Help Me Chose a Differential
 

Hey all,
I've got a base 6mt without the sport package so I'm rocking an open rear diff. As fun as it is trying to merge into traffic while turning out of a parking lot *sarcasm* I'm ready to ditch the crap open diff. I'm considering my options and before I pull the trigger on something I'd appreciate some input and/or comments about other brands I could consider (I'm mostly set on a Quaife). I drive 95% on the street with some spirited canyon carving, but I plan on doing a few autocross events this year - mostly for the fun of it... not trying to be the world's best. This is mostly a daily driver so I'm not interested in having a diff that clunks its way around parking lots.

Quaife - $1600 including parts and install
Wavetrac - $2500 (quote from local nissan dealer, but it seems really high)
OS Geiken - $2200 including parts and install (I'm leaning away from this as it doesn't seem like a great solution for a daily driver - more track focused)

Any others I should consider?

So then... you have three styles to choose from, and then you have specific options for each diff as well.

Styles:

• Viscous Type (OEM Crap)
• Torsen Type (Gear Driven)
• Clutch Type (Bind under tight turns)

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Once you've chosen your desired type of Rear Diff (obvioiusly not the OEM viscous type), you must then choose how much lock-up you want across the axle.

Torsen types are fixed
Clutch type diff are adjustable

• 1-way (accel only)
• 1.5-way
• 2-way (accel and braking)

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Once you've decided THAT... you can then ask us which vendor and model seems most approriate for your needs.

Consequently, do you do track days or have other mods?

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Personally, i like the Torsen / Quaife diff. Requires no maintenance and doesn't bind under tight turns, or chatter.

But that's just my opinion, i could be wrong.

OH, and read this thread... its all the basics for what's necessary for a diff swap.

http://www.the370z.com/engine-drivet...al-thread.html

I am running the OSG and am very happy with it.

I love my quaife and I autox and daily it when its not winter. But it was a learning experience for me because of all the supporting parts needed for it coming from a base 6mt like you. I under budgeted when I bought it then payed the price when my diff bushing **** itself after 3 autox days. just look at the sticky thread.

What happened to your diff bushings?!?

Like the OEM ones aren't strong enough to handle the upgraded diff orrrr???

The OEM ones are liquid/gel filled & fail making a big mess. If you pull the Diff, make sure you upgrade the bushings or you will be pulling the diff again before you know it when they fail. Do it right, not again.

I personally am seriously considering Cusco LSD it comes in 1.5-2.0, also there is this Adjustable LSD available in order to change the different type of grab you prefer without removing ur lsd.

here read it for ur self Drive Train Catalog English page CUSCO

I got a quaife installed, with poly bushings, no issues :)

I have a Quaife and KAAZ clutch-pack diffs and unless you are an absolute track-junkie, you'll get tired of the plate diff fairly quickly so the Torsen style Quaife is going to be best for DD and occasional autox.

When the diff is out, replace the OEM bushes which are a real PoS.

With the Quaife, you will need to modify one drive flange - at least one of the vendors on this forum supplies the Quaife centre with the modified drive flange.

Be sure to order the Quaife for the 6MT because there is a different part number for the 7AT transmission.

This is all very helpful! I understand the differences between the types of diffs (gear, clutch, etc) and I've read through the threads here. I havent see. Im really leaning away from a clutch type since this is mostly a DD and I don't want to have to deal with the increased servicing on a clutch type. So if I get a gear driven model are there other options besides the Quaife? And does anyone have a better sense of what a wavetrac runs costwise? I will 100% cough up the extra $250 for the z1 install kit with the upgraded bushings.

Vivid sells the Wavetrac. It was about $1200 shipped. About the same price as the Quaife. I opted for the Quiafe.

wavetrac. it solves all the problems that the quaife has. traction for days!

$1200 sounds much better than the quote I got from my dealership. Also by solving problems of the quaife are people talking about the loss of traction when one wheel comes off the ground or are there other issues that it solves as well?

Explain... ??

This is news to me. I thought Quaife had the patent on torsen diff.

I shall research and return shortly...

:wtf2:

Their website explains it best. You probably already hit on it
Wavetrac® Differential - A torque biasing differential with a difference

This is the crux of it, though
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Precisely engineered wave profiles are placed on one side gear and its mating preload hub. As the two side gears rotate relative to each other, each wave surface climbs the other, causing them to move apart.
Very quickly, this creates enough internal load within the Wavetrac® to STOP the zero axle-load condition.

The zero axle-load condition is halted, and the drive torque is applied to the wheel on the ground (the gripping wheel)… keeping the power down.

Some gear differentials rely solely on preload springs to combat loss of drive. The drawback is that you can’t add enough preload to prevent loss of drive without creating tremendous handling and wear problems at the same time. So, to avoid these problems, the preload from ordinary spring packs must be reduced to a level that renders them ineffective at preventing loss of drive. The Wavetrac® is the only differential that can automatically add more load internally when it’s required.

In the case where both wheels are on the ground during zero axle load, such as during a transition to deceleration, the Wavetrac® device is able to prepare the drivetrain for when the zero torque condition stops, eliminating the delay seen with ordinary gear diffs.

What this means for you as a driver is that power is delivered to the gripping wheels for more time and in a more constant manner – making you faster and improving stability.
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Negative, American Vernon Gleasman would have that patent as they invented the technology. ;) There are a few other diff companies that have used this technology True-Trac, Eaton, Qualife to name a few

Well after a lot of deliberation I decided on the Quaife and its in the mail now. I almost chose the wavetrac but decided against it when I saw that I would need 2 shafts ($140 each) in addition to the higher price of the differential itself. I'll post up a review in a few weeks once I get it installed and have some seat time with it.

you definitely dont need 2 shafts. you dont even need a single new shaft. you can use your stock shaft and have it machined an inch off and it'll work just as well. your loss! i only know because i believe i'm the first person that pieced together a wavetrac on the boards :icon14:

Hmm, I'm not doubting you about that but why does the wavtrac website list them as required parts? Annoying, but I'm sure the Quaife is going to be hell of a lot better than the open diff I've got now...

ah didnt know you had an open diff. in that case, you would need to machine both your stock stubs

here's the post (definitive differential thread) for anyone who needs help in the future where i posted the differences

http://www.the370z.com/engine-drivet...ml#post3108999