Hello to anyone still using this platform almost 20 years after Saturn was killed off. I've been looking everywhere for a rear differential module since mine is toast in my 05 V6 Vue. I found this gem with 60k miles on it a few months back so I'm looking to really take care of it and modernize what I can. I know the diff clutch pack is crap in these and I've seen where CRV owners of the same era are drilling through and welding pins into them so there is no slipping. To ensure slipping is still allowed they install a Freelander style viscous couple in the drive line to the rear differential that hooks up much faster and holds tighter. Does anyone have any experience with this or have head of something similar for the Honda powered Vues?

 

I've never heard of such a thing, but not even having ever looked under the hood of a VUE, that's no surprise. Maybe one of the VUE owners here has done that or at least heard of it.

 

20yrs since demise? I’m getting old.

 

I know the people that modified S Series vehicles by adding turbos and megasquirt would routinely weld the differential pin as it is a weak spot in the S-Series transmission. I believe it was done to be able to have the transmission withstand much higher horsepower than the vehicle was designed to handle. Also, if you got enough wheel hop when leaving the line, as soon as it gripped the differential pin would come flying through the side of the transmission case.

I am not aware of anyone using viscous couplers, at least not back in the day. Wish I had more information to give you, but I am familiar with what was done back in the old days. All of the people that owned those cars back then are 25 years older and many have passed their vehicles along.

 

Yeah, it makes it hard to get oem info these days let alone mod recommendations.

 

I looked at charm.li at both the 3.0 GM version and the Honda powered version of the rear end and they appear to be the same. I am not sure if they are at all similar with the Honda rear diff. According to the operation description, the rear diff only applies torque when there is a difference in wheel speed front to rear. I know people that just remove the driveshaft and drive their VUE as a front wheel drive if they have rear diff problems.

 

The type of AWD is very similar to the CRV but they have extra pumps to move fluid that are attached to their clutch packs. Those and the the Honda Element. Both are sometimes pinned and a viscous coupler installed when people build up the engines and increase HP. I assume if GM used the same diff clutch pack for the Honda engine as their underpowered POS, then that would explain the failure rate.

 

I think they were the same for the 4 bangers also, so I would agree that they were a weak point.

 

I just dropped my oil pan. Glad there was no transfer case in my way, had enough fun as it was.