hey guys im not really that educated with the 350z rear end. But quick question, if i have a base model could i just hook up a lsd or do i need the 3.3 rear end that comes factory with the other models. I dont have traction control on the car either. Is this possible or what do i neeed to do

thanks guys

 

you just need to buy the LSD kit, for example, the Nismo one, it comes with everything you need to have LSD on your car.

 

I have a base, and had a local shop install a LSD from a Track model. If I recall correctly, I needed a few additional parts, but nothing substantial.

As a side note, the factory LSD is better than nothing, but if I had to do it over again, I might have gone with an aftermarket.

 

how much of an improvement did u notice when you did it?

 

Substantial...night and day for sure. I don't know how I lived without it to begin with.

 

how much did that run you for parts and how much for labor....and is there a big difference between the track and nismo lsd

 

I actually can't speak to the nismo LSD, as I don't have one and dont' have any friends that have one. What I can say is that I have heard from other members that it is better than the stock (but much more expensive).

I bought the LSD off of another member here for $200 + shipping (got a great deal). I think the extra parts ran me about $100 and then a couple hundred for install...I got out of it at around $400. It wouldn't be that expensive now to swap them out, but there were some needed parts and changes that needed to be made to convert an open diff to a LSD.

I guess at the end of the day, given that I have a base and it needed more parts than come with the nismo (or so I am told), it would have cost me at least $1k to put in a Nismo, as opposed to the Track with cost me $400.

 

I just went thru all of this myself guys... I have a 04 base.

The Nismo LSD is the BBB for a base model open diff.. It does come with all parts necessary for the swap. Installation averages around 5hrs. You can find a brand new Nismo LSD from $850-1k. If you go with another brand (Cusco, Quafie, ATS, KAAZ) it's going to cost you roughly the same, plu$ all the other parts needed for the swap, which adds up to another $500.

The only con to the Nismo LSD is a little wheel binding and chatter at low speeds and tight turns, as in a parking lots. The other LSDs make some noise too! Other than that, I've been told by many who I have PM'd that you won't notice it's there. IMO, it's a must if you have an open diff. and stock tires!

I passed up one for $815 shipped because I run 295s and am currently n/a. So traction isn't enough of a problem to drop $1300... if I go FI, I will be purchasing the Nismo LSD.

Zquicksilver

 

get the Quaife LSD, that's what I did. No extra parts needed - it's designed for the base model! other models need more parts, but not the base! it is absolutely silent and performs incredible on the drag strip and on the track. forgedinternals.com sells them.

 

I did the oem swap using parts, DO NOT do the swap that way, it makes ZERO economic sense.

1. Viscous core out of one of PerformanceNissan's race cars, basically had showroom miles on it. $100

2. The oem open diff's stub axles CANNOT be used with the viscous diff core, you have to buy new LSD stub axles, total for 2 $300

3. Labor to uninstall oem diff, open the case, install new parts, align new parts and reinstall back into car. $500 ($400 is now a more common cost).

So,
$100
$300
$500
------------------------------
$900

I could have simply purchased a entire used sealed diff pumpkin for $400-$600and saved myself a lot of money and self installed it. And frankly the oem VLSD is not all that impressive. Instead of spending $900 for oem, I should have spend $1300 for the Nismo unit installed. Lesson learned.

 

wow...$1300...yeah, I could see why are you pissed. Glad that mine only cost me $400.

Zquicksilver, are you saying that you did or did not install one? I have 285's on my Z, and with both the open and the LSD, I still spin them. I can't hardly believe that you wouldn't be spinning if you are sending all of your power to one wheel, even with 295's.

 

easiest swap is just getting a full rear end from a junk yard...

next cheapest option is used VLSD but then you will need more parts and a little more labor...

the next cheapest option is the NISMO LSD...

 

One of my rear tires is pretty much bald (stock tire open diff) while the other is doing ok with tread. I'm guessing this is because of all the one tire spinning parking lot burnouts and doughnuts I've done since getting the car.
So, I'm planning on replacing all 4 tires. I'd like to have more traction for safety and a little more even tread wear from the back two tires.

So here's my question, since I'm spending 600+ dollars on tires, I might as well get some wider and bigger rims with them to get even better traction and some looks, total cost i'm thinking will be around 2500 for nice 18's and goodyears.
Would it be wiser and meet my goals better if instead I just bought a quafe LSD and stickier tires for my 17's? what do you think the price difference should be after install costs for the LSD, pro's and cons?

 

hmm...interesting question. Seems to me that you really have two totally different options here.

First, I would buy a set of rims from another member of this site. Used wheels are much cheaper than buying new, and most of the memebers here are really good about transactions (I have never had a problem).

Here is a set of ADR's with tires for $800 shipped (and I like the ADR M-sports)... https://my350z.com/forum/showthread.php?t=161482

Here is a NISMO LSD for $700 shipped. https://my350z.com/forum/showthread.php?t=154319
There, you spent less than $2500 and got wheels and an LSD. Now all you need to do is call around to find the best price for installing the LSD.

 

saint01,

I do not have a LSD installed, but will if I go FI Like Jason said, the BBB is the Nismo LSD for a open diff. Z. The Quafie is nice, but when I talked to one of the guys from ForgedInternals they mentioned or suggested new bearings with the install, plus a few other things. So $1300 + 100 + ? = lets say $1450 + install and your around $1800-$1900. For that price I could do the Nismo LSD plus the Central 20_3.9_FD installed. I already got a quote from GRD on all this stuff a while back.

At this point (with my 295s (11.6"w) and n/a motor) I only get wheel spin in 1st and 2nd if I'm really punching it, basically 3k drop (see pic below)! But it's semi- equal wheel spin givin its a dry surface, being wet or chat is a another story. I don't track it, so that's not a factor. My next set of rear tires may be CONTI 2's (295/30/19) at 26"dia. and 12.2" wide. < that's not a typo

Each LSD seems to have a story behind it when I pm'd different members. In the end and for the cost, I decided on the Nismo LSD, end of story



Zqucksilver

 

I certainly am not debating whether the NISMO is the BBB, as I believe that it is. I just wasn't sure whether you actually installed one or not, and how you were not spinning tires...but I see what you are saying now.

I just went back and double checked all of my reciepts and emails for quotes. I bought the basically brand new LSD off of a track for $100. The install cost was $325 and they only charged me $100 for the 2 rear stubs, plus $75 for bearings and shims. So at the end of the day, I got my LSD installed for $600. I would have prefered to go with the NISMO, but at the time, I wasn't willing to drop $1k for it.

Oh, and for anyone near cincy, I had all of my work done at 350EVO in Batavia. BJ and everyone over there are GREAT to work with. Totally honest and do excellent work!

 

well the rims I'm looking at are either some le37's, or the 18" work emotions in the private classifieds, hence where my 2500 figure came from...upwards of 3300.
as far as the nismo LSD, sure it is the BBB, But I have a feeling I"d never get used to the popping sounds I've heard comes with it. So for me it's either the quafie or ats carbon. at 1300-1800 for just the diff and install, The only savings i'd get would be because i'm getting cheaper 17" tires....hmmm. Looks like I may just go with the bigger wheels. Thanks all

 

Wouldn't y'all been better off just spending the extra $1500 or so to get an Enthusiast model in the first place?

 

nah, didn't have the $ back then, and I figured I'd want something better than the vlsd anyway so I'm putting the 1500 I saved with the base model toward a nice aftermerket lsd

 

Quite Frankly, you are correct. Unfortunately, when and where I bought the car (Las Cruces, New Mexico), the Enthusiast was going for $3000 more than the Base, and I didn't have the money then.

At the same time, when I finally did have the money, it had become a moot point. Thus, the $600 for an LSD, $300 for HIDs, and $75 for pedals have brought me close to the Enthusianst for less money. I have the steering wheel for the cruise (cost me $50 for a brand new one), but decided that it is not worth the money to have all the work done to properly install it.