1991 Infiniti M30 Diff & Axles

Hello all -

Anyone know if the diff & axles from a 1991 Infiniti M30 will bolt in to a 1987 200SX SEV6? Also does anyone know what the gear on the M30 is for sure?

UPDATE - I have a 1991 Diff & axles in hand. I am being told that it will work but I'm still looking for an opinion from this board before I start getting it installed.

I took off the rear cover and the M30 diff is a 3.917 & VLSD (stamped 47:12 on the ring - I think that is the same gearing as my stock open diff), it's a 'long snout' diff w/ 4 bolt holes up front & 2 bolts sticking out of the back cover, so as far as the diff to subframe the mounts will be the same. Now all I really need to know is are the axles going to bolt in the same way as stock (the M30 axles have 6 holes per axle paired up as 3 pairs).

No one's ever tried this?

the m30 came stock with an open diff. if you found a vlsd then it is probably custom. the infiniti j30 came with vlsd. i think there is a vlsd write somewhere on this forum. something about removeing the diff. from housing placing it inside ur 200sx pumpkin shortening the axles and using the vlsd ends. thats the short version

I'll have to admit, I know very little about differentials. Can anyone eyeball this and confirn/ deny it's VLSD-ness?

When I turn the input shaft both axles turn the same way.

Anyone? VLSD or no?

it almost looks like a clutch type.

indeed thats a lsd of some kind i dont know what a vsld looks like but the factory clutch types look identical to that one you got there

I did the viscous swap into an s12 R200, I used an s13 diff centre. If this is a long nose type diff. then you don't need to swap the centre out as it will bolt up to your rear suspension crossmember fine, (you lucky sod!!). Yeah test of any sort of LSD (or an open diff that someone has welded up to a locker) is if you turn one axle the other will turn the same way, (if its a standard open centre goes without saying they will turn in opposite directions).

Easiest way to tell if its a viscous type LSD is to check the right hand side axle/CV shaft, on the end of it that goes into the diff it will have an 'extra' smaller piece of spline, (the LHS CV shaft  won't have this). This little spline is what operates the viscous LSD mechanism and you must use this RHS CV/axle fitted to your s12 if its a viscous type centre, otherwise without it the diff will just act like an open centred one.

(If you post up pics of the CV shafts out of the diff I can tell you straight away.)

If its a clutch type your a lucky lucky bastard!!

Yes we have swapped in a M30 diff.  I also believe we used the stock S12 stub shafts and put them into the diff.  as for the LSDness of it however it was mixed results.  We were under the impression it was a LSD but after installing it into the TOAD noticed very little change.  This could be because it was running like a POS or because the diff we picked was either pooched or not LSD.  Weirdly enough looking through that hole in the centre section it looks like a planetary setup which could mean LSD.  unless it is pooched hold onto the snout shaft and turn the stub shaft that would be on the right side.  if the opposite turns the same way it is likely a LSD.  if you don't have pressure on either of the stub shafts and turn the diff often even a non LSD diff will turn both stub shafts the same way.  This is because a open diff will distribute power to both wheels so long as both have the same amount of traction...this is also why you have to be careful in the wreckers to make sure you only grab the diff's worth anything.  If you have the VIN to the car it came out of you should also be able to go to the dealer and based on parts for it they should be able to tell you if it is LSD or not...

SONUVA ZI'll have to admit, I know very little about differentials. Can anyone eyeball this and confirn/ deny it's VLSD-ness?

When I turn the input shaft both axles turn the same way.

[quote name='SONUVA Z' date='Apr 17 2007, 10:24 AM' post='120775']
When I turn the input shaft both axles turn the same way.

The idea is to turn one of the axles, not the input, and watch the opposite axle. Does the axle turn the same direction? (LSD) Does it turn opposite direction? (Open)

Peace, Wolf

smoketraillooks like a helical aftermarket swap with the stock ring gear. Check input shafts to be sure. M30's did not come stock with an lsd, but the j30 did, just thought i would restate that.