Lsd?
 

Hi all, I bought a used 370z a few weeks back. Is there any way to visually inspect the rear diff and tell if I have an LSD versus a standard diff?

Cheers,

Did you buy a sports package? If you did then yes it has VLSD.

LSD=silver back. Open= black.

lift one side of the rear, put it in neutral and see if it free spins.

LSD? I can get you some for a good price....oh... Never mind....:wtf2:

What if my foot won't reach the gas pedal while I am holding up the rear end?

Attachment 69201while I do not have a sport model, standard touring, my diff does seem to be "silver".

Propping up one side of the vehicle and dropping it in gear sounds like a recipe for disaster.

Some of these guys in here don't smile when they tell a joke!

yeah he meant spin it with your hand not the engine I think.

If you have "Brembo style" Nissan brakes, you probably have a "sport package" VLSD (viscous)(which is still crap for anything but DD.)

Lift the ***, put in neutral, spin one wheel, if the other spins in same direction you have a LSD, if it spins in the opposite you have an open diff.

Meant lift the rear end.

Also, spin the wheel with your hands;)

Assuming I don't have an LSD in this thing, what would be a good upgrade diff to put into it?

Depends what you plan on doing with the car

I'm on my phone so I can't make out your wheel type very well but they look like mine so I'm guessing you have a non-sport model. I also plan on going with an LSD in the future. There are quite a few threads that deal with this subject but one member recently posted that his OS GIKEN LSD (clutch type designed for the 370, not the 350 like Quaife) spent nearly $2,500 in total with all the parts, labor and OSG rear diff fluid as recommended. His review also summed it all up very well. No rebuilding, come in 1, 1.5 and 2 way configurations and super lock. Just need to figure out if you are going to track it, drag it, drift it, or just DD it like me. :)

Is a hell of a drug

Looking at OS GIKEN's website it doesn't look like they have an LSD for the 370Z MT, only AT.
Product

Thanks for the info though, this is something I'm interested in persueing. I owned a 06' 350Z and it had a vLSD. I really didn't notice it 'helping' much but compared to the amount of wheelspin I have in the 370, I think it's worth it even for a DD. The amount I think I would save over the lifetime in tires would probably make it worth it.

Cheers

OP, Quaife makes a pretty good one that people seem to like. Cheaper than the Giken and doesn't need to be rebuilt every 15k.

Yes, Quaife makes one but from what I've come to understand it is designed for the 350 and requires some other parts. Don't know the specifics there.

And I saw that on the site about the AT for that model. That is correct. But from what I remember the other guy here that just did his installed used the NS-111 model for the 350. So in the same respect as the Quaife for its original intended purpose but by OSG instead. I'm sure you'll come up with your own conclusion so don't let me sway you one way or another. Not trying to be a fanboy here. Only relaying what I've come to read about others' experience. Good luck!

All the LSD upgrades require some new parts from the VLSD, the Quaife needs a stub shaft assembly. It will still be way cheaper than the OS Giken and again, won't need to be rebuilt. Depends on what you want out of your car, if you're handy and can rebuild your LSD then yeah no big deal but if you're getting one for a DD maybe a few track days - it's hard to justify the price of the Giken.

Nice! :icon18:

PM me. :bowrofl:

Quaife QDF13L is a direct replacement for the VLSD and does not need stub shafts.

Thought it was direct if you had the base/open diff. I prob got it backwards.

Taken from Z1's website:

Quaife Differentials require no modification to install in a Base model vehicle with open style factory diff. However if your car is equipped with a factory LSD you have two possible options to properly isntall an aftermarket Limited Slip Differential:
A) Purchase a Base Model LSD and add the optional $140 Stub Shaft assmebly
B) Purchase the Factory LSD Model LSD and DO NOT purchase the $140 Stub Shaft assembly.

^ And option B is the QDF13L model.

The quaife would be the cheaper solution but in my research there was a drawback to that system regarding if your wheels ever left the ground. Not something that generally occurs during everyday driving but one member had issues when he went over the shoulders on the track (I can't, for the life of me, remember what those things are called. Generally red and white and they line the corners of the track). I mean it was mostly anecdotal but swayed my decision towards a true clutch type LSD like the OSGiken.

Also, the OSGiken does not need to be rebuilt. 15k mi is the interval at which the oil needs to be changed. OSG boasts that they have never had to rebuild one of their clutch type LSDs even though they were made to be done so easily.

My full review here: http://www.the370z.com/engine-drivet...sd-review.html

Parts list from the review:
For 6MT w/ stock vLSD:
OS Giken NS111-HA – OS Giken Superlock 1.5 way LSD (auto uses a different model number)
OS Giken OS011-KA – OS Giken Diff fluid
Whiteline KDT911 – Rear diff bushings
38440-0C000 – Nissan carrier bearings
38220-Z33003 – 350z left flange. This was what I could find and it works, as far as I know the differentials are the same. The 370z part number is ACTUALLY 38220-JK01B (the old one is 38220-1NC1B)
38351-350DK – Nismo finned diff cover

From the way it was described to me, the OEM LSD is a 30% power transfer. The Giken is 100%. So if one wheel goes off ground, the OEM will Xfer 30% power to the wheel on the ground, while the Giken will do 100%(this is probably oversimplifying it a bit, but that's the best I understand it.)

The fastest 370's at the track days I go to all use the Giken. I can not see me doing it anytime soon, as my skill level is still low and this upgrade probably wouldn't do me much good yet. But the guys that run the fastest 350's/370s I see are using the Giken.

Can't comment on the Quaife but they make good stuff.

Right Giken is better not saying that it isn't but the OP just said he wanted to upgrade his VLSD, nothing about tracking or anything like that. Giken is the best but is hundreds more, was just trying to offer a better solution than stock VLSD for what appears to be a non-track driver.

If you're trying to justify your suggestion, I don't see a need. Quaife is a perfectly adequate solution at an excellent price. I just wanted to clarify the 15k/mi rebuild remark as well as offer my own personal experience with the OSG thus far.

I'd also like to clarify that the issue with quaife was purely anecdotal and had no standardized test in which to quantify the issue.

Yeah if you are not going to be lifting wheels off the ground in turn 4, the Giken is overkill. If you just want a LSD to have and LSD, then I am sure there is a lower price point. Quaife is known for making no BS stuff, I would buy from them in a heartbeat.

What is interesting is the way a LSD actually works. Did you know the whole thing is designed around what is essentially a big solid oil booger? It was explained to me by the same guy that was telling me why he uses the Giken. The whole "clutch" mechanism is like this big ball of oil-snot-jello thing.

In addition, if you burn the booger snot jello clutch out, the whole thing is f-ed. When you change the LSD oil, it doesn't really affect the booger snot ball, if that thing gets too hot, it's done.

Umm, you're talking about the stock VLSD that comes with the sport model and not other mechanical LSDs right?

Good clarification P3nGoo1n.

:tiphat:

Since we are on the subject, does the OS Giken require any modifications or additional parts for a 6mt open/diff?

The OSG diff was actually made for open diff cars. I THINK that means you don't have to buy the extra stub shaft assembly but I'm really not sure since my car had the VLSD. I'd really like to find out so I can add it onto my review for everyone's record.

Thanks bro, i did ask that same question to Mike at GTM over email a few months back and he told me that it did not need the stub shaft assembly just like you mention but it would be nice for someone to do a review of it to have more info or probably i'm gonna have to get myself one and do a review!

Everything else being the same, it should be pretty straightforward. The normal stuff still applies such as new carrier bearings and diff bushings.

Comparatively speaking, what's the (general) cost of a Quaife diff? What does "$100s less " actually mean...? In dP3NGU1N's write-up he mentioned his all-completed project was somewhere around $2500. I'm not sure if that's worth the cost for a weekend fun car, DD, a few days on the track here and there car. I'm not against performance parts, but a purpose built racecar I'm building not. ;-)

Thanks again for all the insight and PMs too guys!

TRJ,
here is my Quaife invoice


1 x Quaife Differential = $1,228.00
Model Base 6MT
Additional Parts Stub Axle Flange
___________________________
1 x Nismo Differential Cover = $139.00
___________________________
1 x OEM Side Bearings and Seals for 370Z = $130.00

I had VLSD so had to add stub axle

Install cost should be similar.($400.00 at local speed shop for mine)

I was just referring to base prices, not extra parts and install costs. I don't have an LSD just trying to do some basic research from what I've seen other members run to help you out. You've got dp3ngu1n's total for the Giken plus surfdogs for the quaife. It looks like either way it'll be over at least 1500 with the install. Again gotta figure out what you want from a DD or weekend warrior car. Those guys will be able to tell you their experiences I can't. But I can say it won't be a cheap upgrade so just keep it in mind, I looked into it a little while ago and just couldn't justify the cost right now. But that's my choice, I've just been putting funds towards other parts of my car :driving:


Here's the "base" prices I was referring to

Quaife base price without anything else is 1100, Giken is 1600

Basing those off of here: Quaife Differential

And here: http://www.z1auto.com/prodmore.asp?m...ne&prodid=4574

Yeah. How much is quaife oil or can you use any brand? OSG oil was expensive at about $70...

Differential bushing was another $90

VLSD stub axle - I got lucky and purchased someone's used diff and got the whole thing for $100 (The assembly itself from nissan is something like $140).

Add all of these things together you're looking at $530 in parts alone OTHER than the LSD itself. (Though I think you can actually reuse the bushings, but why would you want to?) $500 was what I paid in labor. All things considered an LSD is at least $2000 even for the most frugal solution.