To weld, or NOT to weld...

[KATwo40sx]

I'm seriously considering welding my differential. Most of the people with whom I've spoken about this swear that they can corner harder than they could with the open diff, and that the breakout is quite predictable. They say the only drawbacks are wet road issues, which I suspect would be the same with a VLSD or a helical unit.

Anyhow, please, provide your input based on personal experience, rather than, "Dude, it's gonna eat your tires so fast and your axles will break and the moon might fall out of the sky onto your car and, by the way, I've never owned a car with any type of rear differential at all."

Thanks in advance!

[TonyBolton]

A welded diff will hurt your cornering performance more than help. A true/quality limited slip will transfer power to the tire with most traction(the OUTSIDE tire on a turn).

The welded diff will just turn both tires at the same speed and make the car want to understeer more heavily(by allowing both tires to turn at the same speed), thus pushing the car in the turn outward, instead of using one to help turn the car.

Welded diff=a week of cool stuff then followed by regret.

[KATwo40sx]

Ok, then I guess I'll hold out for the helical unit for $375.00

You and your "good sense"...robbing me of all fun!

[not cbring]

Lot of drift folks weld their diff, no?

[Maverick7687]

You could get the VLSD from a z32, the N/A version. That's what I did, same gearing, you just need pre-1995 Infiniti J30 axles OR the 6 bolt output shafts for the dif.

[92GSR HB]

isnt welding the diff just like turning ur open diff to a poor man spool style diff which only helps straight line not cornering?

[Mayhem]

I will put my 2 cents in, but I will also add my expreience with it is in a 4 wheel drive app. If it is not a daily driver then cost wise it is not a horrible solution. However for what I assume it's intended purpose it will ultimately not be the way to go for the sake of you will not always be going in a straight line. You will have the outer wheel fighting the inner wheel as far as speed goes so you will only affect yourself negatively. I am sure this makes no sense as I just got back from spending the night with Captain Morgan

[KATwo40sx]

^^^ It makes sense, thanks.

My main concerns with it were:

1. Cornering impact
2. Wife impact

So, given that, I think I'll hold out for a helical unit. OBX makes a direct drop in replacement for under $400, which doesn't require any axle changes, special VLSD fluid, and it's new with a warranty. Most used VLSD's for this car run in the $300-350 range, sometimes excluding the cost of the axles.

Thanks all for the input. Very much appreciated.

[TonyBolton]

Is this a clutch type LSD, or gear?

[KATwo40sx]

Edit: not clutch type, sorry. But that's ok.

[not cbring]

I don't know much about aftermarket options for that car, but my advice would be to stay away from the VLSD. Just like you said you plan to do...

[supercompact]

^^^ It makes sense, thanks.

My main concerns with it were:

1. Cornering impact
2. Wife impact

I recommend throwing the diff at her if you want good Wife impact. This is just my personal experience. :chair:

Can you get your hands on a free or cheap stock unit and weld it up so you can go back later if you regret it?

[Maverick7687]

I got my z32 LSD for $20 from a friend that had two of them. If you can find one at a decent price, that's the way I would go. I can get the axles for about $140 total.

[Your Mother]

No offense, but VLSDs are almost worthless. May as well be open.

[K-townDSM]

Haha... Yeah I haven't had experience in welded up one but.... I was thinking of that myself but decided a J30 rearend would be better... Then once I get the J30 rearend in I am going to weld up the stock one so I can slap it on when I want to go drifting. I don't know about that whole vlsd sucks thing.. Cuz the g35 6speed coupes have them and when a younger customer brings it in. Both tires are very bald. So I wouldn't say thats a bad choice honestly.

[Maverick7687]

VLSD Most definately does NOT suck.. They are not the best, but they are way better than open dif. I have never experienced only one tire spinning in a VLSD car.

[not cbring]

I agree with Mom, they are marginally better than open.

VLSD Most definately does NOT suck.. They are not the best, but they are way better than open dif. I have never experienced only one tire spinning in a VLSD car.

If a 1.6 liter Miata with a fresh VLSD and street tires gets inside wheelspin coming out of turns on an autocross course, it probably isn't all that great of a diff.

[Maverick7687]

You can't base your opinion as a whole on one case...

If 2.4L and 3.0L Nissans get no single wheelspin.. it must be good...

[not cbring]

You can't base your opinion as a whole on one case...

If 2.4L and 3.0L Nissans get no single wheelspin.. it must be good...

Are they are on good tires? Are they cornering hard without scrubbing off all their speed on entry?

[K-townDSM]

Are they are on good tires? Are they cornering hard without scrubbing off all their speed on entry?


That goes back to the post about the miata that autocrosses... Maybe he needs better tires.... I have a buddy with a stock miata and all he does is beat it up. He will sit there and do burnouts up and down his driveway and he makes both tires spin.... :why:

[MADFairlady]

You could get the VLSD from a z32, the N/A version. That's what I did, same gearing, you just need pre-1995 Infiniti J30 axles OR the 6 bolt output shafts for the dif.Listen to this guy.

[K-townDSM]

Listen to this guy.


I would but I can't hear him. I can only read what he posts. lol Just playing... I want to put the J30 in mine just for the gearing. Then I could shift at 45 mph in 1st! lol

[not cbring]

That goes back to the post about the miata that autocrosses... Maybe he needs better tires.... I have a buddy with a stock miata and all he does is beat it up. He will sit there and do burnouts up and down his driveway and he makes both tires spin.... :why:

Better tires are going to magnify the weakness in the diff. Put good tires on it and hammer it out of a corner and the inside will spin.

[K-townDSM]

Ok ok your right on that..... But why is my friends stock miata spins both tires? :why:

[Maverick7687]

I would but I can't hear him. I can only read what he posts. lol Just playing... I want to put the J30 in mine just for the gearing. Then I could shift at 45 mph in 1st! lol

IIRC the J30 VLSD is also the same as the one that is in the z32 and the Hicas 240s. They all use (as well as the Q45 and a few other Infiniti's) the R200(v) Dif. I just looked this up on NICO and there were quite a few posts saying they were all the same. Although I did see one that said the J30 had a taller ratio, the majority was that they all are the same.

EDIT: After more reading I did see another post stating that the J30 dif was 4% taller than the others.

[ross]

I would but I can't hear him. I can only read what he posts. lol Just playing... I want to put the J30 in mine just for the gearing. Then I could shift at 45 mph in 1st! lol

i can see why everyone hates you

[TonyBolton]

i can see why everyone hates you

:rofl: :rofl4: :lol:

[supercompact]

A miata probably doesn't make enough torque to make the fluid of a VLSD lock up.

[K-townDSM]

i can see why everyone hates you


Oh wait... OHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Wait a minute??? Someone hates me? Are you sure your not mistaken me as someone else? :why: