I bought a brand new '04 Coupe 5AT September of last year and I always thought it came with the LSD since it had the 18" wheel package (which should include LSD) but today when I was putting on my winter tires I noticed something. While the car was raised (and transmission in Park) when I spun one wheel, the other spun in the opposite direction. I always thought with an LSD both tires are supposed to spin in same direction (with trans. in Neutral, but Park should be the same right?) Is there anyway to tell through the VIN or other marking on the car? Thanks...

 

How did you get the wheels to spin in park?

I think only the 6MT come with the limited slip.

 

The 03 and 04' 5AT came with VLSD, if you got the Tire & Wheel Package. It's very possible the dealer just put on 18 inch rims. If you want to know for certain, just look to see if you got the titanium trim on the inside.

As for the spinning part. In order for the VLSD to activate, I think the wheel needs to rotate 2 full revolutions or something like that.

 

It takes about 2 revolutions and much force to have lockup, you cannot do this while spinning the tires, the LSD diff. will spin in different directions when on the rack...

 

This is what my trim looks like:


I thought all coupes came with "titanium" trim

 

It uses a viscous coupling. When there is a difference in speed between the two axles, the viscous fluid actually gets thicker. Some of the energy from the faster axle is transferred to the slower axle through the fluid. The greater the difference in speed, the more the viscous fluid thickens.

I guess you could take a belt sander to one of the rear wheels, and get it spinning fast enough to see the VLSD in action If you do, don't forget to film it.

 

Not in 03-04, the LSD is torque activated, no viscous coupling until 05, but when launched hard the LSD works great in all 03-04 i've driven & seen in action.

 

To the best of my knowledge brandon is correct - the coupe has always used a viscous LSD, from the very beginning. I guess it works differently so the wheel spinning direction does not apply.

 

No, the 03-04 had LSD, 05 up have VLSD, same on the 350Z... check specs still available on http://www.nissannews.com/

They both work well, VLSD is less expensive and easier to service...

 

For 03 & 04:
Performance Tire & Wheel Package: Limited slip-differential (LSD), 18-inch performance tires, unique sport aluminum-alloy wheels with titanium-tinted finish, titanium-finished center console

For 05:
Leading the changes for 2005 is the more powerful G35 Coupe 6MT model with a 298-horsepower 3.5-liter DOHC V6, an increase of 18 horsepower over the G35 Coupe model’s standard 280-horsepower rating. A new Sport-Tuned Suspension Package with 19-inch forged aluminum-alloy wheels, sport-tuned suspension, Viscous Limited-Slip Differential (VLSD), drilled aluminum pedals and unique sport steering wheel is offered with the 5-speed automatic transmission equipped G35 Coupe model. The Sport-Tuned Suspension Package equipment is included as standard equipment on the G35 Coupe 6MT.

 

from what i recall, the '03 and '04 5at coupes did NOT have any type of lsd unless you purchased the performance tire/wheel package. in the '05, lsd was only available in the 6mt. there was an error in the g35 brochures which stated that the '05 performance wheel/tire package included vlsd. for those '05 owners, i believe infiniti corp. sent them an apology letter and a check for a couple hundred dollars. i think some ppl wanted to start a class action suit because of the error.

 

i am relatively sure that the '05 autos with the sport tuned suspension package did have vlsd, but the performance tire and wheel package did not... that was just my interpretation of the thread that was on the boards a while back

 

Just took a look at the 2003 Coupe Service Manual. According to the manual it is a viscous. Looks identical to the one in the 2005 manual and they have the same diff number R200V (the open diff is just R200). Seems like the same diff, the marketing department just worded the description differently.

 

Knowing Nissan, that is entirely possible, but when looking under my 04.5 6MT I see no coupling on either shaft where the V coupling would be, but I know I can leave 2 nice even burnout marks if I wish, so this tells me the rear diff is working as it should be. I have seen the coupling on a friends 05 350Z and it also will leave 2 nice even burnout marks if you desire to do that, so I don't think there is much difference in either as far as the performance of the rear end.

 

100% sure my 03 coupe has VLSD
maybe only in Canada