Shimming an R200 or J30 vlsd

[holslut s13]

I added a .80mm washer to mine, which IIRC is one of the smaller sizes and my j30 is pretty much locked up 100% of the time. Use a smaller washer if you don't want an essentially welded diff.

[240SilviaX]

So I tried to stick the 96 J30 vlsd with the open diffs 93 240sx ring gear (to maintain the 4.08 gear ratio instead of the 3.96 J30s) into the 240 S13 carrier and with the same shimming (diff bearing race) as the open diff the gears meshed perfectly, checked with that yellow paint. The left (short) shaft fit perfectly but the right (long) doesn't. It sticks out about a 1/4" to 1/2" out from the seal. I don't want to install it that way compressing the axle. So does anyone have any ideas? Or do I just have to use the J30 ring gear (3.96 ratio) which is fatter making the diff bearing shimming position to the stock point causing the axle output shafts to fit?

[240SilviaX]

So I have figured out the problem, made everything fit with the 4.08 ratio w/ the J30 axle output shafts, and ordered the last 1.43mm (0.0563) 38424-40F81 shim in the US (according to the parts guy @ Surf city Nissan) and I tried to order the 1.37 (0.0539) 38424-40F79 and that one was not available. But for only $5.93 can go wrong. Cant wait for the part to get here so I can finish this lil project. I also got the JDM style diff cover from FRsport with the xtra fins, and some SS brake lines for my Q brakes.

[KoolAidMan687]

i did this and then my ring and pinion gear straight blew up, it worked amazing as a LSD though

[240SilviaX]

What did you do? Cuz i mentioned a few things.Or you just shimmed the diff?

[EvoVIII808]

Just did mine.
J30 VLSD
Stock Shim size : 1.27 -1.30 on the micrometer (kept bouncing around, went down to 1.25 once). I picked up the .08 and the 1.01. Tried to put both of them on but the 2 screws didnt seat properly, so i decided to use just 1 shim.
I went with the 1.01, on top of the stock. Its not fully locked, but it does skip the tires when turning at low speeds. Havn't done the break in process yet (installed and drove home 5miles.)

[koukistylejdm]

Originally Posted by UNISA JECS

Just felt like adding some other pics I though would be nice to include on this thread:

2003 350z

Ive did that mod with the thikiest shim on top of the existing one and we had to ask a machine shop to reproduce thinier shims for the one on #21 in that pic just as an info..... 3 years rocking on this, and the ratcheting sound never stopped, still looking strong imo and def the best 4$ i have spend in my life

[240SilviaX]

# 21 is the carrier bearing shim for meshing the ring and pinion/spacing of the vlsd unit in the carrier like if you changed to a different size ring gear like I did then you would need to mess with those..did you mean #14 and #17? are the thrust shims that tighten up the vlsd unit. @ Evo808 my stock shim size out of my J30 was 1.13 and the other one around a .80. I think every J30 has its own diff sizes from the factory. What I did cuz I didnt want such an aggressive rear end (canyon/mountains) is measured the slack with the stock shims in place with a feeler gauge. so there was .20mm in slack and I added up the 1.13 shim size and added .10 more for stiffen it up and got 1.43... 1.13+.20+.10=1.43 and conveniently there is a 1.43 shim and went and ordered. I have only driven the car around the neighborhood with no chirping or ratcheting. Still need to go on a better test drive w/o a slipping clutch to get a better feel of this diff. plus I still have the other shim that I replaced and if needed to tighten up a lil more I can pop it in. Who else is running a different gear ratio on the J30 vlsds 3.96. I have the 4.08 ring off the open.

[EvoVIII808]

Mine was a 49:12


I didn't really do any measuring or anything. Just sized up the gap, and threw the 1.01 in.
I still have the .80, but as of right now i dont need it. Once this one gets broken in ill see if i want to lock it up more.

[240SilviaX]

So since the 3.96 (47:12) gear being thicker than the 4.08 (49:12) gear, the ring and pinion spacing needed to be changed to mesh correctly. On mine the vlsd unit had to be spaced onto the other side of the carrier by arranging the bearing spacers. doing that one axle output shaft stuck out about a 1/2" cuz of the different spacing, anyone else had that problem?

[koukistylejdm]

no the # 17 is where i added the shim, after that the pumpkin didnt fit back in its hole so i asked the machine shop to made 3 diffrent size thiner than the one that was there ... i just dropped in the one thats fitted there

[koukistylejdm]

and btw when we did that we didnt measure nothing just put a 1.xx shim into it

if it doesnt fit back in swap one of the #21 shims for something thiner thats it (chow bye)

[240SilviaX]

Adding a #17 shim shouldn't add width to the pumpkin itself since when you torque the ring gear bolts it goes back to the stock width specifications since its compresses the internals which gives you the after market lsd feeling. unless you have a gap and the punkin is not completely together. Mine took the same bearing shim sizes. They are supposed to be tight against the races. Did you use oil when installing them? cuz they wont go in when dry. In the FSM they show that they use a #21 shim installation tool that you use a hammer to tap them in. Hopefully your bearings are close within stock specifications and wont wobble around in there cuz of the smaller shim space.

[240SilviaX]

[QUOTE=EvoVIII808;4942329]Mine was a 49:12


Did you use the J30 axle output shafts with the J30 vlsd with a 240 open ring gear. Cuz I had to machine my axle shaft to fit.

[EvoVIII808]

Not sure, it had the J30 in it when i got the car. i just opened it up, threw the shim in, put it back together and drove off. haha
ill see if i can get more info on it.

[iRONDONkey]

anyone still rocking this?

how has it been?

[HyperVerbal]

running 4 shims. 2 on each side of the diff. j30 vlsd and jdm silvia vlsd shafts not compatible with eachother. 300zx and j30 share same internals. will post update.

[NJs13_1993]

Subscribed so I can find this later for my s13 haha. Thanks for the write up

[240SilviaX]

Originally Posted by iRONDONkey

anyone still rocking this?

how has it been?

Yea, sould of installed a thicker shim. But I have the original shim Im going to stack on cuz I was to conservative on the shim size

[240SilviaX]

Mine does not lock up @ all, it does when the car is in the air but the weight of the car easily makes them slip

[iRONDONkey]

Originally Posted by 240SilviaX

So I tried to stick the 96 J30 vlsd with the open diffs 93 240sx ring gear (to maintain the 4.08 gear ratio instead of the 3.96 J30s) into the 240 S13 carrier and with the same shimming (diff bearing race) as the open diff the gears meshed perfectly, checked with that yellow paint. The left (short) shaft fit perfectly but the right (long) doesn't. It sticks out about a 1/4" to 1/2" out from the seal. I don't want to install it that way compressing the axle. So does anyone have any ideas? Or do I just have to use the J30 ring gear (3.96 ratio) which is fatter making the diff bearing shimming position to the stock point causing the axle output shafts to fit?

i have this problem.

i'm using a j30 vsld, in a s13 pumpkin.

the long axle shaft won't sit flush, but the short fits fine.

how do i fix this?

[ultimateirving]

Originally Posted by iRONDONkey

i have this problem.

i'm using a j30 vsld, in a s13 pumpkin.

the long axle shaft won't sit flush, but the short fits fine.

how do i fix this?

Get the other short from the other pumpkin

[240SilviaX]

Originally Posted by iRONDONkey

i have this problem.

i'm using a j30 vsld, in a s13 pumpkin.

the long axle shaft won't sit flush, but the short fits fine.

how do i fix this?

I put the long shaft in a lathe and cut down the tapered spot where the seal rides (make sure you dont remove the spot the seal rides) and made a groove where the snap ring would fit in the new position. Read back a lil bit ^^

[240SilviaX]

Originally Posted by ultimateirving

Get the other short from the other pumpkin

The short one wont work if its from an open diff, he would need one from a 240 vlsd

[240SilviaX]

Oops I guess I didnt mention it,, but ya not recommended unless you have good mechanical experience and with lathes and know exactly where to cut it. Ill upload a pic when I can

[240SilviaX]

[IMG][/IMG]

[PJherring]

Originally Posted by 240SilviaX

Mine does not lock up @ all, it does when the car is in the air but the weight of the car easily makes them slip

How conservative where you on the shims? What was the total increase in shim width compared to the stock shims that where in there?

[240SilviaX]

Read reply #128

[240SilviaX]

Update ...it will lock up making left turns while getting on it when its wet ,, turning right its a lil harder to break it loose but my big tire size 255/40 zr17 will want to grip more than slip.. perfect for me in the canyons

[Bambi]

Going to bump...

Read the whole thread and by the looks of it everyone is using the J30.

BUT I just recently bought an original S13 VLSD. Has anyone who also has one shimmed there's? What size shim did you use? Stack or replace? Experince, etc.


I have it just sitting on a chair and am thinking of shimming it because the guy who had it before me really used it so I'm going to assume the silicone is pretty broken down by now and I don't want to put it in and be disappointed and pull it out again.



I DO NOT want a welded differential feel/act. I want something that can still get both wheels going and is okay to daily.