Okay here is my dilemna. I have a 1997 240sx le/se. In 1997 and 1998 the LSD option was avaliable with the ABS option (for the USDM 240sx), right? Okay well, my 240 does not have ABS but both rear wheels rotate when attempting a burnout. I have lifted the rear of the car off the ground and put the car in 1st gear and let the clutch out and both rear wheels rotated at the same speed. I then did another test and spun the rear wheels on a grassy patch and both spun again at the same rate, leaving 2 lines. The final test was to burn the tires on pavement and the rear wheels spun again. Now if I didn't have a rear LSD, that mean my 240 would have an open differential (where one wheel spins), right?
I have checked to see if the ABS fuse was pulled or even blown. The car never even had that feature. Friends hypothesized that maybe the previous owner performed the upgrade...highly unlikely because the car is completely stock! A 2nd hypothesis was maybe my 240 was intended for the Canadian market because all 5 lug SE/LE came a with an LSD rear end (thats what I have been told).
This made me take my testing to a different level. I teted to see how the car would react under cornering. Well when I break the rear loose intially one wheel is actually receiving most of the power but when the rear is broken loose it catches with the second wheel. Note this was on dry pavement. Then I did the same test again but whil it was rainning. I didn't break the rear as hard but just enough to slide the rear. Well as the rear slide, I caught it and hammered the gas (all in 2nd gear), when the car was pointed straight the rear inside wheel of the turn just spun. When I eased off the throttle a little I felt the both wheels hook up and then floored it again but no spinning this time. This would happen wether you turned left or right. So I'm almost positive that I have a rear LSD, but do any of you know anyone else that has a 97 or 98 240 SE/LE (5 lug) that has LSD without ABS?
-Seth
Disclamer: the tests were performed with me only in the car and also no one else on the road...DUUHHH! And I am a professional driver. I compete in SCCA and NASA in the Virginia region. So please no flaming based upon assumptions that I am not a smart, pro, competent, etc driver. Thank You
97-98 240sx LSD questions
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NEED4BOOST
- Posts: 251
- Joined: Mon Jan 20, 2003 8:13 am
hi, interesting tests...
what i would suggest is to order a carfax report on your vin and check where the car was originally titled. Like you said, the original owner most likely had to drive the car in severe weather and decided do upgrade to a LSD after he bought the car. Since ABS is a bit pricey to install and a pita for some to deal with, he/she skipped out on it.
some common checks for presence of a LSD:
- orange sticker by oil fill hole
- jack up rear end and spin wheel(s) while in gear, you should feel a good amount of resistance
- two wheel burnout
Actually, up until a few days ago I always thought my car (98se) had abs WITHOUT the lsd. The orange sticker wasn't there (or maybe it came off), not sure which way and how rear wheels should be spinning and I didn't want to salvage my tires, yet anyway. So two days ago i'm driving recklessly on an icy road and notice that there was a good amount of traction even though driver side of my lane was completely iced, apparently power was transferred to the other wheel.
what i would suggest is to order a carfax report on your vin and check where the car was originally titled. Like you said, the original owner most likely had to drive the car in severe weather and decided do upgrade to a LSD after he bought the car. Since ABS is a bit pricey to install and a pita for some to deal with, he/she skipped out on it.
some common checks for presence of a LSD:
- orange sticker by oil fill hole
- jack up rear end and spin wheel(s) while in gear, you should feel a good amount of resistance
- two wheel burnout
Actually, up until a few days ago I always thought my car (98se) had abs WITHOUT the lsd. The orange sticker wasn't there (or maybe it came off), not sure which way and how rear wheels should be spinning and I didn't want to salvage my tires, yet anyway. So two days ago i'm driving recklessly on an icy road and notice that there was a good amount of traction even though driver side of my lane was completely iced, apparently power was transferred to the other wheel.
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boarder445us
- Posts: 127
- Joined: Thu Jan 02, 2003 3:36 pm
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NEED4BOOST
- Posts: 251
- Joined: Mon Jan 20, 2003 8:13 am
need4boost
you don't have it
You said you entered a turn and gave it power, the power went to the inner wheel. I know it sucks, I have a 98 SE with the 5 lug blah blah
ABS/LSD is much rarer than we all wish. I spent 6 months on the market before I ever got my car, everybody advertises there car as having it, but when you begin questioning them about things, it ends up none of the cars ever have it. One last check you can do, get down on the ground behind your car. Look up at the differential and see if there are any cooling fins on the diff. They ought to be a light colored metal. If you don't welcome to the world of open differentials!
Go find a J30 diff and HURRY@!
Just don't take one that I'm looking for, I'm in houston, so if you're nearby you better stay away man!
you don't have it
You said you entered a turn and gave it power, the power went to the inner wheel. I know it sucks, I have a 98 SE with the 5 lug blah blah
ABS/LSD is much rarer than we all wish. I spent 6 months on the market before I ever got my car, everybody advertises there car as having it, but when you begin questioning them about things, it ends up none of the cars ever have it. One last check you can do, get down on the ground behind your car. Look up at the differential and see if there are any cooling fins on the diff. They ought to be a light colored metal. If you don't welcome to the world of open differentials!
Go find a J30 diff and HURRY@!
Just don't take one that I'm looking for, I'm in houston, so if you're nearby you better stay away man!