To start, I've read every single VLSD thread made and read arguments of axles back and forth. Now for me. 1998 SE. just did an 01 AE VLSD trans. Passenger side goes in fits perfect. Driver side is a completely different story. the axle itself is an lsd i30t axle. it is sitting about an inch too far out. as in, the spline side that goes into the actual trans is sitting about an inch out the hole, rather than all the way through.

This is the first time i had an AE. my last 4th gen had an i30t lsd trans and the axles came with the trans. Im positive it is not install error. I know of Broaner, JSutter and a couple others mentioning they had axle issues. So anyone have any insight?

edit: forgot to add, this is all based on a 5 speed trans.

 

Does it slide in any further with the circlip removed?

 

How about trying an axle from a 01 AE? or if you can, compair the two side dy side to see if there is any difference in length.

 

Dgeesaman, yeah took the clip out, it stops at the same point. I know they are a pain to put in but it goes through but just hangs too far out.

MAXC, that's what I'm doing today. I bought the trans with the axle so it's unclear exactly which one it is. Unfortunately AE axles are special order so it may take a day or so before I get it.

 

http://forums.maxima.org/7606714-post1.html

JSutter had a similar issue. Not sure if you've read that (you probably have) but I remember seeing this thread a while ago when i was researching LSD trans swaps. hopefully the AE trans is the solution. it seems there's always been a little ambiguity on the subject and you might help clear that up lol.

 

Yeah I saw his and I was like, damn my luck I'd have the issue too lol. I can't confirm what axle I have at the moment but fairly certain it's an i30t, just from where and who it came from. I'll have exacts once the AE gets here.

 

interesting. i can't figure out how some guys have an issue with this.

i used an AE LSD trans with an I30t LSD axle with no problems.

this may sound ridiculous, but are you positive that you have an LSD trans in there now? you know what physical differences to look for to confirm that you have a VLSD?

can you take a picture through the axle hole (a good picture, not some blurry crap that no one can tell what's going on). use macro mode if necessary to get it to focus. maybe the inner splines are damaged or something?

 

lol I hear ya man But yeah I know what I'm looking for with the trans, I had an i30t VLSD in my 96, never an axle issue.

Well to update, the axle that came with the trans was mushroomed at the spline. I noticed it when I went to take off the clip today. Maybe it was dropped or something, who knows. I just bought an AE from AutoZone, slid in like butter and I'm back in business. Thanks guys.

 

thats what she said

 

I think it was because I bought a cheap GSP half shaft from Advance. The I30t was too short. Since I broke my original 01 shaft in half I could not verify the length issue. All I know is that I went back and ordered the 01 axle and it fit. It was longer than the I30t.