Hi guys!!
Lurking newbie here. Heh, heh... been lurkin for a while now. I love the site!
Q: Can anybody explain if this helical limited slip diff is worth the wait and why?

Not sure of the benefits between that and a regular diff.

May get an SE by boxing week if it is just hype.

TIA
Leadfoot

 

HLSD = An option which is available = An option which you must have.

My personal opinion is that you won't live a day in which you regret not having HLSD for actually driving reasons, but you will live always knowing that you could have had it and that may nag you forever.

I'd wait.

 

If you can wait, then wait. Having a differential is much better than having an open differential like the Max has now. The differential gets the power to the wheels. Having an open diff one wheel spins giving you torque steer . If you want a better LSD then your prob better off getting the one on www.cattman.com . You could get the Max without the Slip and add on the aftermarket slip. LoOk up the history for more info there has been tons of posts on this subject.

 

Doesn't the current '02 come with Viscous LSD? I thought it came with the same VLSD that came on the '01 AE and that was getting upgraded to Helical LSD in the December production runs and on.

 

Wait....Feburary isn't that far away.

 

Darned. Sorry guys, I should've done a simple search and found other posts.

I forgot to mention, I live in the land of the frozen Peso, Canada. From what I can understand, a Canucki spec'd 2002 SE 6sp will have VLSD, just not the HLSD right? So off the bat, I'm better off than US spec'd Maxes with a free diff, right?

(See, getting smarter every day.)

 

I don't know, but even if the current 2002 6speeds do have a VLSD, I'd still wait for the HLSD. HLSD is not slip-sensing but rather torque sensing...think of it as a proactive differential rather than a reactive differential. It does not allow ANY slip at one wheel vs another...it forces both wheels to have to lose traction before their is slippage, unlike the VLSD which is only partially effective. This not only maximizes off-the-line traction that you WILL need with the 3.5L's torque but also handling. The car will handle better and push (understeer) less. It'll make winter/wet driving that much safer also.

Wait for it. It will be worth it.

 

The non HLSD 02 Max's have an open differential. They do not have a VLSD despite what some people have been claiming. Several people have called Nissan and asked and Nissan keeps saying they have an open differential. I hate to break it to you, but jacking up the car and spinning a wheel doesn't prove anything. Especially when the other wheel doesn't move. It has to turn the same way, not remain stationary.

Stereodude

 

You are TOTALLY wrong. We Canadians do get same HLSD the Yankees get. It says right on the brochur and website.

http://www.nissan.ca/eng/cars/maxima/features.html

 

if I had to guess about 90% of the org members have been waiting for this option for months. If the HLSD works as well as it should it will be well worth the wait, only a couple more months to save up for a down payment.

 

I didn't jack up the car and spin the wheels.

 

I called Nissan Canada and was told, and I quote, "All '02 SE models, both auto and manual, are delievered with VLSD until such time as HLSD becomes available." Offering VLSD as standard equipment was also done in 2001 for all SE models.
I have no idea what the situation is in the US, but since the guy asking the question has said he's from Canada I expect he might be interested in what I have found. Also, my on road experience with an '02 6spd. certainly seems to confirm what Nissan Canada has told me.

One look at the option package(s) offered by Nissan USA and Nissan Canada will demonstrate how differently the same car is marketed.

 

I hope you're right! I just bought a 5 speed yesterday and was complaining to the salesperson that this would be our first Maxima with an open diff. What a step backwards! (in Canada at least). His reply was that I should simply be thankful to find a black on black 5 speed period! He doubted that it had a VLSD like our other ones do.

Is there a fool proof way of determining whether or not it has VLSD?

 

I ordered my HLSD Maxima on November 7th, and the expected delivery date is January 15th "plus or minus" two weeks....

I was told I was the first person at my dealership to put in an order for the HLSD Maxima. The dealers seem to order cars in batches on a particular day of the month, after which they need to wait an entire month before they are even able to put in another order. Had I missed the 11/7 date I would have had another opportunity later, but it would have delayed the car approximately 4 more weeks..

 

I love this! I just got off the phone with Nissan Canada and they told me that all non-HLSD 2002 Maximas, Canada or US, have open differentials. I guess it depends on who you talk too!

On the bright side I was told that there is less power train loss and the cars weigh less.

 

I spoke with Nissan Canada last week and the guy I spoke to advised me to wait for the HLSD, especially given the improved performance on wet or snow covered roads.

 

I spoke with Nissan last month and the guy I spoke with told me to trade my car in for a newer one.

 

 

Well... just signed the papers this morning.

Getting my HSLD 2K2 6speed SE around Januray 15 if I'm lucky, end of February if I'm not lucky.