Kaaz Diff.?

import111 · 09-03-2009, 05:05 PM

Seeing that 1 370Z diff. has broken at the track and 1 or more that get tracked have been upgraded, I began searching for aftermarket diffs. Kaaz appears to be cheaper than the other big names. Is the quality there with Kaaz?

Coming from 2 AWD cars previously (01 Impreza 2.5RS and 05 STi) you would think I would know about diffs, but I don't know much in terms of quality. I know I want a clutch type for proper predictable engagement and I want a 1.5 way. I also don't plan to upgrade until the stock diff. breaks.

M.Bonanni · 09-03-2009, 07:41 PM

Kaaz is ok quality wise, but I think they only have a 2-Way LSD available for the 370Z, which is more for drifting really than road course driving. Also I have no personal experience with Kaaz LSDs, but I have heard they are a bit harsh for street driving. Although it is more money, I HIGHLY recommend the Carbonetic 1.5 way LSD. Driveability on the street is right up there with Quaife, but performance is up there with the best of the best I have ever tried. So basically its the best all around track/daily driver LSD I have tried, and I have tried, Nismo, Cusco, Quaife, and Carbonetic in my old 350Z and I have a Carbonetic one in my 370Z now.

import111 · 09-03-2009, 08:00 PM

Thanks for the reply. Yup, all I can find from Kaaz is 2 way diffs. I just did a bunch of searching on a 350Z forum and am leaning towards Cusco...though I don't think they have a diff. for the 370Z yet. The Carbonetic looks fantastic but my issue is how often the fluid needs to be changed with that diff.

the_student · 09-04-2009, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DDMotorsports

Kaaz is ok quality wise, but I think they only have a 2-Way LSD available for the 370Z, which is more for drifting really than road course driving. Also I have no personal experience with Kaaz LSDs, but I have heard they are a bit harsh for street driving. Although it is more money, I HIGHLY recommend the Carbonetic 1.5 way LSD. Driveability on the street is right up there with Quaife, but performance is up there with the best of the best I have ever tried. So basically its the best all around track/daily driver LSD I have tried, and I have tried, Nismo, Cusco, Quaife, and Carbonetic in my old 350Z and I have a Carbonetic one in my 370Z now.

I was wondering if you have any experience with Carbonetic's steel diffs. I assume that you are running and have been running their carbon lsd. Just interesed in the differences between the two.

M.Bonanni · 09-04-2009, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the_student

I was wondering if you have any experience with Carbonetic's steel diffs. I assume that you are running and have been running their carbon lsd. Just interesed in the differences between the two.

No I don't, but most metallic 1.5 way LSDs act pretty much the same from what I tried.

Z1Performance · 09-04-2009, 05:43 PM

A bit harsh is a gross understatement - it's very street unfriendly. Good budget oriented unit for the drifters, not ideal for anything else though

The nicest clutch type diff I've used to date in the Z's (I've used all of them except Drexler's) is the OS Giken. Very, very smooth operation, near silent operation, no funky break ins like the lesser models have, and doesn't need any exotic fluids or short change intervals. The machine work is amazing on their cases and the components. A touch more money than some other clutch type units, but ultimately worth the price of admission. If I had a true double duty (track/street) car, this would be what I choose. There are some extra parts that are needed for the install, but it's a straightforward afair and things just bolt in.

The Carbonetics units are very nice. The metal ones have a typical, clunky sort of feel to them. The carbon ones are far nicer. Downside is they aren't adjustable or customizable, the fluid they need is something you have to get from them (not expensive, but still, if you need it in a pinch), and it has short change intervals due to the carbon dust contaminating the oil. Mike can share his insight into the install in a 370Z, I haven't done one

Cusco's diffs are a nice unit too - a tick less money than OS Giken, but has to be ordered so there is a wait time. They use conventional fluids, are customizable for lockup and action (1.5 or 2 way), and no funky break in needed at all. I've run one in my 350z since 2005 and it's been great.

If your car is mainly street driven, maybe the occassional track day a couple times a year, the Quaife is my suggestion. It has 0 intrusion - meaning, 0 noise, 0 anything. Nissan could have (and should have) included this from the factory and you would never know it. That is how absolutely seamless it is. That is, until you launch the car, or turn. That is where it reveals itself. It is so much more effective at putting the power down vs the stock VLSD, it really bears no comparison. VLSD is a paperweight by comparison, and one that over time, gets progressively worse and worse (and it doesnt start out with all that much lockup in the first place).

1slow370 · 09-05-2009, 04:57 AM

my vote is quaife, excellent quality, lifetime "we don't care if you race it" warranty, zero maintenance, and excellent track performance. They're based on the torsen diff. and if you get stuck in mud or snow you just have to tap the breaks a little while trying to get out and you can just drive right out.

import111 · 09-05-2009, 10:42 AM

Yea, the Quaife does have that lifetime warranty which is nice, wouldn't make noise which would be good, and it sounds like it would help rear grip a lot better than the stock VLSD. I just wonder if a clutch type (Cusco RS) would be a huge improvement over the Quaife grip wise, because if so, I could live with popping noises in slow turns and fluid changes every 15K miles.

Z1Performance · 09-05-2009, 12:54 PM

They don't grip alot better (on the street), but the clutch ones are (generally) more user tunable - adjustable lockup, etc. Whether or not you can take advantage of that is up to the buyer

B1nks · 09-05-2009, 12:56 PM

Quaife would be one of my top choices except the whole if you lose traction in one wheel then all the power is put to one wheel or something like that. Like what yall were saying about mud or snow. It worries me that hydroplaning would cause the same thing and be a danger if driving down the highway and that happens. Can anyone answer if that is possible or if hydroplaning would cause that snow/one wheel off the ground effect ? I would throw down the extra for OS Giken myself if the Quaife didn't work out because they are TOP NOTCH and you don't have to worry about all the little Quaife problems.

1slow370 · 09-06-2009, 05:31 AM

Well this comes from a guy who lives in a lake effect area of wisconsin so I'm not unfamiliar with losing traction. I would pick the Quaife because it can get you out of a tight spot if you know how to use it, it's maintenance free, virtually indestructible and warrantied for life, the track performance is great, and I've seen my friends cars with clutch type lockers and I do not want to put up with that crap. Anything more than a one way sounds like s**ts gonna die when you're turning or hell parking in a parking lot. It's an opinion thing but i consider a clutch LSD to be track only. (Oh and this z won't see winter after having my 300 develop rust spots so it really doesn't matter).

Hydroplaning issue i'm not going to touch because i'm cautious enough about road conditions that I just avoid driving like an @$$ when the roads are bad.

ErnieT · 09-06-2009, 10:57 AM

I have the Kaaz in my RX7 and make more power than anyone here probably would ever make on their Z. Its a great quality piece and is very durable, but it chatters pretty bad. So if your car is a daily driver, I would look at some other alternative. The kaaz will take ALOT of abuse though. I road race and drag race. When I drag race I launch at 8000rpm and run anti-lag with 20lbs of boost off the line and never had a failure.

B1nks · 09-06-2009, 12:35 PM

so does anyone know how much the quaife are going for ?

Z1Performance · 09-06-2009, 01:21 PM

$1397 shipped from us - we have them in stock too. I have not fit one to the 370Z, so I cannot say if any additional parts will be needed vs the 350Z

import111 · 09-06-2009, 01:37 PM

I was gonna ask about that. Don't the 350 and 370Z's use the exact same rear diff? If so, then the 350Z diffs should fit the 370Z right?

09-03-2009, 05:05 PM	#1 (permalink)
import111 Track Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Tucson, AZ. Posts: 622 Drives: 09 Nissan 370Z Rep Power: 191	Kaaz Diff.? Seeing that 1 370Z diff. has broken at the track and 1 or more that get tracked have been upgraded, I began searching for aftermarket diffs. Kaaz appears to be cheaper than the other big names. Is the quality there with Kaaz? Coming from 2 AWD cars previously (01 Impreza 2.5RS and 05 STi) you would think I would know about diffs, but I don't know much in terms of quality. I know I want a clutch type for proper predictable engagement and I want a 1.5 way. I also don't plan to upgrade until the stock diff. breaks.

09-03-2009, 07:41 PM	#2 (permalink)
M.Bonanni The370Z.com Sponsor Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 2,575 Drives: Fast Rep Power: 1321	Kaaz is ok quality wise, but I think they only have a 2-Way LSD available for the 370Z, which is more for drifting really than road course driving. Also I have no personal experience with Kaaz LSDs, but I have heard they are a bit harsh for street driving. Although it is more money, I HIGHLY recommend the Carbonetic 1.5 way LSD. Driveability on the street is right up there with Quaife, but performance is up there with the best of the best I have ever tried. So basically its the best all around track/daily driver LSD I have tried, and I have tried, Nismo, Cusco, Quaife, and Carbonetic in my old 350Z and I have a Carbonetic one in my 370Z now. __________________ MikeBonanni.com Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/MikeBonanni Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MBonanni36 Function > Form

09-06-2009, 10:57 AM	#12 (permalink)
ErnieT Base Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Md Posts: 45 Drives: '93 RX7/'09 370Z Rep Power: 16	I have the Kaaz in my RX7 and make more power than anyone here probably would ever make on their Z. Its a great quality piece and is very durable, but it chatters pretty bad. So if your car is a daily driver, I would look at some other alternative. The kaaz will take ALOT of abuse though. I road race and drag race. When I drag race I launch at 8000rpm and run anti-lag with 20lbs of boost off the line and never had a failure. __________________ '93 Mazda RX7 -Bridgeport 13B 781rwhp 9.87@139mph '09 Nissan 370Z- Stillen CB/Gen3 Intake/Nissan Motorsports oil cooler Last edited by ErnieT; 09-06-2009 at 11:02 AM.

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09-03-2009, 08:00 PM	#3 (permalink)
import111 Track Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Tucson, AZ. Posts: 622 Drives: 09 Nissan 370Z Rep Power: 191	Thanks for the reply. Yup, all I can find from Kaaz is 2 way diffs. I just did a bunch of searching on a 350Z forum and am leaning towards Cusco...though I don't think they have a diff. for the 370Z yet. The Carbonetic looks fantastic but my issue is how often the fluid needs to be changed with that diff.

09-04-2009, 05:43 PM	#6 (permalink)
Z1Performance Base Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: St. James, NY Posts: 237 Drives: 350Z Rep Power: 16	A bit harsh is a gross understatement - it's very street unfriendly. Good budget oriented unit for the drifters, not ideal for anything else though The nicest clutch type diff I've used to date in the Z's (I've used all of them except Drexler's) is the OS Giken. Very, very smooth operation, near silent operation, no funky break ins like the lesser models have, and doesn't need any exotic fluids or short change intervals. The machine work is amazing on their cases and the components. A touch more money than some other clutch type units, but ultimately worth the price of admission. If I had a true double duty (track/street) car, this would be what I choose. There are some extra parts that are needed for the install, but it's a straightforward afair and things just bolt in. The Carbonetics units are very nice. The metal ones have a typical, clunky sort of feel to them. The carbon ones are far nicer. Downside is they aren't adjustable or customizable, the fluid they need is something you have to get from them (not expensive, but still, if you need it in a pinch), and it has short change intervals due to the carbon dust contaminating the oil. Mike can share his insight into the install in a 370Z, I haven't done one Cusco's diffs are a nice unit too - a tick less money than OS Giken, but has to be ordered so there is a wait time. They use conventional fluids, are customizable for lockup and action (1.5 or 2 way), and no funky break in needed at all. I've run one in my 350z since 2005 and it's been great. If your car is mainly street driven, maybe the occassional track day a couple times a year, the Quaife is my suggestion. It has 0 intrusion - meaning, 0 noise, 0 anything. Nissan could have (and should have) included this from the factory and you would never know it. That is how absolutely seamless it is. That is, until you launch the car, or turn. That is where it reveals itself. It is so much more effective at putting the power down vs the stock VLSD, it really bears no comparison. VLSD is a paperweight by comparison, and one that over time, gets progressively worse and worse (and it doesnt start out with all that much lockup in the first place).

09-05-2009, 04:57 AM	#7 (permalink)
1slow370 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: In the D Posts: 3,732 Drives: v8 74 260z ;) Rep Power: 7251	my vote is quaife, excellent quality, lifetime "we don't care if you race it" warranty, zero maintenance, and excellent track performance. They're based on the torsen diff. and if you get stuck in mud or snow you just have to tap the breaks a little while trying to get out and you can just drive right out.

09-05-2009, 10:42 AM	#8 (permalink)
import111 Track Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Tucson, AZ. Posts: 622 Drives: 09 Nissan 370Z Rep Power: 191	Yea, the Quaife does have that lifetime warranty which is nice, wouldn't make noise which would be good, and it sounds like it would help rear grip a lot better than the stock VLSD. I just wonder if a clutch type (Cusco RS) would be a huge improvement over the Quaife grip wise, because if so, I could live with popping noises in slow turns and fluid changes every 15K miles.

09-05-2009, 12:54 PM	#9 (permalink)
Z1Performance Base Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: St. James, NY Posts: 237 Drives: 350Z Rep Power: 16	They don't grip alot better (on the street), but the clutch ones are (generally) more user tunable - adjustable lockup, etc. Whether or not you can take advantage of that is up to the buyer

09-05-2009, 12:56 PM	#10 (permalink)
B1nks Track Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Houston,Tx Posts: 721 Drives: 2009 370Z Base 6MT Rep Power: 507	Quaife would be one of my top choices except the whole if you lose traction in one wheel then all the power is put to one wheel or something like that. Like what yall were saying about mud or snow. It worries me that hydroplaning would cause the same thing and be a danger if driving down the highway and that happens. Can anyone answer if that is possible or if hydroplaning would cause that snow/one wheel off the ground effect ? I would throw down the extra for OS Giken myself if the Quaife didn't work out because they are TOP NOTCH and you don't have to worry about all the little Quaife problems.

09-06-2009, 05:31 AM	#11 (permalink)
1slow370 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: In the D Posts: 3,732 Drives: v8 74 260z ;) Rep Power: 7251	Well this comes from a guy who lives in a lake effect area of wisconsin so I'm not unfamiliar with losing traction. I would pick the Quaife because it can get you out of a tight spot if you know how to use it, it's maintenance free, virtually indestructible and warrantied for life, the track performance is great, and I've seen my friends cars with clutch type lockers and I do not want to put up with that crap. Anything more than a one way sounds like s**ts gonna die when you're turning or hell parking in a parking lot. It's an opinion thing but i consider a clutch LSD to be track only. (Oh and this z won't see winter after having my 300 develop rust spots so it really doesn't matter). Hydroplaning issue i'm not going to touch because i'm cautious enough about road conditions that I just avoid driving like an @$$ when the roads are bad.

09-06-2009, 12:35 PM	#13 (permalink)
B1nks Track Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Houston,Tx Posts: 721 Drives: 2009 370Z Base 6MT Rep Power: 507	so does anyone know how much the quaife are going for ?

09-06-2009, 01:21 PM	#14 (permalink)
Z1Performance Base Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: St. James, NY Posts: 237 Drives: 350Z Rep Power: 16	$1397 shipped from us - we have them in stock too. I have not fit one to the 370Z, so I cannot say if any additional parts will be needed vs the 350Z

09-06-2009, 01:37 PM	#15 (permalink)
import111 Track Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Tucson, AZ. Posts: 622 Drives: 09 Nissan 370Z Rep Power: 191	I was gonna ask about that. Don't the 350 and 370Z's use the exact same rear diff? If so, then the 350Z diffs should fit the 370Z right?