Vlsd question

[kas14slider]

Hi guys, I have a s13 vlsd in my s14 and it just does such a poor job of locking most of the time. I can't even do a 180 from a dead stop or do donuts because it usually does a one wheel peel and locks only when it feels like it. I plan on getting a nice 1.5 or 2 way next summer but for now I can't afford one. Now, I just realized that the oil in it has never been changed. I heard somewhere that you should just put in the thickest stuff you can find and it will help those the crappy vlsd's lock better. So my question is what fluid should I put in the diff? Should it be synthetic? Also, if it matters, I live in PA and right now it is crappy winter weather. Is it better to run different weight fluid in summer and winter? And when you change the fluid, do you just wait for it to drain and then add new fluid until it starts dripping out of fill plug?

[Slappy]

The fluid in a VLSD will begin to heat up , and it will start to react like an open diff , but a VLSD will always send torque to both wheels , no matter how minimal. Is yours acting like an open diff right away? Are you sure it IS a VLSD? Is it a JDM S13 VLSD or a USDM HICAS VLSD?

[MomentumGT]

Hopefully the person who sold you the diff didn't try to rip you off and sell a toasted vlsd.

-Jon

[00James]

if it is an actual vlsd that you got you probably need an overhaul. When vlsd's fail they turn into an open diff.

P.S. lsd's need their fluid changed frequently or they will do that

[Slappy]

if it is an actual vlsd that you got you probably need an overhaul. When vlsd's fail they turn into an open diff.

P.S. lsd's need their fluid changed frequently or they will do that

Wrong. When the fluid heats up after about 6 or 7 passes , say at a drift event , the VLSD will react like an open. You cant "overhaul" a stock diff. And , only REAL LSD's needs its oil changed every so often , depending how hard you use it.

VLSD is oem , A 1 , 1.5 & 2 way LSD are aftermarket , Cusco , KAAZ ect.

[kas14slider]

It is a jdm vlsd but yeah, it's so old that its like an open. When I first got it installed, it was nice, my car was actually able to do donuts. I was just wondering if changing the fluid will help it at all. I guess I could always give it a shot.

[480sx]

VLSD's dont like drag launch's, and hate drifting/sliding even more. You will burn them up quick if you do that stuff.

[Slappy]

kas14slider - you cant drain the fluid , once they go they go. You might see a difference if you change your diff fluid , but you cant change your viscous fluid.

480sx - my friends drift on VLSD's all the time , its better then open.

[cnichols]

Slappy is right. The diff fluid that you change is different from the sealed viscous fluid in a separate compartment inside the diff. Best bet it is to find a low mileage J30 diff from a junkyard since there's a good chance it was never drifted with.

[Slappy]

Slappy is right. The diff fluid that you change is different from the sealed viscous fluid in a separate compartment inside the diff. Best bet it is to find a low mileage J30 diff from a junkyard since there's a good chance it was never drifted with.

Thanks for agreeing with me cnichols. But , J30 diffs are not the best for drifting because of the fact that they have a taller gear set. You will lose 4% of your acceleration that you had with a JDM s13 VLSD/HICAS S13 VLSD/Z32 non-turbo VLSD.

[ROBOROB]

i had a 180sx vlsd in my s13 that did the same. it wouldnt react after a few seconds. i could start a nice drift but after a little while it would stop spinning. now i have an s14 se with the lsd and it reacts so much better than the s13 lsd. maybe someone sold you an old worn out lsd.

[cnichols]

Thanks for agreeing with me cnichols. But , J30 diffs are not the best for drifting because of the fact that they have a taller gear set. You will lose 4% of your acceleration that you had with a JDM s13 VLSD/HICAS S13 VLSD/Z32 non-turbo VLSD.

I was simply saying that the VLSD part would most likely be in better shape than one from an S14. The Ring & Pinion can always be swapped.

I think it's a little bit of a bold statement to discard it because of just 4%. Things like wheel/tire size and the power you're making can easily offset something so small. Just by putting a larger wheel/tire combo on than stock you effectively do the same thing.

I agree if you're rocking a stock KA, it might make things tougher, but I didn't think drifting was all about acceleration?

[Slappy]

I was simply saying that the VLSD part would most likely be in better shape than one from an S14. The Ring & Pinion can always be swapped.

I think it's a little bit of a bold statement to discard it because of just 4%. Things like wheel/tire size and the power you're making can easily offset something so small. Just by putting a larger wheel/tire combo on than stock you effectively do the same thing.

I agree if you're rocking a stock KA, it might make things tougher, but I didn't think drifting was all about acceleration?

You need to keep your car in the rev range when drifting , you fall out of it and you will lose your drift. I've been around 240's for 6 years now , and have drivin more then a few 240's with J30's , i felt the difference in acceleration right away. Good for highway driving though.