Pinion Gear Shredded; Would You Try and Salvage Detroit Locker?

I had a drivleline failure a time trial on Saturday. So I pulled the diff out of my Datsun and the pinion gear is toast.

Bits of metal went everywhere; the diff fluid looks more lappIng compound. There is even a bit of metal wire looking scrap wrapped around one of the carrier bearings.

I have another complete LSD unit that I can install. The issue with that one is the plates are bit worn which is why I bought the locker.

So the question  is would you consider thoroughly cleaning out the locker and installing in the other diff?

If you can disassemble it fully and inspect each part for wear/damage, of course I'd install it.

As a transmission inspector, when chuncks bust loose, it can and will do nasty things to spinny bits. 

In reply to Appleseed :

That is my concern

How far can you disassemble the fragged diff?

I'd make sure that the ring gear mounting surfaces are true.  You could probably check it with the old bearings to "good enough" spec before possibly sacrificing a new set of bearings for measurement purposes.

Fortunately, when I've seen diff cases damaged, it wasn't just .002 or whatever out, it was enough to be visible to an attentive eye.  Still would want to dial indicate it.

Detroits are incredibly robust, and simple, to boot.
I would run it through the parts washer and send it.

I would consider that the Detroit Locker is a likely cause of the pinion failure.

Driven5 said:

I would consider that the Detroit Locker is a likely cause of the pinion failure.

When I got the diff it seemed a bit tight; I should have investigated it more.

I have yet to completely disassemble the diff but I suspect that tightness lead to a bearing failure; the ring gear has no visible damage whatsoever. I will be looking to see if there is play in the pinion shaft.