Which Diff?
 

I've read what I could find here about Diff's but I'm still undecided on which one to get.

With winter coming, I want to get a LSD installed soon. The Z is my only car so on all but the worst winter days I'll be driving (will carpool with the wife in her SUV on really bad days). Yes I have winter tires ready to go.

So which Diff do you recommend for the following priorities (in order):

Quality
Price
Durability

I listed durability last as I don't plan on tracking the car much if at all. Mostly I want a LSD for improved winter traction and improved traction for spirited street driving.

The Carbonetic looks good but I'm not sure I need to spend that much.

Recommendations? Thanks in advance.

Edited to add: I don't have the sport package so > open diff. Not something I want to rely on this winter.

quaife usually has some pretty good ones. they got one out now for about $1200

cusco / carbonetic / etc :) Quaife used to be good.. but i dont know how they do now-a-days

I can see where you would want a differential for winter driving, it does help by applying traction to both rear wheels, I assume you do not have the sports package, therefore the open differential won't be as good in snow.

However....
If you do not intend for any track use and primarily for winter driving/spirited driving, I would not recommend this IMHO. I know you didn't ask for this type of advise and merely wanted to know LSD brand reviews, but I must inform you of this.

I installed the NISMO LSD into my 350z for the EXACT same reason, improved driving experience and winter capability. Aftermarket LSD's are too aggressive for daily drivers. IMO They chatter and clunk around every turn at low speeds. VERY annoying. I would have to explain the sound to every passenger explaining "its not broke, its supposed to do that" If making a lock wheel turn ie driveway, parking garage, etc..., my inside wheel would slip and studder spin to keep up with the outside wheel, leaving rubber behind.

I regretted the LSD days after I installed it. Maybe you have already researched and know the charateristics of most aftermarket LSD's and are ok with it. Which is perfectly fine its all preference. I just wanted to give you a heads up before purchasing a ~1k part and $500 install.

Not sure what he read about the Nismo diff but everyone that has it says it's the loudest next to Kaaz so that was his own fault. The Cusco is supposed to be fairly quiet if used with the right oil and the OS Giken are the best clutch type LSD that I am aware of and that's what I would get. The Quaife are going to apparently be the least intrusive and act like it came with the car with the least maintenance and noise but I'm not sure how it would work in the snow. I know with the Quaife if the right wheel looses traction the it won't work but I am not the person to explain it to you. If I was you I would go with one of those 3 options: Cusco, OS Giken, Quaife After wheels this is going to be my next buy..possibly sooner. :tup:

with the quaife in snow you press the brake a little while on the gas and presto it works.

It doesn't matter which differential you get, they're all going to be intrusive....maybe some less than others, but still an issue.
And for the record I did have redline differential oil and friction modifier in my NISMO LSD and it did not help chatter or clunk noise much at all.

With that being said and to get back on track to the thread....if you have made up your mind and will be buying an LSD, my suggestion would be the Cusco. It seems to have better reviews than others and will definitely be helpful with snow traction(along with sufficient snow tires) and grip on dry streets.

Are the 350 diffs working with the 370 as well ? I haven't found anybody listing 370 diffs yet.

idk about the 350z, but i think i read something about the 300zx full pumpkin swap being possible, the gear ratios are different but if your staying N/A thats a good thing. i bet you it would be cheaper than getting a brand new one that just came out for the 370Z too. just putting it out there

Thanks all for the replies. If/when I get a diff installed I'll post which one and how it's working out...

aftermarket LSD's are not too aggressive...the one you installed though happens to be absolutely NASTY to drive though. You unfortunately picked the wrong one for the task at hand. Works well for a track car, not so much for anything else

it's not swappable

to the OP

there is another thread that goes through the differences

The Carbonetics is a nice unit. Some (350Z's) have experienced issues with premature disk wearing, even using Carbonetics own fluid. I personally have never experienced it. The Carbon units they offer are not adjustable, so it does not allow for any customization now or down the road. That may or may not be an issue for you. They also require frequent fluid changes (every 3-5k miles) because the carbon dust from the disks contaminates the fluid. They are very smooth however and work well. You also are stuck using their fluid, so if you get it, stock up. We stock the diffs and the fluid BTW

Cusco - I've run one in my car since 2004 (I think...might be 2005!). It's a clutch type diff as well. It is adjustable from 1.5 to 2 way (2 way is for drift) and has 3 way adjustable lockup as well. With the right fluid, and the right setup (which IMHO is 60% lock, 1.5 way) it is nearly seemless. Mine makes zero noise. At a literal crawl at parking lot speeds you can slightly feel the inside wheel grabbing a touch...but you literally have to be crawling. At 5 mph, it's not present at all, for example. No special break in (no figure 8's needed!) and can use off the shelf fluid. Downside is there is a wait time for them (45-60 days at present). They are reasonably priced.

OS Giken - another clutch type diff, but has a bit of a different design. They are adjustable from OS Giken via diferent springs. Extremely careful tolerances means it is quiet and smooth. I've used them several times now on the 350Z's and they are unlike any clutch type LSD I've ever used. Higher cost vs the Cusco by a few bucks, but it's a drop in for base model cars on a 350Z and 370Z.

Quaife - top notch firm from the UK that has made diffs since forever. Theirs is a helical (gear) based unit. It is not adjustable at all, but it is literally so quiet and smooth, Nissan could have installed it from the factory and you would never thing it was aftermarket. A great street oriented unit. Works well for club type track days also, but not what I'd use on a full out race car.

Drexler - amazing unit but very spendy. Used by several high end OEM manufacturers, and many race teams worldwide

You can compare prices, specs, etc on our site if you like

Z-1 Performance Automotive Services Inc.

Given your conditions and needs/wants, I would select the OS Giken if this were my own car. My second choice would be Quaife.

Newb question....

"Spirited Street Driving" ...That's code for peeling out at street lights right? I bought the non-sport package touring model and I've been thinking about the differential quite a bit. I guess I'm just not sure how much difference there would be versus the stock open diff.
TBH I'm having difficulty deciding what should take priority when it comes to aftermarket parts, but that's an entirely different topic of its own.

All I can say is there is a 100% night and day difference between a Z with an open diff and one with a properly setup aftermarket LSD. To date, with all the work I have done to my car, I still think the diff is my favorite thing. I never peel out from stop signs - but I do enjoy backroads