Shimming an R200 or J30 vlsd

[irax]

Originally Posted by datsunnazi

go home! you're retarded! they are talking about the clutch type rear differential. not the clutch or the automatic clutch packs... learn please!

LOL! Really? sorry infliction and tone was illegible to you.

[rightcoastimports]

About to do this to my VLSD.. Factory shims can vary from diff to diff.. but im just curious what shim (thickness) you guys ended up using? .80 enough?

[MrFairlady]

I Kinda wanna try this as well.My VLSD Sucks ass.

what I'd like to know is I would Love to Get the OEM 4.6 Final Drive Gear set to drop in as well.
will it go into a J30 diff? Its a R200 so I would Think it should right?

[krayzbigmac]

Originally Posted by rightcoastimports

About to do this to my VLSD.. Factory shims can vary from diff to diff.. but im just curious what shim (thickness) you guys ended up using? .80 enough?

I went .80 on my z32 diff that I had in my s13, I stacked it on top of the original shim. Was nice as daily and locked pretty nice at the track. All depends on how much the original shim is worn.

[HyperVerbal]

huh... you'd think by now someone would have replied "REMOVE your old shims on both side (14&17 of diagram) replace them both with (blank) & (blank) for 2 way or (blank) & (blank) for 1.5.

[Darren]

Originally Posted by HyperVerbal

huh... you'd think by now someone would have replied "REMOVE your old shims on both side (14&17 of diagram) replace them both with (blank) & (blank) for 2 way or (blank) & (blank) for 1.5.

This is not really possible, because most diffs are setup differently. Depending on wear, setup, original shim sizes (to account for the difference in original gear sets), crush sleeve settings, etc..

You just have to open yours up, measure and adjust accordingly, if it's still not where you want it, redo it with a bigger shim...

This is nothing new here folks, it's just Diff 101

[S12 Drifter]

How is this comparable to a 1.5 way? I want something to track not drift with.

Has anyone tracked their Shimmed VLSD's how did it feel around some twistys? I'm about to do this on my Z31 because my diff blew apart but I'm a bit hesitate because i dont want the diff to be locked all the time like a welded diff (whats the point minus well just buy another open diff and weld it)

[S12 Drifter]

I'm not "shimming" it per say but I'm adding a new shim.

old shim/washer was 1.35 factory, new one is going to be 1.49, just for the record I'm not stacking them the 1.49 is replacing the 1.35mm

I'll let you know how it feels.

[My$800S14]

i messed up, i cant figure out which side the longer axel goes into? is it the side were the ring gear bolts to the pumpkin? or the other side? and the long axel is stuck on the opposite side of were the ring gear is.

[jigga1boy]

Crap wish i remembered. Maybe the manual has a diagram of which ones go where

[Bubba]

My diff sucks ass. Thank god I found this write-up.
Adding a shim while the car is down but I'm just going with the small one as well since welded diffs fall out the sky around here. Rather have the 1.5 way feel than anything else.

[dontxploitme]

where is everyone getting their shims? i looked at a bunch of nissan parts websites but they all want like $10 for shipping which is retarded for something that small and that light.

[Bubba]

Taking mine from another diff actually. If that doesn't do it I'll order one from the local stealership.

[WhiteZenki23]

S12 drifter any updates ??

[Bubba]

Tip for those that think the center section had to be forced out...
Put your fingers through the output shaft holes and press up on the center section. Lifts right out with little to no effort. Just shimmed 2 J30 units this evening. After it is out of the car it takes about 10-15 minutes at most to disassemble and reassemble.

[future]

I want to do this. I think I'm just going to measure mine then go from there to see if I want to double, or just replace with a bigger one

[S-Nation S13]

sweet !!! i know this isnt in any way a complete replacement for 2 way.. but from what ive been reading..this seems to be a good way to get the vlsd to lockup consistently lol !!!!

[future]

I want it to lock up like a 1.5 rotifer not a two way or welded. I'm still iffy on what size

[holslut s13]

I mic'd both shims on my j30 vlsd, and one came in at .80mm(stock from what ive heard) and the other is 1.22mm. Instead of buying another .80mm and stacking, I bought 2 larger shims that were equal to the total thickness of the 1.22+.80+.80. Ill let you know how it works out guys.

[bc.]

Don't think about shimming as 1 shim is 1.5 way and 2 shims is 2 way!!!! There are like 20 different shim sizes and the smallest one is .80mm and the largest is 1.49, read the fsm for the exact sizes.

DO NOT JUST ADD 2 SHIMS!!! that is not the right way to do it. Take apart your diff and measure what you have and then decide how much you want to increase by.

I just tried to put 2 shims in (both were .80mm) and the diff would not go back together in the pumpkin, so 1.60mm of shimming is too much!!! and that is 2 shims of the smallest size. I ended up just using the one .80mm shim and it barely fit back in the pumpkin, i couldn't imagine going more then .20mm more.

I am about to install it and will let you know how it feels.

[Black R]

Originally Posted by SoSideways

I thought the viscous diffs just had viscous fluid engaging the plates inside the housing, thus transferring torque between the 2 wheels?

If so, there shouldn't be spider gears turning and being meshed and destroyed, no?

From nrr:

Originally Posted by djsilver

OK, I'm ready to stir the pot

Here's the diagram for the VLSD diff on page PD12;
http://www.240edge.com/manuals/91-94_240sx/pd.pdf

The VLSD does still have spider gears. The viscous coupling forms one side of the spider gear. One axle stub is fixed to the outer case of the VLSD coupling and the other stub is fixed to the inner case of the VLSD coupling. The "SHIM" selection guide is on page PD25 and gives a range of backlash, not pre-load. If you pre-load the spider gears, any change in LSD action you get is from grinding the spider gears against each other, not any change in the function of the VLSD coupling.

The VLSD coupling is filled from the factory with a viscous fluid. The function has already been explained. I have actually, really, for sure, experimented with one of these! When the units are filled from the factory, they drill two counter-bored holes to fill it, then they insert ball-bearings into the counter-bores and stake them in place. I removed the balls and tapped the two holes. I then flushed the old fluid out and replaced it with newer, thicker fluid. The VLSD was installed into a Z31 300zx running about 400WHP! It would work much better than a stock VLSD until it got hot. When it got hot it would lock solid and act like a spool. I did some research on this phenomena and the general theory is that when the interposing discs get hot enough, they expand, distort, and bind against each other. Our conclusion was that we couldn't make the VLSD any more effective.

Ultimately, if you're using a VLSD/HLSD/open diff, you need articulation/droop in the rear suspension and roll-stiffness in the front suspension, to keep the rear tires on the ground. If you're running a clutch/spool diff you can ignore this to some extent and drive on one wheel, at least until your power output overloads your outside rear wheel. Then you're back to the same place My buddy with the Z31 went around the world with LSD's, but came back to his shocks/swaybars/camber/toe/tire pressure settings to maximize corner exit.

This really helped my understanding of the vlsd

[Hashiriya415]

Originally Posted by dontxploitme

where is everyone getting their shims? i looked at a bunch of nissan parts websites but they all want like $10 for shipping which is retarded for something that small and that light.

I'm searching too. Unbelievable $10 and up for shipping. If I knew the size I would make my own right now. Maybe I even have a close enough washer in my garage somewhere.

[bc.]

You guys aren't anywhere near a Nissan dealership are you? they didn't charge me shipping when i bought mine.

[holslut s13]

@ Bc, how did your vlsd lock up with the .80 shim?

And Nissan sells these ppl! Go to your local dealership, no charge for shipping...

[apexis13sx]

I'd like to see this done on a 350z diff

Inputs? ???

[KoolAidMan687]

hey guys does anyone know what size washers come in the r200 stock, i put what im pretty sure is the .8mm in a while back and now im trying to take it out because it was to harsh for my daily driving, there seems to be two .8mm's and one larger one

[holslut s13]

Originally Posted by KoolAidMan687

hey guys does anyone know what size washers come in the r200 stock, i put what im pretty sure is the .8mm in a while back and now im trying to take it out because it was to harsh for my daily driving, there seems to be two .8mm's and one larger one

From what has been said here, it will vary alittle bit from diff to diff, but from my stock vlsd(if you take a moment and read my previous post) I measured both of my stock washers.

[holslut s13]

In my diff I have a preload total of 2x1.25mm washers totaling 2.5mm and my diff is completely locked. My wheels do not spin independently under any circumstances. I just started to run a new wheel/tire setup that has more traction, and maybe I can regain some free wheeling once the bigger washers "break in" as some users say.

[240SilviaX]

Originally Posted by let5l1de

EDIT: this ring gear is from a 240sx 49:12. j30 come with 47:12

I see that you used the 240sx 49:12 ring gear on the vlsd. I still have a KA and want to go up to Big Bear (7000ft) so I want more torque going up the mountain.. I got a J30 diff from the yard and want to take the vlsd add a shim and swap the ring gears and install it into my 240sx carrier. Do to the the J30 47:12 ring gear being fatter the vlsd would be shimmed (bearing and race shims) over like the open (240sx skinny ring gear) diff. My question is once the diff is installed will the axle output shafts line up with the snap rings in the vlsd? or would they be not lined up due to the vlsd being shimmed over like the open diff because of the skinnier ring gear?

[240SilviaX]

Just measured my stock shim out of the J30 and its 1.13 (0.0445) and any input on what size I would get for a DD with mountain/track days. I dont want it locked all the time just pretty stiff. I have a few buddys with welded and 1 with a Kaaz 2 way, the welded its way too much for a DD and the Kaaz.. well I can use that money for something else