LSD diff swap
 

I want to swap my 280zx's R180 open diff for a LSD unit. Ive seen a bunch of R200s that come with LSD, I want to know which one would be a straight swap, or will I have to get R200 axles? Also which LSD unit do you guys prefer to use? Thanks

Yes, you'll need the axles that come with the R200.

If I recall, the 8/87 to '89 300ZX Turbo (non-SS or SHIRO, usually identified by it's special pearl white paint and wheels with matching paint).

Otherwise, just spend $550 on an R180 LSD from Precision Gear.

http://www.differentials.com

Nobody makes an LSD center section for our 10mm R200's anymore except for Quaife = $1500 JUST for the center section!

Enjoy!

yeah the Nismo and Quaife ones are way too overpriced, Im gonna go with the Precision gear. Im gonna need a helping hand through this Iww so is it ok I PM you? I still got a few questions and I'm really noobish when it comes to diffs even though I did do some research (full time student and job doesn't leave me much time unfortunately:( ) Thanks

No problem. But you'll most likely get a more timely response if you just post the question publically. I have 2 kids and travel a lot for my job, so sometimes I'm offline for weeks at a time.

I neglected to mention, the R180 LSD's are still widely available due to the large number of Datsun 510's, Roadster's and 240-280Z's still active in racing.

precision gear power brute LDS for the R180 is the way im gonna go... only 500 bux i believe... its dirt cheap for an LSD... plus i think my dad is still buddy buddy with this tranny/rear end guy and he can do it, if not i got some UTI guys that have graduated transmissions, or are on tehm now. idk w.e

opps! Actually I don't have a R180 diff, i have a R200. My Z is a '83 (made in late 82) So Ill have to look for the Z31 Turbo diff uh? So any late Z31 Turbo? Im not sure if you meant only SS models or not.

87 - 89 Z31T's have the clutch LSD ... the 88 SS has viscous.


http://www.az-zbum.com/information.ss.registry.shtml

The SS came w/ viscous LSD which requires different connecting cv shaft splines. They were pretty rare & even more rare in the junk yard.

yeah I was hoping Iww didn't mean SS only because even I know how super rare they are lol. So for the clutch type diff is there anything special that I would need as well? Im making a junkyard trip today guys, a friend told me he saw a Z31T there, wish me luck!

Just need the differential.... pop out the cv's, unbolt it & drop it out. The dead give away for the LSD is the finned diff cover. Viscous will have an orange VISCOUS LSD sticker.

http://www.precisiongear.com/powerbrute.htm
They list the 12mm R200. Is that the 240SX type?
Has anyone looked into putting the gearset from a 12mm R200 into the larger R200 housing that we use in our Z's?
SX LSD units are plentiful (in comparison)
:048:

what about the 91 Q45 R200's? anyone know about those swaps?

The Power Brute 12mm R200 clutch LSD from Precision Gear can be made to work by fabricating some 10mm ID to 12mm OD spacers.

The Q45 viscous LSD requires significant work to make it work, but it can be done.

Just came back from the J/Y...no luck , only turbo Z31 I found was a '85

theres a rolled SS that i found burried at the JY ill see how much they want for it tomorow..

according to frank, there is a place on ebay selling clutch type lsd's for the r200 for aboot 500-600 bux. frank says they are as good as the quaffe if you touch up the teeth to get rid of casting flash. when he gets back to holland, he should be able to provide more info.

if they are for the 10mm R200 then that will do fine.

looking forward to his info:038:

They are called OBX and are even cheaper than 5 to 600 USD

guys first read up on this:

The first page has lots of ifs and buts but my friend xander and some others are running them !

http://forums.hybridz.org/showthread.php?t=107997

ill copy paste my post + some info that might be handy for reference here

Well me and Xander have jumped the OBX bandwagon aswel ..
here is my diff

http://album.hybridz.org/data/500/medium/100_2125.JPG

Her is my helical madness.
As stated before you do not only get the diff but apparently the factory gets rid of there grind waste in the carrier :) .


Apart from that the OBX factory is not to keen on cleaning there casting molds, as you can see imprints of all sort of 'foreign' parts in the casting, it does not look to bad.
Also the skirt of the unit has some broken off edges because the bolts are close to the edge and the casting inst great. Sadly i don't have a before picture .. however i just ground the edges round making sure no casting parts will come loose there
The metal used i pretty hard though as numbering some castings was harder than it is on other metal i use my number kit for.
On that note i would replace all the bolts for a better grade!

http://album.hybridz.org/data/500/medium/100_2128.JPG

I will use a 3.3 gearing with diff cooler to compensate the heat that comes with these units( stock on euro turbo's).

Unlike the powerbrute fitments does not seem an issue sofar,

http://album.hybridz.org/data/500/medium/100_2131.JPG


Lets see who will have the first one to explode.... I have faith in it sofar however nothing like road testing i guess
My friend Xander had the following to say, note he still runs the OBX washers
I have one installed in my 260Z. It works well allthough it is very noisy. I have driven the car on the road for about 1000 miles and one day of 1/8 mile racing on the track with very grippy intermediate rally tires. I'll try to post a movie soon.

You should definitely replace the washers though. I took the dif apart after 500 miles to install the clips that hold the axles in place. the washers where worn away at the edges enough to fall out of the diff. A friend of mine is going to MSA next week (frank280zx). He'll be taking back some decent washers to replace mine.

So all in all im still happy (however old gear oil stinks!!)I dropped in the washers ))(())(( however i did not use a pin, they seem to line up fine. We went this way so you have two of the stock washers ( witch are crap) backing each other up . piece of mind and enough preload i think. if not after some runs it will have to come out agian :)

info on the washers:

you can order them at mcmaster online catalog the high carbon steel belleville washer that is the closest match is part number 9712K83 which as the following specs.
Max OD = 1.250"
Min ID = 0.63"
Thickness = 0.062"
Height = 0.092"

Each package has the supplier's name and phone number, as well as a part number.
If anybody overseas wants to follow up to see if these people will ship directly to you, have at it! Here is the information from the package:

GARDNER SPRING
1-800-331-3263
MB1250-062
Bellevelle Disc Spring
Package Qty: 12
1.250 x 0.0630 x 0.062

If you have any q's after reading the hybrid thread let me know .. at least i am happy with it!

Frank! You're a madman! :D

I was thinking about doing an OBX in my new orange 240z, but after seeing Frank's report, I think I'll stick with another Quaife. They come looking like a piece of artwork. Clean edges, no casting marks and absolutely smooth function. I bought a diff oil cooler, but I don't think we'll need it with the nismo high capacity diff cover.

ahh yes, i saw having to dring for clearence using the power brute, and this one you dont ehh..... im liking the sound of this. did you ahve to assemble the actual LSD unit itself though? idk if i can trust my self with that. lol

It's not that hard. It's no more difficult than an erector set or even a lego's model.

Check out the pics. All you have to do is make sure the screws are all going in the correct direction! ;)

lego's and erector sets and kinex were teh shit!

I have a 'nismo' cover aswel .. frankly they are stock eurospec covers and use a cooler on even a stock turbo with lsd ... i would recommend the use of a pump.. the rally cars did aswel .
Anyhow i can see choosing qaife but at this prize you can not beat it a qaife will set you back at least 1400 by now.

I have no regrets at it works aswel

mmmhmmm.. how much did it cost you? and you decided to replace ALL the standard bolts and washer (by standard i mean they are nothin special not standard or metric measurements) i didnt know OBX made rear ends either, tehy make clutches dont they? but from what i remember not so great ones though....