Trench_rat Navara LSD install help

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lax2wlg
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Trench_rat Navara LSD install help

Post by lax2wlg »

i have no experience with salisbury diffs and lack the pre load gauges to set it up correctly


So what you are doing is swapping the open centre from the rear of your Navara for an LSD centre.

So this means your ring gear will need to be transferred to the LSD centre.

The two important aspects of gear setup are (in order of importance) pinion depth (which determines mesh pattern) and carrier bearing preload (the tiny gap between the ring and pinion gear), or backlash as we often call it.

In this swap, we are not disturbing the pinion depth which is half the battle. Assuming the physical dimensions of the LSD centre is identical, we should not be upsetting backlash either. On this diff the backlash is set by adding spacers/shims either side of the carrier bearings.
Image

I have done two of these LSD swaps now (plus my own). Measured the factory backlash, swapped ring gear over to LSD, reinstalled exactly the same, remeasured.. both times they were in spec which is a freakin pleasure. Although, both those time new side bearings were fitted as a matter of course.

My current vehicle used to have the C200 rear and one of the previous owners had put an LSD in. When I disassembled it, there were no side gear spacers or shims at all, the entire diff centre was floating in the housing, deflecting all over the place with approx 1/2" of diagonal movement on either side. God knows how long it had been like that for. The gears were perfect with no unusual wear after 285,000 kms.

What I am saying is that a) its a very strong gearset for a TD27, and b) if you disassemble the diff and carefully take photos & note the position/number of shims on each side, swap the ring gear over and reinstall it exactly the same, its quite possible it will still be within spec. To make the install easier you could freeze the shims overnight so they shrink slightly, then gently tap them back in, in the exact same order.

This way you should be able to get it safely installed and running, then to get the backlash professionally checked, its just a case taking it to a shop, of draining the oil and removing the rear cover.

Observations
-The side bearing caps are important, note their orientation and mark them.
-Don't mix up the old bearing races with the ones from the LSD centre. -Each bearing/race set is specific and should be individually marked
-Borrow a torque wrench from a friend for the ring gear bolts and side bearing bolts. Torque specs in FSM. Tighten in sequence.
-Park nose down on a slight downhill incline so gravity helps

Other observations
-Yes you do hear about C200s breaking but 90% of the time its the later 2000+ USA models running behind VG33s in the back of Xterras
-KBJJ has worn out a couple of C200 gearsets on 35s in the rear of his Navara but not broken them to my knowledge
-If it were me I would replace the side bearings on the LSD centre.
-I'm not saying don't do it properly, I'm saying eliminate most of the work and get it running within a safe range since its so easy to make adjustments in service.
Trench_rat
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Re: Trench_rat Navara LSD install help

Post by Trench_rat »

cheers for that bud you explain things much better than the workshop manual. however i forgot to mention my pinion seal is leaking and needs replacing which i understand requires removing the pinion and disturbing the depth is that correct?
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lax2wlg
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Re: Trench_rat Navara LSD install help

Post by lax2wlg »

Luckily not, alls you have to do is remove the pinion nut and flange. This can also be done in service, just remove the rear driveshaft. And get creative with something to hold the pinion flange in place when you first crack the nut. ie simple piece of flat bar with two bolts in it. Then get in there with a hook or similar, try not to damage the old seal as you remove it. Use the old seal to gently seat the new one in place. Maybe use a piece of old pipe the same diameter as the seal to help seat it. Its good practice to always replace the pinion nut with a new one. I think I have an old one laying around, I will try to find it and get the size. Last time I got one from the local fasteners place for $5 or something.

Don't worry the bearings are pressed on, that pinions not going anywhere...

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Trench_rat
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Re: Trench_rat Navara LSD install help

Post by Trench_rat »

sweet as 8) someone give that man a pat on the back , the dicks at geartech told me my pinion needed removing , not a bad effort at scoring themselves a job but luckily im a cheap bastard and asked some questions first.
Trench_rat
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Re: Trench_rat Navara LSD install help

Post by Trench_rat »

So i just pulled my diff head to discover it is in fact an lsd already , the LH clutch pack is very loose though so im thinking the spring plate may have let go which is why it was acting like an open diff?
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churchill
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Re: Trench_rat Navara LSD install help

Post by churchill »

Maybe nissans are different but the pinion bearing (and side bearings) need preload. To keep the pinion to the same preload when changing a seal, use the existing nut and just wind it back into to the same place and peen it in to lock it. New installs need a small torque wrench to get the preload correct.
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lax2wlg
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Re: Trench_rat Navara LSD install help

Post by lax2wlg »

churchill wrote:Maybe nissans are different but the pinion bearing (and side bearings) need preload. To keep the pinion to the same preload when changing a seal, use the existing nut and just wind it back into to the same place and peen it in to lock it. New installs need a small torque wrench to get the preload correct.


Good tip.

The Nissan C200 rear uses a solid pinion spacer/adjustment shims.. as far as the service manual is concerned it should hold preload if the new pinion nut is torqued to (something in the region of) 200lb/ft.

I notice the R200 front (same internals, independent carrier) uses a crush sleeve. When I did my R200 front swap I ditched the crush sleeve and used a C200 solid spacer/height adjusting shims.
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