How to identify a r160 - Subaru differentials explained

[@dub537h5]

Great info! I was trying to find out more about the 3.54 vlsd diff from my svx, because I'm swapping the lsd unit into a 4.44 donor diff along with the matching transmission.

[@DANIEL-ls5ku]

Thanks for your effort Mate, you're a Legend.

[@JM-yo9gt]

Thanks for this vid, I have been looking online most of the day at used diffs for my Forester thinking why does mine look a little bit different to all of the ones I am seeing. Now I know why,I have one of the little 150s installed typical.Cheers

[@JM-yo9gt]

Just a follow on from this, if you happen to know. So I eventually ordered the diff, after the garage said as long as it is the same ratio it will fit. However I don't think they realised I had an oddball on, somehow they have missed that. I have also got shafts for the R160 diff I have ordered. The garage are now just unsure, if the r160 shafts will fit on the wheel hubs? As mine is a standard 2.0 non turbo model with rear drums and not discs. They are going to try make it work but obviously now I am left not knowing until they try and fit it, if it will work. I have already spent a fair amount of money, and would really like the R160 on. Hope this makes sense any information would be appreciated, thanks.

[@DANIEL-ls5ku]

@@JM-yo9gt Hi, what year model is your Forester?

[@JM-yo9gt]

@@DANIEL-ls5ku Hi, mine is an 07 Xen 2.0L If it helps the R160 rear Diff and driveshafts ended up fitting.

[@jarrodpagac]

Thank you for clarifying this, I've got a tear starting on the rear CV boot on my 05 BP Outback, and I went through 3 sets of axles looking for the right one, with no luck. I also found that the "R150" as you call it has 22 inboard splines and 25 outboard, while the traditional R160 has 25 on both ends. Do you know the MFG part number for the R150 axles, so I can find replacements? SUA, and the local shops were of very little help. That said, my plan is to find an open R160, and install a TORQ locker for more advanced trail riding in the future. Great video.

[@ImpreziveGarage]

Sorry I don't know the part numbers for those R150 axles I haven't had to try and find replacement axles for one because I usually swap them out for a normal R160, I would definitely just do that on your Outback, those TORQ lockers look sweet I've really been wanting to try one out.

[@ronnieboucherthecrystalcraftsm]

i brought a R160 LSD 4.44 2 way = dammed fantastic fast pushing all the time - you can feel it - tight spin`s inside wheel on U turns !

[@greghebard5441]

thanks for the video, this was super helpful. i think my 2006 baja has that last smaller (R150). i'm in the process swapping the the auto for a 5speed and this explains my issue

[@jordanzempel111]

I have an oddball looking diff but it uses the wider diameter regular looking axles. It's in my 2009 legacy gt.

[@ImpreziveGarage]

Good to know I'm sure there are lots of other diff and axle combos that Subaru used that I haven't seen before, I'm most familiar with the 1990 to about 05 Subaru's so cool to learn about the newer stuff thats out there.

[@wickedlyboosted_ej2251]

Very helpful I have a 98 Impreza outback that had bad pinion bevel gears that are being replaced next week hopefully took so long to find parts

[@alexudolkin2146]

Great video! Can you replace the two seals on the R160 without removing the 5-bolt side covers?

[@ImpreziveGarage]

Yes you can pry them out with a seal puller, just be careful to not scratch the sides of aluminum seal housing.

[@squidflakes]

Do you know if the axels for the female R160 and the "R150 Oddball" have the same number of splines on the wheel hub side? I've got a 2005 Legacy with the oddball diff that had some sort of spectacular failure that cracked the casing in two places and I'm having a real hard time finding a replacement. There seem to be tons of the smooth cover version available and I may have to do a swap of out necessity. I'm just curious if I'm going to have to swap the wheel hubs as well.

[@jayssckayakfishing1]

Can you swap from a lsd to a open diff .just by swapping the insides or do you need to swap the entire housing

[@fredrenault3855]

I just want to be sure i got that right; if i want a rear lsd in my '08 impreza 2.5i, i just need to find pretty much any other subaru with the same diff, but with an lsd (i'm assuming mine's an r160) and i can swap the carrier dirrectly into my diff as if i bought a direct replacement say at subaru or a local parts store? And my ring gear will have the exact same bolt pattern? I know subaru does that a lot with most parts through pretty much the late 90's till like 2014, but this sounds too good to be true. But i'm pretty sure i'd need to swap out the center and front diff to lsd for that swap to be any effect, which i'm pretty damn sure isnt gonna be as easy as the rear diff.

[@ImpreziveGarage]

Yes your car will have a R160 just be sure it doesn't for some reason have the smaller r150 with the finned cover, it shouldn't but check first, and then you can find a LSD diff from a RS, WRX or Outback and swap the carrier into your diff, the bolt pattern will be the same in hasn't changed sense some time in the 70's in the old Brat's and GL's. And just having a rear LSD is still an improvement the WRX only has a rear LSD and all the center diffs are a Viscous LSD, I think only the STI comes with a front LSD and a clutch type center diff.

[@Stormnorman15]

this is real helpful. Thank you!

[@neljorpa]

Thanks for the video. I’ve just got a 9/37 lsd rear diff for my gt 98 in Argentina (I’ve also change the gear box). Could you tell me if should I use a special oil for the rear diff? I filled the gearbox and the rear differential with the same Valvoline 75w90 oil, and when I turn slowly on dirt road, one rear wheel tends to lose grip on the ground, and make small jumps

[@ImpreziveGarage]

You could try getting a tube of limited slip additive to add to the diff or gear oil that says it's for a LSD diff and that could help, but it might just be normal depending on the type of lsd in the diff, If it's one of the clutch type LSD's it will lock more easily and do what you are describing this will happen more on loose ground like gravel or dirt.

[@markvictor1767]

Are all R160s that take male axles with the same FD ratio interchangeable? Say could you put a 2019 Impreza diff in a 2007 Forester?

[@ImpreziveGarage]

On something as new as 2019 I'm not sure I haven't worked with many Subaru's past 08, 09 but on the older cars they are interchangeable with the exception being R160's with a clutch type LSD those use a different axle.

[@catirbyarnold8223]

Not sure how else to reach you, but I’ve got a lifted 02 outback with the lsd. I’m looking to install a Torq locker but need an open 4.11 rear, but before I do, is there any difference between lsd axles and open? Or are they the same and the one bolt the only ones with different axles?

[@ImpreziveGarage]

If you have the stock viscous LSD then yes the axles are the same as the open diff but some of the JDM clutch type LSD's use different axles.

[@Vq_papii]

My Wrx needs a 4.44 gear ratio diff but I’m having a hard time finding one is there any other ones I can put in that are compatible?

[@ImpreziveGarage]

98 to 04 (and possibly other year) Outbacks with an automatic transmission have a 4.44 rear diff and some of them even came with a LSD

[@davidbeauvais1364]

I got a 2015 Wrx it has 4.15 ratio the one I found has 3.70 but it’s LSD. Can I still use it safely ?

[@ImpreziveGarage]

you can swap the LSD carrier from the 3.70 into your 4.15 diff but if you try to use the whole LSD diff with the 3.70 gear ratio in your car it will ruin your center diff in your transmission and cause other problems because it wont match the gearing of the front diff.

[@davidbeauvais1364]

@@ImpreziveGarage Oh sorry it’s 4.11 so basically you mean I should swap the gears from my current diff into the carrier housing of the 3.70 one that has the LSD.

[@ImpreziveGarage]

@@davidbeauvais1364 It would be easier to go the other way around and swap the LSD carrier into your 4.11 diff that way you don't have to remove the pinion gear and reset the pinion depth.

[@davidbeauvais1364]

@@ImpreziveGarage have you seen the modern ones on the 2015+ Wrx? I’m worried the case is too small. I might just have a Cusco 2way installed in the stock 4.11 and call it a day. Hopefully they set the preload right and don’t waste 1k of my money.

[@Crazyced]

Thanks I found out the hard way that the oddball finned cover won't bolt to a regular R160. What a shame.

[@ImpreziveGarage]

Yeah I first found this out after I pulled the cover off my old diff after replacing it with a LSD thinking it would be a cool upgrade over the flat cover only to be disappointed that it was too small.

[@wiciuwiciu2783]

I have the middle one in my 5mt Outback III. VLSD included. It has a pentagram star on the caseing!! It's the 7th star from Plaids!

[@erikvanvechten1289]

Great video! Is there any difference besides the gearing in an automatic vs. a manual car for the R160. Could I use the case from an automatic as long as I change the gearing from 4.44 to 4.11?

[@ImpreziveGarage]

Yes the cases are the same between the auto and manual just make sure they are the same type of case, I don't think you can use the gears from a 5 bolt r160 in the smaller looking diff with the fined cover.

[@erikvanvechten1289]

@@ImpreziveGarage ok I've got a 2004 Forester XS (5 speed) im building and a 2003 XS (auto) I'm using for parts sounds like I can keep the housing as long as I get a 4.11 ring and pinion

[@ImpreziveGarage]

@@erikvanvechten1289 Yes you can do that but I would just try and find a complete 4.11 rear diff and swap that in, that would be a lot easier that transferring the 4.11 ring and pinion gears into you existing diff housing

[@ferp420]

how to identify a subaru diff well the yellow diff is fully 100% locked the silver diff is a lsd and the natural unpainted aluminum diff is open yup i color coded them so i know witch one im intalling at a glance lol

[@ChrisLesmerises]

Subbed for the sunshine ☀

[@setoman1]

I wanna see what a Suretrac AP looks like 🤩 there are plenty on ebay, but I’ve never seen one up-close.

[@terrysevigny4976]

If you change the rear differential in an old one Subaru Outback 6 cylinder do you have to change the front or Center differential so they're all compatible

[@ImpreziveGarage]

As long as the replacement rear diff has the same gear ratio as the original one then don't have to do anything with the front diff, I would recommend just sticking with the original gear ratio as changing the front diff ratio basically means swapping out the whole transmission.

[@ariec69]

Thanks for a good video

[@rsr5774]

правый- 150-ый

[@chingun0325]

Dizzyyyy

[@KenjiPhoTwenty]

The new 2020 diffs are r167 compared to the older r160. Are those compatible to use on the older wrx chasis? I was unable to find any info as if they are backwards compatible.

[@seemaab]

Amazing video on how to change a flange. Could someone tell me what Propshaft I would need that would fit a legacy spec B gearbox and a R160 diff on a GC8 my99 turbo 2.0?

[@seemaab]

What about the oil that leaks out when you open the flange or cover? How does this get topped up?

[@cody1995evo]

What about the new 2020-2021 wrx diff are Different, I’ve heard there’s something different with them

[@yorge4306]

I am trying to find the axles for the (r150) does anyone happen to have a part number ?

[@langsor]

Geat information. Very detailed. Thank you!

[@jdmking4776]

Unrelated to diffs, do you use silicone to seal the back of a 5speed manual transmission? The case part that the drive shaft and shift linkage come out of?

[@bcyr-CO]

The plate that covers the center diff? I think I used RTV gasket maker when I put mine back on when I changed the diff, been working well.

[@jdean1851]

GREAT INFO" THANX!

[@userer4579]

Uhhh, good, uhhh, diff, uhhhh, info, uhhhh; however, your Uhhhhhh to info ratio is far too high. Also, vertigo-inducing, video needs more tripod.