Do LSDs ever go bad???

[formeRiceR]

just bought a s13 LSD for my s14, it looks okay, is there any way you can find out if the LSD still works properly???

[dmoffitt]

yes, an LSD can go bad, however they can typically be rebuilt... often, you won't notice it in straight-line acceleration, but you'll corner under heavy throttle and just TOAST the inside tire as if there was no LSD present (it's slipping too much)

as far as a way to tell, besides driving it hard, or taking it apart, i can't help you there.

[formeRiceR]

is there a site that tells you what to look for and how you could rebuild your LSD??? is it easy / hard? what kind of tools do you need??

[dmoffitt]

search on google for sites - but basically, it's not so much the tools i'd imagine, as the parts (might be cheaper to get a new one aftermarket anyway). &nbsp;i'm certainly no expert, all i know is from what i've read, not from experience (wasn't lucky enough to own a car w/ an LSD... yet&#33<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''>

[AKADriver]

The Nissan VLSD is a sealed unit and can't be rebuilt. &nbsp;They DO wear out over time, but it's a very long, long time. &nbsp;If the car the diff was pulled from didn't show signs of unusual abuse, it's probably fine.

The old tricks for testing for the presence of a limited slip should tell you if it works or not.

[rotaryknight]

Some stock Diffs can't be rebuilt..most people just end up gettin aftermarket ones. &nbsp;Problem is that clutch type LSD though performace is awsome do wear out. &nbsp;If you daily drive your car alot you will have to rebuild it....its all the normal daily turns that really wear it down.

[drift freaq]

stock diffs on our cars are totally rebuildable. Now VLSD's are another story. The viscous unit should it go out, does need to be replaced in its entireity.
Ok that said. the basic VLSD is a very long lasting sturdy unit. its why after several years of installing clutch types Nissan switched to putting it in consumer vehicles.
Clutch types do burn out even with just daily average use. i.e. not getting on it all the time.
Now , some of the drag racers in our crowd have switched out to clutch types because they claim the VLSD gives up under extreme hard acceleration i.e. they burn them out. Unless you are drag racing constantly or drift every day of the week it may not be an issue for you.
I also know of the other drivers, who have had clutch types as well as VLSD and swear up and down a tree that the VLSD hooks up in a much smoother way. Now that is technically a given due to viscous versus clutchs sliding together and grabbing. Of course with a clutch type you can totally adjust the lock up time i.e. how long it takes the clutch pack to engage. this can be very usefull &nbsp;depending on what your trying to do.
what do you &nbsp;need?? &nbsp;Also how much is your pocketbook willing to set you back?
<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/hehe.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':hehe:'>
Only you can make that decision. Cost is a little simpler . Indeed a KAAZ, Cusco or Quaife is going to cost anywhere from $1200-2000 fully setup depending on which unit you go with.
Now if you do weekend drags occasionally or drifting on occasion a much cheaper way to go is with a VLSD because you can get them for $300-$500 depending. Which is a lot cheaper than the clutch types. Ya I know we would all like helical out of an S15 I am not even going to go there . <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''> &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/hehe.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':hehe:'>
I am going to be running a J30 VLSD for two reasons . One is I am going Turbo so I want a rear end with different gearing so I can keep the engine under boost for longer amounts of time in each gear(J30 3.92 gears 4% difference).
A thing to remember in all this is Nissan stuck 3.70 gears in all the SR powered Turbo cars in Japan and Europe , as well as the 300zx TT. Thats a 10% difference from our NA gears which are 4.08.
The second reason for me running a J30 is cost. I can get these rear ends for $300 thats one third the cost of KAAZ fully setup. hmmmm if it does blow up its cheap to replace. works for me. <img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=''> &nbsp;<img src="http://www.zilvia.net/f/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/hehe.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':hehe:'>
In the end its all up to you. though I will reiterate this the standard VLSD is a long life unit that under normal conditions will not blow up unless it loses its fluid and goes dry. It will last an extremely long time.
The R200 VLSD is the size of a Ford 9 inch . I.E. Our cars have &nbsp;differentials that can handle V8 power without sweating. They are by far one of the strongest links in our drivetrains. You will blow up transmissions long before differentials.

[s13driver]

just a quick question...
how long does a mechanical LSD really last or how far can it go ? in just any kind of condition like daily driving.. racing... drifting.. and etc...

thanks

[AKADriver]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (drift freaq @ June 13 2002,12:05)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">A thing to remember in all this is Nissan stuck 3.70 gears in all the SR powered Turbo cars in Japan and Europe , as well as the 300zx TT. Thats a 10% difference from our NA gears which are 4.08.

The R200 VLSD is the size of a Ford 9 inch . I.E. Our cars have differentials that can handle V8 power without sweating. They are by far one of the strongest links in our drivetrains. You will blow up transmissions long before differentials.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
Silvias and 180SXs with the SR20DE or SR20DET and the 5 speed run 4.083:1 gears, just like our cars. &nbsp;Only the S15 with six speed uses the 3.692:1 gears. Auto trans and CA18 cars are different.

Also, the R200 is smaller than a 9". &nbsp;Both axles are so named because of the diameters of their ring gears. &nbsp;200mm is a little less than 8". &nbsp;The R230 in the 300ZX-TT, Q45, etc. is about 9".

[drift freaq]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">
Silvias and 180SXs with the SR20DE or SR20DET and the 5 speed run 4.083:1 gears, just like our cars. Only the S15 with six speed uses the 3.692:1 gears. Auto trans and CA18 cars are different.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>

err no, you are correct that the NA aspirated cars run the same gears as our cars, but go do some more research you will discover that all S14 SR20DET cars ran 3.70's . I have been over this before and it has been verified by European and Australian list members as well as seeing S14 VLSD's from Japan that were 3.70 gear

</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>Also, the R200 is smaller than a 9". Both axles are so named because of the diameters of their ring gears. 200mm is a little less than 8". The R230 in the 300ZX-TT, Q45, etc. is about 9".</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote </td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">

ok we are getting into nitpicking here . I was talking in general terms, not absolutes. The Idea is it is almost the size of a a Ford 9 inch hence saying what I said. Now if you are going to waste your time correcting me on something like that you need to get a life.