Explain something to me plz...

[Dattebayo]

What's all the hubub about VLSD axles? I thought regular ones would work if the output shafts mated up...?

[evildky]

the vlsd used unequal length output shafts, and since the output shaft is a part of the cv axle assembly on Z31's that means you need the vlsd cv's to run the vlsd, as the n/a and clsd 's both mate to equal length output shafts

[Dattebayo]

Okay, I sort of understand, but let's talk about this:

If I take my R200 longneck and gut it, then throw in a Z32 VLSD carrier, which output shafts will I need to use and will I have to use different axles?

[evildky]

the output shafts ont eh Z31 are part of the cv shaft, and you will need to use the 88 SS cv's which have the unequal length output shafts, you'll also need the trouble companion flanges

and when you say "gut it" you have to use your long nose gears, which means the lash will need to be adjusted once you put the ring gear ont he new carrier and install it in the long nose case

basically it's not worth the drama, find an 87.5-89 donor with the better clsd which is a difrect bolt in

[Dattebayo]

the output shafts ont eh Z31 are part of the cv shaft, and you will need to use the 88 SS cv's which have the unequal length output shafts, you'll also need the trouble companion flanges

Oh I see what you mean. It doesn't have the 5-star bolt thing that the Z32 has... it's just a CV axle and some kind of universal joint, right?

and when you say "gut it" you have to use your long nose gears, which means the lash will need to be adjusted once you put the ring gear on the new carrier and install it in the long nose case

You mean the part with the worm gear that connects to the driveshaft?

basically it's not worth the drama, find an 87.5-89 donor with the better clsd which is a difrect bolt in

Are you saying that any 87.5 and up had the CLSD or what?

[evildky]

oh boy...

both cars use cv shafts, but the Z32 uses an output shaft that the cv shaft bolts to, the Z31 uses output shafts that are part of the cv shaft, U joints are only in your driveshaft (S30's and some S130's had U joints intheir axles but all Z31's and newer use CV shafts)

there is no worm gear, there si a ring gear and a pinion gear, the ring gear si the one that bolts to the differential carrier, it is made to work wiht a specific pinion gear, and the pinior gear for the short nose case is shorter than the pinion gear on the long nose case hense the length of the different diff cases, so if you change your carrier you have to run the propper ring gear to match the pinion gear andevne then it needs to be adjusted using shims

all 87.5-89 Z31 turbo's came fomr the factory with a clutch type R200 except the 88 ss (also known as the SE or Shiro edition) which came with the Viscous LSD

[Dattebayo]

oh boy...

Well gee thanks for taking the time.

both cars use cv shafts, but the Z32 uses an output shaft that the cv shaft bolts to, the Z31 uses output shafts that are part of the cv shaft, U joints are only in your driveshaft (S30's and some S130's had U joints intheir axles but all Z31's and newer use CV shafts)

Good to know.

there is no worm gear, there si a ring gear and a pinion gear, the ring gear si the one that bolts to the differential carrier, it is made to work wiht a specific pinion gear, and the pinior gear for the short nose case is shorter than the pinion gear on the long nose case hense the length of the different diff cases, so if you change your carrier you have to run the propper ring gear to match the pinion gear andevne then it needs to be adjusted using shims

Pinion is what transfers the motion of the driveshaft onto the ring gear, correct? It sort of looked like a worm-gear to me.

Anyway moving along... I understand I have to swap the ring gear and pinion over as a package in order for things to work, but how do you shim the pinion? It's not really visible when the carrier is there, so what's the secret?

all 87.5-89 Z31 turbo's came fomr the factory with a clutch type R200 except the 88 ss (also known as the SE or Shiro edition) which came with the Viscous LSD

Cool. It's not really easy to find these CLSDs tho. eBay is asking for $850 for one.

[evildky]

I didn't say they were cheap but that for the rouble and expense of swappin the vlsd in the difference for the firect bolt in is negligable imho, and if you are patient andkeep your eyes otu deals happen, I got a whole parts car somplete with clsd for $500, and one I located at a junkyard for $150

a worm gear is a culinder shape, the pinion gear is more of a cone andof course has a shaft that the pinion flange bolt to

you don't have to chim the pinion as the depth shoudl not change, you have to shim the carrier to get it centered ont he gear, any 4 wheel drive shop can do this for an hour or 2 labor (further narrowing the cost gap to the clsd)

and you don't swpa the ring and pinion over, you keep the ring and pinion form the long snout case as the short snout version will nto wotk int he long snout case, so you have to put your long snout ring gear on the carrier from the short snout, let me break this down

to put the vsld fomr a Z32 n/a or whatever into a Z31 you need to:1. remove the vlsd carrier fomr the short nose case2. remove the ring gear form the vlsd carrier3. remove the carrier fomr the long nose carrier4. remove the ring gear form the long nose carrier5, install the long nose ring gear ont the vlsd carrierinstall the vsld carrier in the long nose case6.run a gear patter and measure backlash7. shim the carrier to get propper backlash and gear wear pattern8. change companion flanges to 88ss9. install vlsd cv shafts form an 88ss