Few Quick Questions About R33 Lsd...

[arrydjay]

Hey guys,

So my R33 GTST came with the Active LSD system. Since I want to go drifting I ripped it all out and replaced it with a regular viscous LSD and just shimmed the fark out of it.

When bolting it back together I have run into a snag. The half shafts on the A-LSD are threaded so the bolts just go through the axles and into the half shafts.

The new half shafts are not threaded, so how are they set up from factory? Do they just have a nut on the end? does the end go on the half shaft side or the axle side?

Also the A-LSD had two sensors coming out of it...I think they are temp sensors or something, the new diff just has one.... Should I just splice the four wires into two and connect up the new sensor?

[GTSBoy]

You deliberately put a viscous diff in your car? Put down the crack pipe!

[arrydjay]

If you had ever experienced an A-LSD you would know why....may have been good when new but mine was downright dangerous for drifting...it would single spin most of the time, but every now and then it would just go bang and kick out... Eventually I'm going to get a 2-way but they can't go into the a-LSD housing anyway so I had to swap it out to the regular gtst diff. I just thought i would try and go with the shims first and see how it goes....if its shit I'll pull it out and drop a Kaaz or nismo in. I've figured out the bolts....all I need to know is what to do with the wiring..I'm thinking now I might just hook up one of the sensors.

[GTSBoy]

Your description of your A-LSD's behaviour matches with my experience of VLSD behaviour. I've not driven a "shimmed" VLSD, but the thing you have to understand is that you haven't changed the way the viscous coupling works by shimming it, you have just transferred the load out of the coupling and into the wear surface outside the coupling. It won't last, it has to wear the diff out.

Now, as to your other questions, I'm pretty sure that the normal bolts through the CVs to the halfshafts have nuts on them, with the nuts behind the halfshaft flanges - you couldn't push a bolt through from the diff side anyway, no room to do so. Also, can you put up pictures of the sensors you're talking about? The only sensors I'm used to seeing on Nissan diffs are the ABS sensors at the rear. Oh, and the speedo sensor on the S15 diff.

FWIW, I've just built a diff for my R32. S15 helical centre, 4.11 gears. It has transformed the car (from a total POS with the original VLSD). It may not suit drifters (but then, I wouldn't have said an R33 was a good choice for drifting either), but I would never choose a mechanical plate/clutch style diff over a helical based on my new found love for the predictable way the helical drives.

[arrydjay]

So yeah it's actually an ABS sensor...the old diff had 2 and the new diff had one...I just wired up the one but the ABS light is on.. I know how the shims work and i know that its just increasing preload, but it costs $20 so i just thought ide try it first. Just went for a drive and the diff is tight as f**k...I think I might have gone overboard with the shims...it's making some weird noises and vibrations..

Hopefully it loosens up a bit..

[GTSBoy]

So, does your new diff only have one ABS sensor mount, and only one trigger wheel behind the output shafts?

[arrydjay]

yeah has one ABS sensor... diff seems to have gotten a bit better, it was really noisy and shaky at first...its getting quieter and smoother the more i drive.

[arrydjay]

Just thought Id update that shimmed diffs are shit..

It was super tight at first and made all sorts of f*kt up noises....after a week it has settled down and doesn't make any noises any more but it also doesn't lock up dualies all the time.

On the brake it spins both and on left handers it spins both but right handers it peg legs for a bit and then goes. It's heaps better than the A-LSD but i would just rather a locker. I shimmed the hell out of it too with 3.3mm total preload.

[KiwiRS4T]

Get a proper mechanical LSD - they are not that expensive.