Seeking LSD for DD/A-X S13

All over the world, Nissan products are involved in road racing, track days, time attack and autocross.
Matina210
Posts: 26
Joined: Fri Oct 17, 2008 9:38 am
Car: 1980 Datsun 210, 1992 Nissan 240SX, 2008 Lancer Evolution X
Former car: 1996 240SX SE
Location: SE Virginia

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I have a 1992 (S13) 240SX hatchback with HKS coil-overs, DC Sports header, and other minor bolt-ons.
I’m here to ask for info on different limited-slip units, because it needs one.

Yes, I did a search, and noticed most of the discussions are old:
search.php?keywords=%2Bdifferential+%2B ... mit=Search
http://www.sccaforums.com/forums/aft/26909
http://nissanroadracing.com/archive/ind ... -2845.html
http://zilvia.net/f/showthread.php?t=45791
f-a-q-read-here-first-t132642.html#1349919 Yeah, I know what autocross is.
topic341455.html?hilit=helical

My (somewhat) brief history:
I’ve been autocrossing on and off since 1997.
From 2001 to 2007 I autocrossed a 1996 (S14) 240SX SE with ABS and VLSD.
I actually ran it in the STS class (back when that stood for “Street Touring, Street tire”) for a few years, with no mods but a custom cat-back and front camber bolts. It looked competitive until someone showed up in a Saturn with coil-overs and every other allowable modification for the class.

I got the 1992 hatchback in 2006, and it was barely in good enough condition to drive it, much less autocross.
In 2008 my wife was driving the S14 and it got rear-ended, totaled, and sold.

I started autocross again, and have put a lot of money and effort into trying to make the 1992 car as good as the 1996 car my wife rekt. It still has an open diff, so on a lot of courses it’s still a wheel-spinning mess.

I took a break from autocross, and now that I’m getting back into it I find the STC class doesn’t exist any more. A Street Touring 240SX has to run in STX, the domain of the ITR, WRX, and (what is faster locally) BMW 328i and 330i.

I’ve looked at results from my 3 events this year, and I have to be 7% faster to beat the next slowest guy in STX. I have to be 12% faster to challenge the leading BMWs.

The last 2 events I’ve had instructors ride with me and tell me I have a good line, and I’m good at keeping the car under control. (They tell me this as my open differential spins one wheel and causes the car to swing off of my intended line.)

STX rules allow 2WD competitors to use whatever limited-slip they want, and I’m getting the idea that no one is impressed with the viscous LSD.

My 240SX is a street car that goes racing sometimes, so I need an LSD that’s quiet, and engages smoothly.

I think I want a pre-loaded helical gear differential.
That’s not a Quaife, is it? I was considering Quaife, but…
I also read one guy’s description saying he has a Quaife in his car, and if one tire has no traction (such as on snow or ice) that tire spins and the car doesn’t go anywhere.
SO, who’s selling a pre-loaded helical diff for a 240SX these days?
My google search turned up OBX and Quaife, which I’m pretty sure aren’t pre-loaded types.

My next choice would be a clutch-type 1.5-way differential.
I’d like it to have 30% to 40% lock, or if it’s going to lock more than that I need it to engage really smoothly.
Would the OS Giken fit that description?
I can still find the OS Giken Super-Lock and the Nismo LSD for sale, and the prices don’t seem to have changed.
http://www.240sxmotoring.com/os-giken-s ... 0sx-89-98/
http://www.courtesyparts.com/nismo/nism ... 8420-rs661

My searches on this forum have turned up some talk about aftermarket LSDs making clicking or popping noises.
For the price, the OS Giken better not do that.
Does the Nismo LSD do that?
The description doesn’t tell me the percent lock. I would guess that it’s a 2-way. Can anyone here tell me for sure?

Also, does anyone know a shop in the Chesapeake, VA area that does good work on Nissan diffs?


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2_Liter_Turbo
Posts: 2980
Joined: Sat Jan 24, 2004 10:41 am
Car: _________________
'96 S14 Coupe: SR20VET
'90 R32 TH1 GTR: RB26DETT
'92 S13 Fastback: SR20DET
'11 V36 Sedan: VQ25HR
'06 GMT800 2500HD: LBZ Duramax
Location: DFW, Texas
Contact:

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For Auto-X cars that are daily drivers there are two diffs that I would recommend. On the cheap side, get an S15 Helical. This should cost you around $600-$800 after everything is said and done. It's an OEM diff that is very quiet and very effective. I don't see much reasoning to buy a Quaife when you can get an OEM helical, other than buying new vs used. Just my opinion.

If you can spend the money (about double the S15 HLSD's cost) and want the best diff possible, get the 1.5 way OS Giken. It's much quieter than the Kaaz (know this for personal experience) and other lower priced 1.5 way clutch LSDs. If you are aiming to be very competitive, spend the extra $100 on having OS Giken custom "tune" the diff before they send it to you.

The Nismo diff is a good, but it's pretty loud.

Matina210
Posts: 26
Joined: Fri Oct 17, 2008 9:38 am
Car: 1980 Datsun 210, 1992 Nissan 240SX, 2008 Lancer Evolution X
Former car: 1996 240SX SE
Location: SE Virginia

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The Nismo diff is loud? I wouldn't have thought it. I'm glad you told me!

What can you tell me about this tuning OS Giken does?

This morning I talked face-to-face with someone that has the OS Giken in his Mazda, and he loves it.
Also, he called OS Giken to ask about how often to change the oil for it.
The guy at OS Giken said that the diff needs its first oil change at 500 miles.
After that, if it's in a street car, you change the oil at the factory intervals.
If it's a track car, he recommended changing the oil every 2 events.
(If I'm autocrossing, maybe I need to change diff oil every year.)

He said the reason most lower-priced clutch-type LSDs need oil changes so often is they're usually locked by default. It takes a certain amount of force to make them slip. (I'm guessing that's also the reason for clutch chatter.)
The OS Giken LSD is actually open by default, and starts to lock when a wheel spins.
That not only sounds better for the longevity of the parts, but also for daily driving manners.

I'm pretty sure I want the OS Giken now. :D

User avatar
2_Liter_Turbo
Posts: 2980
Joined: Sat Jan 24, 2004 10:41 am
Car: _________________
'96 S14 Coupe: SR20VET
'90 R32 TH1 GTR: RB26DETT
'92 S13 Fastback: SR20DET
'11 V36 Sedan: VQ25HR
'06 GMT800 2500HD: LBZ Duramax
Location: DFW, Texas
Contact:

Post

The factory settings on the OS Giken are meant for everyday daily driven 240s. The "tune" is the level of applied tq to make it lock, and things of that nature. That's why it's not a bad idea to talk to them about if having it tuned is a good idea for your application. I make a lot more power than a factory SR20, so I got it "tuned". I haven't installed the diff yet, so my only experience with an OS so far is from a buddy of mine who've I've been in his car on track with. It was a million times better than my Kaaz. He had a Nismo unit prior to his OS Giken and when he went for a ride along with me, he said my Kaaz sounded just like his old Nismo diff.

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AZhitman
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Joined: Mon Apr 29, 2002 2:04 am
Car: 58 L210, 63 Bluebird RHD, 64 NL320, 65 SPL310, 66 411 RHD, 67 WRL411, 68 510 SR20, 75 280Z RB25, 77 620 SR20, 79 B310, 90 S13, 92 SE-R, 92 Silvia Qs, 98 S14.
Location: Surprise, Arizona
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I had an R32 helical in my S13.

Matina210
Posts: 26
Joined: Fri Oct 17, 2008 9:38 am
Car: 1980 Datsun 210, 1992 Nissan 240SX, 2008 Lancer Evolution X
Former car: 1996 240SX SE
Location: SE Virginia

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^ Is that from the front of a GT-R, or the rear of a GTS-T, or what?

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AZhitman
Administrator
Posts: 71061
Joined: Mon Apr 29, 2002 2:04 am
Car: 58 L210, 63 Bluebird RHD, 64 NL320, 65 SPL310, 66 411 RHD, 67 WRL411, 68 510 SR20, 75 280Z RB25, 77 620 SR20, 79 B310, 90 S13, 92 SE-R, 92 Silvia Qs, 98 S14.
Location: Surprise, Arizona
Contact:

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My mistake - It was from an S15.

(Different car had the GTR LSD).


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