jonny407

I was initially turned off from buying a Base mod due to the lack of a LSD. I have read that it's not that hard to put one into a base mod car. Has anyone here tried this?

MIAPLAYA

iTrader: (3)

I started with a Base Model myself and had a Nismo LSD. It comes with new stub axels, fluid, seals, bearings, etc. Everything you need to install it. Labor to install was $460. Nismo LSD was $895 picked up. Total cost $1355. Of course the Nismo LSD is a bit too obtrusive for most people. Another option is the Quaife LSD which also bolts right in to a Base model Z. It costs more for the Quaife $1460 http://www.forgedperformance.com/sto...cat=261&page=1

but it has a much better warranty and is smooth as butter. Labor to install should be the same. All in all you will most likely be much happier with the Quaife unless you don't mind your car sounding broken and feeling like a race car every time you make a slow speed turn.

philude

iTrader: (19)

hmm, i've heard you need a couple of parts from the LSD equiped models ontop of getting the LSD. i was thinking of getting one also and i've searched a couple of threads, Cusco RS seems to be a popular choice.

MIAPLAYA

iTrader: (3)

Thats mostly true. The Nismo is the only diff that comes with everything you need to install it in one box. If you get any other clutch type diff on the market you will need the VLSD model stub axels and new seals, bearings, oil, etc. If you get the Quaife you don't need the stub axels as the Quaife bolts to the Base model stub axels but you still need all the seals, shims, etc that you do for every other diff. Its also a good idea to install a Nismo finned diff cover while you have it all apart. For $95 shipped its a good investment and will keep your diff fluid a little cooler. www.gspec.com has them for $95

jonny407

was it worth the upgrade? Did you loose any power off the line? What do you mean the car sounds like a race car every time you make a slow speed turn? I haven't messed with my car yet because I'ts not to bad stock. But if there is a good reason to improve I'm all about it.

MIAPLAYA

iTrader: (3)

Since I'm turbo there was no question I was going to need a LSD. I got the Nismo as it had everything I needed out of the box. Of course at the time I got mine the Quaife was just a dream. For me it was more then worth the upgrade. If I could do it again I might have gotten a Quaife. Between that and an ATS Carbon LSD. If I was you I would spring the extra cash for the Quaife. You'll be happier. By sounds like a race car I mean its pops and snaps and is generally loud and chunky when you make slow speed turns under power. Its loud enough that people stop and tell you your car is broken. The Quaife does not do this.

jonny407

What kind of boost do you push? I've been debating weather I should spend money on my 1990 twin turbo that already has LSD and lower compression or put money into the 350z. that has a high compression not designed for forced induction. what do you think?

MIAPLAYA

iTrader: (3)

I am running about 8-8.5 PSI daily. Have been for over 30k miles. Last dyno was 378WHP 369 ft/lb at 8 PSI on pump gas

jonny407

I love the 350z but I see some impressive numbers from slightly modified ttz's. I think that the lower compression is more suitid for turbo aplications. I just might have to rebuild my vg30dett and make it a 600-700hp monster! with minor modifications. But I could be wrong. or wait for that GTR engine in 2008.

g356gear

iTrader: (12)

I did the KAAZ lsd swap into my G35 with an open differential. I did not like it at all. I switched to a stock viscous LSD rear diff and I liked that much better.

proframer

miaplaya, where did you get your lsd installed?

MIAPLAYA

iTrader: (3)

I ended up getting it installed at Performance Nissan as I was picking up my car from Turbonetics in Simi Valley. I wouldn't drive all the way up there to do that though. I think that Danzio Performance can do that. www.danzioperformance.com

proframer

thanks

mistico

iTrader: (5)

I have an 06 base and installed a Quaife for the following reasons:

1. You can't tell it's there. It makes no noise because it's gear driven and doesn't use friction plates. You'll get some noise out the nismo, cusco, kaaz...
2. This diff has a lifetime warranty, even if you use it for competition. This includes throwing as much power as you want to it.

The most important reason: The Quaife was made to be a direct drop in for the base model. You don't need to buy anything if you have a base, just the diff and have someone install it. I don't know about installing yourself though as I didn't do it myself. Even the shop I took it to, outsourced it to another diff specialist.

I really like this diff. I tracked the car with it and it does what it needs to just right.

HTH

helldorado

iTrader: (4)

+1 on the Quaife. Its a drop-in unit for the base model and it'll far exceed your expectations from it. Have one and I couldn't imagine the car without it now.

abui01

iTrader: (68)

Compare and Contrast: Quaiffe vs ATS, I'm looking to get one swapped into my base very soon and looking for the pros and cons of each.

MIAPLAYA

iTrader: (3)

Quaife will ultimately be cheaper to install. I would go with the Quaife...

Quijano187

iTrader: (3)

noob question sorry, is their a big difference between the stock diff and the nismo diff?

MIAPLAYA

iTrader: (3)

Yes. The stock VLSD can become incosistent when subjected to higher Hp then stock. I have seen a stock VLSD car that had inconsistent lock up after a few passes at the drag strip.

helldorado

iTrader: (4)

I did a huge writeup on FA highlighting all the pro's and con's, so here's a condensed version. Two different concepts really. The hypoid style works off of the torque actually being applied to the ground from the faster spinning wheel, while the clutch style keys off the torque spinning through the axle of the faster wheel.

Quaife is a mechanical diff that uses hypoid gears to bias the torque between the 2 wheels. The gear designs creates internal torque multiplication based off of the torque applied to the ground from the wheel with the least resistance. Quaife biases torque only under acceleration.

The ATS is a clutch style differential. I'm not sure what the lockup % is on it, but as one wheel spins faster than the other in a given situation, the pre-loaded clutch mechanism will engage and that % of torque applied to the spinning faster spinning axle will be applied to the side with traction. The ATS is a 1.5/2 way diff so it will lockup and transfer torque under acceleration and deceleration.

So take this for example. Your car generates 200 lb-ft at the wheels. So that's 100 lb-ft of torque to each axle under ideal conditions and that power is being applied to the road surface. As one wheel starts to slip and spin faster, more power starts to go through that axle, and less of it is being transferred to the ground, ie, 150 lb-ft is going through the spinning axle and only 50 lb-ft is being applied to the ground. The rest gets lost as wheel spin. With an open diff, you'd only have the other 50 lb-ft of axle torque being applied to the wheel with traction.

The Quaife uses its internal bias ratio (say 5:1) to multiply the torque actually being applied to the ground of the spinning wheel to the axle with traction. So 5 x 50 = 250 lb-ft. Since you only generated 200 lb-ft up front, you can't bias that much, but you bias 150 lb-ft (200 total potential - 50 of what is actually getting to the ground) to the other side. This is almost an extreme example because the moment you get away from the 50/50 split, the Quaife starts biasing torque instantly. The only downside to this design is if one wheel has no resistance; ice, wheel in the air, etc... Zero x anything is zero, nothing to bias. Why some people pan the Quaife as a track diff.

In the above situation, the ATS would work differently than the Quaife. As power is applied and the clutches lock, the lockup ratio kicks in, say 60%. So as one wheel starts to slip and spin faster, the other wheel will be at least 60% as fast, or gets 60% of the power applied to that faster spinning axle. If the lockup ratio is too high, in low speed turns, you will get tire drag as the clutch locks and the inner and outer tire are too varied in speed.

Couple other key points. Quaife is zero maintenance and has a lifetime warranty, even with track use. ATS claims longer life than metal clutches, but those carbon clutches will still eventually lose effectiveness, particularly if tracked aggressively and requires more maintenance with more frequent oil changes.

I consider both to be the best of their respective designs. But if you have a street driven vehicle and want unobtrusive action, get the Quaife. If you plan to do some serious track events and are OK with the extra maintenance, give the ATS a look. If you have the open diff, go Quaife, if you have the VLSD, I'd lean towards ATS for ease of install.

Read above, Nismo is like the ATS, except for metal clutch packs, which is another story in terms of opration and effectiveness.

VLSD is an open diff that uses a viscous coupling. Its facing gears from each axle side in a semi-solid liquid. So when one side starts to spin, the internal gear on that side spins faster. The fluid reacts to the movement, and causes the facing gear to spin, transferring power to the slower spinning wheel. Its a quiet, non-servicable design. Only engages with wheel spin and transfers maybe 25-40% of the power. With high power setups, the viscous fluid can get cooked and get too thin, affecting its ability to transfer the power through the gearing. Its popular for OE use because there is no noise and its transparent under normal driving, but in situations with wheel spin, it engages just enough to be useful.