 1. For this install, it will...  1. For this install, it will help to have someone whos handy with older types of cars. It will be hard to locate a repair manual for this generation Corolla. Begin by disassembling the driveshaft from the differential housing.
This process will be difficult if your Corollas nuts and bolts have become quite dirty and/or may have developed corrosion. If so, just take it easy and rely on patience. |
 2. Komatsu used this puller...  2. Komatsu used this puller to pry the wheel hub from the axle. The puller is used to remove drum balancers (some auto stores rent them out). You can then remove both axles from the differential housing. |
 3. Open up the differential...  3. Open up the differential housing so that you can remove the stock diff. Again, the old nuts will take some work to free up. Be careful not to strip them as you are tightening/loosening. |
 4. Grab a bucket or some kind...  4. Grab a bucket or some kind of container that can collect the differential oil as you open the housing up. You may also want a few rags or newspapers to collect any splattered oil. |
 5. Remove the stock differential...  5. Remove the stock differential and place it aside. Prep the Cusco diff for install. |
 6. Assemble the differential...  6. Assemble the differential per Cuscos directions. (Its helpful if you have a grasp of the Japanese language, otherwise the instructions wont mean a thing to you.) This is a sensitive procedure that requires special attention. The differential must be assembled properly in the lash between the pinion and ring gears in order to work properly. So, dont shortcut anything here. |
 7. Clean off the housing and...  7. Clean off the housing and differential areas and apply a sealant to prevent oil leakage. Oddly enough, Hondabond seemed to work fine for the Signal Auto crew. This helps to ensure that the differential housing will seal correctly. |
 8. Install the Cusco differential...  8. Install the Cusco differential into the housing and reinstall the housing cover back onto the third member of the differential housing. Reinstall the axles and driveshaft in the reverse order of removal. |
Before Signal Auto and Komatsu-san attacked the wet/dry skidpad for their drift session, they decided that the Corolla hatchback they picked up needed a couple extra parts to enhance its driftability. Simple, yet very necessary parts that are essential for drift: a Cusco limited-slip differential and shocks/springs from Tanabe. The LSD unit helps in locking up both of the drive wheels while under acceleration, something an open diff fails to perform during hard turning (for more info, refer to the Putting Power Down story in our December 2000 issue). The Tanabe suspension will help the car to achieve greater cornering capabilities and improved handling characteristics with stiffer damping and aggressive spring-rated lowering springs. Heres our star driver, Komatsu-san, installing the diff and suspension before D-Day (Drift Day) at Signal Autos American home base.
Guess what? Hachiroku is Japanese slang for Eight-Six, as in AE86 (Corolla in America). Now you know.