Installed Quaife LSD...........WOW!!!

I had my Quaife LSD installed in my S12 and was able to autocross it this last weekend. I cannot express in words how this thing transforms the car. I've always read that adding an LSD creates a bit of understeer in initial turn in, well, this is not the case with the Quaife. The car's balance was not affected at all. Instead of lighting up the rear inside tire coming out of corners, I was able to apply the throttle midcorner and power out of it. Just WOW is all I have to say. These S12's really needed an LSD from the factory!

Where'd you get it from

details please, did you do the install?

I ordered it from Options Auto Salon. They were the cheapest at the time. However, I noticed that everyone's prices have gone up about $300 since I bought mine a month ago. They're not exactly inexpensive.

what configuration is ya quaife?

1.5way, 2 way?

anyone know what the std R200 specs are?

As far as installing it, I didn't feel comfortable doing it myself. It looks easy, but after spending that much money, I wanted someone else to be responsible if something went wrong. I took it to a local 4x4 shop who does LSD's in trucks all the time. I also ordered and installed the finned aluminum rear diff cover from Nissan Motorsports to help remove some of the excess heat caused by the LSD.

Quaife's are not a clutch type LSD, so there is no 1.5 or 2 way. They are a torque sensing type of LSD. They use worm gears to send more power to the wheel with the most grip. Very smooth LSD with the most traction potential.

wow! a quaife! very nice! very expensive! good to know that they make one for the r200. did you investigate kaaz or any of the other clutch type aftermarket units that seem to popular lately?

Yes, I looked at the Kaaz, the Nismo, the stock 87-89 Z31 Turbo's, and several others, but when it came down to it, the torque sensing LSD's just can't be beat by a clutch type LSD for autocross. Clutch type do have their niche in drift competition, however.

so how much did the lsd cost ya..

LOL WAAAAAAAAAY too much, but it's basically maintenance free and won't wear out like a clutch type. It was about $1200.

I know it might be the "Ghetto" solution to having lsd, but can't you have the worm gears welded in the diff. to make it a lsd? I saw on tv or read somewhere that this can be done.....can it be done to the r200? Any drivability problems with doing this?

You can definitely weld your differential. It's an old old method of making your car launch better at the drag strip. By welding the spider gears together, you remove the ability for one wheel to turn faster than another. Both rear wheels will get 50% of the power, all the time! The only problem with this is that when you want to turn a corner, your outer back wheel will 'skip' because it can't keep up to the inner wheel. Makes for really shitty handling and difficult parking lot usage.

ahhhhh.......good to know. I figured there must be some stipulations using this method.

:yikes: for 1200 I'd want the stupid thing to climb out of the car every morning and make me breakfast! Sh!t!! Probably worth every penny though with how your describing it.

ya but if you weld it dont plan on turning much without tires a hopping

No plans on using the Ghetto method....I was just curious. If I want LSD i'll do it the right way.

Isn't there an LSD for a front R200 on the Nissan Hardbody that will fit? I've seen the clutch type for sale for those for around $600 or less.

Welding ur diff isnt such a good indea unless ur gonna use it for a drift or race car...
LOL,
Its funny when the drift cars come and and they are going 10kph round a corner and their tyres are screeching...

My friend did it to his RX-7,
DID GOOD DOUGHY!

See my post here:

http://www.sxoc.co.uk/vbb/showthread.php?t=95818

What model number diff is this as the R200 280-300Z (fits both 10mm & 12mm bolts) as in the catalogue?

That is the Quaife I bought for my car. On Quaife's website, it is part number: 44.309.150 There's only one Quaife available for the R200, and it fits just fine. Guess I've proven that, conclusively.

That is the Quaife I bought for my car. On Quaife's website, it is part number: 44.309.150 There's only one Quaife available for the R200, and it fits just fine. Guess I've proven that, conclusively.

Cool checked it! Great its the same one.

Is there anything I need to be aware of for installation?

How much did your installation cost?

By the way this is £575 in UK.

Oh sure. Brag about your lower prices. LOL!!! I paid $65 to have it installed, but I already had the differential out of my car, so I just brought it to them. That saved me a bit of cash. The shop did the installation, I brought it home, popped the halfshafts back in, filled it with fluid, and away I went. If you buy one, you won't be sorry!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33731&item=2481643397
Same as yours? Fits?

No, not even close to mine. Viscous is the worst kind of LSD available, but it's still better than an open diff. That LSD will most likely fit, however, you may need to modify your halfshafts.

VLSD = $200 cdn
Mr.200 = cheap

Mr.200 + VLSD = cheap LSD ;)

ok ok.. we've probably gone through this a couple of times.. but dont run me out here :lynch:

so wut are the LSD's that we can get from other cars..?

300zx turbo.. what years?
240sx... what years?
and also.. would one off the 90+ 300zx's such as this work?http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=33731&item=7905315699&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

a LSD is definitely a mod. i want to do before i start hitting the track

300ZX turbo only. 1987-1989 models Very few supposedly have a VLSD but those made after 10/87 will most likely have a clutch LSD.

240SX's in the US will have a VLSD and the only way to tell is to look at the diff. They came as an option. I THINK they have a finned cover but I'm not sure

In the U.S., only HICAS equipped 240SX's got the VLSD.

In Canada, all 1991+ 240SX's got the VLSD.

Damn it I wish I had about $200 or so extra. I have my shafts at the shop getting re-coned and the cover off the diff to check the bearings.

ARGH!!!!!

Yes, the entire diff from late '87 - '89 turbo 300ZX will bolt directly into the car with no modification and is clutch type. However, the SS model in '88 came with the viscous LSD, and requires that you swap the halfshafts from that car as well. The 240SX lsd will work as well, but you have to swap the lsd unit into your stock pumpkin. The 240SX and Z32 300ZX have the short snout R200, compared to our long snout R200, so swapping the entire diff will not work. As for the Z32 300ZX, they are all viscous type. Only the non-turbo Z32 lsd will work, as the Twin Turbos had an R230, not an R200. I have never really tested it, but I would assume that for both the 240SX and Z32 300ZX NA, you will need to do something with the halfshafts for them to work.

I just installed the VLSD from a 240 into mine. I had to take out the open diff and swap the LSD into the stock carrier. As for the half shafts the stock half shafts work fine and it really did help the handling of the car. I love it and I cant wait till I have enough money to drop in an aftermarket, like a kaaz. but this is a cheaper solution untill then. Its also a good idea to change the oil seals while you're at it when you do the swap.

Sweet! Very good to know that the stock halfshafts work! Enjoy the new found traction.

alright.. i was just checking on zcarparts.com for some stuff for the SE and i was looking at the differentials and these are the ones they had:

MSA Limited Slip Assembly, 77-83 Z/ZX Non Turbo With R-200 Differential

MSA Limited Slip Assembly, 81-83 ZX Turbo With R-200 Differential

MSA Limited Slip Assembly, 84-85 ZX Turbo, 86-89 ZX With R-200 Differential

so since they're all MSA Limited Slip Assemblies with the R-200 Differential.. does that mean that the LSD out of the 280Z(X) would work on our cars too? or are these just upgrade kits for those differentials?
http://www.zcarparts.com/store/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=PRC02E

Depends on the size of the ring gear. The early R200's had a 10mm, while the later R200's had a 12mm. I know my 87 SE has a 12mm, and the 280ZX's had a 10mm. I'm not sure if all S12's with the R200 were 12mm or not, so you'll have to do some research on that.

Well i can anwswer that for everyone. For the R200 All Turbo 200sx had 10mm ring gear up to 4/86. Turbos from 5/86 and all V6 models have the 12mm ring gear bolt. Hope that helps. All formation above is from my Nissan Motorsports Catalog.

Well i can anwswer that for everyone. For the R200 All Turbo 200sx had 10mm ring gear up to 4/86. Turbos from 5/86 and all V6 models have the 12mm ring gear bolt. Hope that helps. All formation above is from my Nissan Motorsports Catalog.

yeah that does help cuz that saves me the time of searching through junkyards and the internet to try and find out!

that does mean tho, that theorectically the LSD out of the 280ZX turbo's should swap into the early S12's..

thanks!!

Yes an LSD unit for a 280zx will bolt into the early Turbo models R200. I just cross referenced parts #s on the Nismo LSDs for the 280zx and the S12 and they are the exact same part # and both use the 10mm ring gear bolts.

Quick FYI because I think some of these posts may be misleading...I don't think any 240/60/80Z or 280ZX, not even the Turbo, ever came from the factory with an LSD. Both 280ZXT parts cars I've owned had 3.54 open R200's (one '83 manual, one '83 auto), same as my 280Z came with.
As for bolt size, some Z people take the Z31 LSD and have a machinist make 12mm plugs with 10mm holes to allow use of the 10mm bolt ring gears.

Quick FYI because I think some of these posts may be misleading...I don't think any 240/60/80Z or 280ZX, not even the Turbo, ever came from the factory with an LSD. Both 280ZXT parts cars I've owned had 3.54 open R200's (one '83 manual, one '83 auto), same as my 280Z came with.
As for bolt size, some Z people take the Z31 LSD and have a machinist make 12mm plugs with 10mm holes to allow use of the 10mm bolt ring gears.

Considering we were talking aftermarket LSD units and factory upgrade units to LSD (from Nismo) that statement doesn't apply.

You are correct. This topic relates to aftermarket LSD units for the R200. The only vehicles in the U.S. that came from the factory with an LSD in an R200 are late 87-89 300ZX Turbo, 90-96 300ZX Non Turbo, and some S14 240SX's. This excludes trucks and SUV's. (Pathfinder's, X-Terra's, Hardbody's)

Just tryin' to help. The topic really is about Quaife diffs in particular, but the conversation was so off-topic I thought I'd bring my little piece to the table.
that does mean tho, that theorectically the LSD out of the 280ZX turbo's should swap into the early S12's..
Since the topic of LSD's comes up so often, it seems that the information doesn't get absorbed since people keep asking. Statements like those above lead me to believe that people think they can look in certain cars and feel assured they have found an LSD. No one clarified and I didn't want people scrounging for 280ZXT's in parts yards and then wondering why the wheels spun in opposite directions when they tested :-P

Yep, you did the right thing.