealer about nine thousand miles ago for the groaning while down shifting issue. I had the issue since the MINI was new. The old clutch had no abnormal or excessive wear. Considering how I drive, that's FU$&^$G AMAZING!!!

After a bit of research I decided to keep the new OEM clutch. It's very capable of doing the job.

 

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And then have the entire clutch/ flywheel rebalanced....

 

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Stop hijacking!!!

 

I was trying to provide some valuable data. I can see it's not appreciated so I have removed it.