RB25 Driveline/suspension

[redscoob]

hi im new to the nissan world as of right now i have a 02 wrx with a full sti swap (6spd,axels,hubs,diff and the ej2.5l on 22psi) but im selling it to build a s13 with a rb25. ive done tons of reading this swap but i dont see that many topics on what people run for suspension on this set up. also what rear diff they are using. im looking to be pushing 400 to 500whp on the rb25. what do people run for a rear diff to take that power. in the end this is goin to be a track car i mostly want to get into drift and do some drag. thanks

[Coolwhip]

The stock rear end on the S chassis (s13 and s14) the R200 is up to the task. You will want to look into a nice 1.5 or 2 way LSD that suites your desires (too many to list and go through as far as specs).

The axles and hubs are all stout but for repeated abuse you will run the risk of ownage to these parts. There are companies that offer upgraded axles and some that supply hubs and output shafts as well. Mazmorx and LS Auto are some companies that come to mind.

Others have taken the route of changing the R200 rear to a R230 that uses more spines on the shafts. So a Z32 TT and Q45 rear ends are sought after during that process.

But if your tires slip and your account into your suspension as little wheel hop as possible you'll find yourself with a happy R200 rear end with a proper LSD to keep everything grabbing.

[Coolwhip]

opps, sorry for the excessive jargon but you will be able to find further details and better explaination with searching those terms and parts. Good luck

[rb25drag]

Awesome wrx setup!!!

Ok here we go: Drift and Drag is going to be 2 totally different setups suspention wise. Your not going to be able to do both well. You can set it up to either Drift really well/ Drag really well or both just ok. Your going to look into a good set of coilovers, Everyone has there own style of driving and there own set of coilovers they prefer. Your going to pick between Tein, cusco, Tanable, Apexi, Megan ETC. I can go on all day. But your going to want a good stiff setup for drift. Drag on the other hand your going to want a soft rear so you can load the suspention on the launch and with my experience on the track I think a stiff front setup is going to help out alot to because I have alot of front end bouncing from the launch and as I shift, Going stiff will help prevent that in the front.

AS far as rear ends, People have there own personal experience there too. I personaly like my welded Stock differential. Although they say people are running 400WHP easily with no problems, I have not got to a dyno yet but I snapped both my axles at the track. So again you can go with a LSD of your choice, I hear the q45 differential will work, I think only one bolt or bracket needs to be modified. But then you get into brake and caliper setups which can cost an arm load. But you need to have good qualitly parts when it comes to the rear ends and brakes. Dont skip no threads there.

I personaly am going to have 650+WHP next year on the drag strip and I already have brembo brakes and stuff Im not going to change. SO im taking the stock rear end and putting beefy axles back in it. It should hold fine.

SO really the only advice I can give is my personal experience...

Suspention is tricky, But with the right combo you can make a huge adjustment.

[240wootie]

drop a chevy LSx in it... way more power for the same amount of money spent doing the RB swap. especially if you are going to be building a high-power drag motor. just my $.02 and yes.. the suspension is totally different, just go with a good in between or lean toward the setup you are going to use most..

btw- welcome to NICO!!

[rb25drag]

If I had it to do over again v8 has my vote for the price and weight difference and your able to find parts.

[redscoob]

would a v8 work well for a drift car?

how much does the v8 weigh compared to the rb25?
Modified by redscoob at 8:21 PM 10/9/2007

[Darius]

Hell yes! And they are similar in weight. Ask Kamin

[Joe]

its not even close to similar, it weighs less

i love my ls1, and would do it again in a heartbeat. (i used to have a rb25)

but be warned, it is NOT like a RB swap.

[Adrian gt]

hi im new to the nissan world as of right now i have a 02 wrx with a full sti swap (6spd,axels,hubs,diff and the ej2.5l on 22psi) but im selling it to build a s13 with a rb25. ive done tons of reading this swap but i dont see that many topics on what people run for suspension on this set up. also what rear diff they are using. im looking to be pushing 400 to 500whp on the rb25. what do people run for a rear diff to take that power. in the end this is goin to be a track car i mostly want to get into drift and do some drag. thanks

coming from a subaru shop i understand your diff and rear axle breaking concern I've seen stock STIs break them but for the most part they don't on the 240s. only if you have sticky slicks and side step a 6puck or something

[Adrian gt]

its not even close to similar, it weighs less

i love my ls1, and would do it again in a heartbeat. (i used to have a rb25)

but be warned, it is NOT like a RB swap.

RB swaps get more ladies?

[rb25drag]

According to wat LS you go with, The all aluminum 427 from summit racing only weighs 355lbs complete minus transmission. My Rb weighs a good 650+ without the transmission. So if you go all aluminum I would say a good 250-300lbs. The RB does attract more attention!!!!

[eh?]

650lbs? Is your block made out of depleted uranium?

[l0nestar]

Nope - 18k gold!

Trying to think of a 'RB-Sock' tie-in.. I KNOW there is one somewhere.. CoolWhip, I need your help!

[redscoob]

when all said and done how much would you spend on a ls1 conversion compared to the rb25.

yeah ive blown the rear diff 2 time's now in my sti. but on all season street tires i can pull 1.56 in the 60ft ill miss my subby

i know it would be an involved swap for the ls1 but i have the whole winter to do this. but if i do this i am deff going to do a twin turbo setup on it. what can a ls1 engine handle for power?

im looking at a 8,000 budget to get rolling i understand s*** happens on the track and i know ill spending alot more but this is to do the build including the car/cage/suspension
Modified by redscoob at 7:44 AM 10/10/2007

[Chaos the Xile]

4-500 target horsepower your stock diff prolly won't hold up, do what i did and get the rear end out of a GTS-t R33 Skyline and axels. they can handle more power and I abused mine on a daily, hi revving drops and a little drifting and drag. that setup was handling 467WHP on 25PSI no problem

[Coolwhip]

Nope - 18k gold!

Trying to think of a 'RB-Sock' tie-in.. I KNOW there is one somewhere.. CoolWhip, I need your help!

The RB SOCK MONKEY says, "I pitty the foo that say my socks weight 800lbs"

[gawdzilla]

if you're still considering body AND motor, try FC/FD with LSx motor. FCs are dirt cheap and FDs probably look better than any s13/14. kits for doing v8s to the FC/FD are a lot more developed than for the S chassis' right now.

IMO alot of the "coolness" of doing the RB swap is cuz its nissan to nissan.

basically what you end up with is either a poor man's vette or a poor man's skyline.

[otis]

if you're still considering body AND motor, try FC/FD with LSx motor. FCs are dirt cheap and FDs probably look better than any s13/14. kits for doing v8s to the FC/FD are a lot more developed than for the S chassis' right now.

IMO alot of the "coolness" of doing the RB swap is cuz its nissan to nissan.

basically what you end up with is either a poor man's vette or a poor man's skyline.

FD's definitely look better than any s13/s14 IMO. i read several times on rx7club that the ls1 swap into an rx7 would cost anywhere from 15k to 20k dollars including the motor, not including the car of course. i personally like the concept of the "poor mans skyline"

[gawdzilla]

that depends how you want to look at it... half of what makes a skyline a skyline IMO is awd

[otis]

that depends how you want to look at it... half of what makes a skyline a skyline IMO is awd

Well, a GTR skyline at least....

[redscoob]

i just read the thread on your build to start off i think i will go with the rb25. the v8 build would be great but i dont think its going to fit my budget of 8,000 without slacking in other areas.
Modified by redscoob at 12:38 PM 10/10/2007

[rb25drag]

The Ls swap is going to be a whole lot cheaper than a RB swap. By the time you go threw the engine to freshen it up and get all the needed accessories your looking at 10+K to just start on the RB. The Rb you looking at 5 grand for the swap another 5 grand to build the motor not counting turbo upgrade, manifold intercooler, BOV, wastegate,ETC. Now you have not even started on the suspention, Vs a LS you guy buy a brand new built 400-500 horse motor for 5- 8 grand and now you have a few dollars to spend on suspention. Plus in the V8 you dot have to get someone to tune it and take a chance on them screwing it up and you can do the wiring your self.

Not dissing the RB its a great motor and is worth every dime. But your not going to do a nice swap and engine build for 8 grand. The RB is the most expensive motor you can build.

So get prices on everything you are going to need on both swaps before buying one or the other. Also look at the future breakage. You can re-build a v8 3 times to the price of 1 RB build. And with that kind of power you are going to break parts.

Just advising to be wise!!!! Think it all threw first.

[Joe]

Plus in the V8 you dot have to get someone to tune it and take a chance on them screwing it up and you can do the wiring your self.

yes you do. the ecu *MUST* be touched by a third party or the swap will never start (its called VATS, vehicle anti theft system).

the factory programming is *** anyway, you WANT a tune even if its bone stock. if you cam it, you MUST have a tune or youll ruin the engine.

and you can do RB wiring on your own too. thats way WAY WAY easier than unlooming a ls1 harness and rebuilding it. it took me a solid 2 days to do my harness.

i just read the thread on your build to start off i think i will go with the rb25. the v8 build would be great but i dont think its going to fit my budget of 8,000 without slacking in other areas.

Modified by redscoob at 12:38 PM 10/10/2007

your not gonna get a RB to 400whp with 8k. not possible. your swap is going to cost you 5k alone. 3k is BARELY enough for turbo, manifold, injectors, standalone and a tune. thats a half assed way of making big power.

The RB does attract more attention!!!!

like hell it does. people looked at my car funny when it had the RB in it. people FLOCK to my car at the track with the ls1. it draws way WAY more attention and its from a completely different crowd (not the 16 year old poser kid who says he is going to be building a drift car and be a pro drifter type of person)

edit: oh yea a R200 (240sx) rear end will hold up fine to 400whp. just put a good diff in it (see: anything but a VLSD) and youll be fine. i have a Kaaz. have over 2500 track miles on it (drift and grip), and its been in with the ls1 @ 400whp and have had 0 issues with it since day 1. just gotta keep up on your fluid changes!