I was looking at a 5-spd tranny at the junkyard yesterday. When I called, they said it was vlsd fer shur, but when I got there they weren't so sure after all. Imagine that. I smelled a rat and didn't buy it.

Anyway, is there any discernible outward difference between an open diff tranny and lsd tranny?

There was a number stamped on the case: 4920BZV

Does that indicate anything?

Thanks!

 

If you look in the holes for the axles...


If you can see straight through it...no VLSD.

The model that the 4th gen uses is the RS5F50A (non-VLSD) or RS5F50V (VLSD).

 

If it was a Maxima tranny from the US, then there's no way it could have VLSD.

 

Is there a difference then between a limited slip differential and a locking differential? The reason I ask is that if you do a car parts search it gives you the option of locking and non-locking (but not open and vlsd). There are about a dozen or so locking diff trannies in the database, in all parts of the US. Were these all Canadian vehicles, or are they lying?

 

Okay, this is good stuff to know. Thanks very much! Finally, is the case stamped with the RS5F50A or V numbers anywhere?

Thanks!

 

Actually, you know what, I confused myself.

Listen to mzmtg ... he knows better than I do.

 

I just bought a 99 Maxima ES 5spd, and im from canada, so how do i tell if it has VLSD or not?
I was told the ones in canada come with it but is there any way of checking?

Dev

 

One way to check is to rev up to 5000 rpm and drop the clutch. If you get smoke from one tire only you're not vlsd, if you smoke both tires - yeah baby!

 

Check the data plate on the firewall, passenger side, about 4 lines down. As Ben said if its RS5F50A its open, if its RS5F50V its LSD.

 

I just talked to a parts dealer in Ontario (he seemed a little surprised to talk to someone in Texas). He said that a vlsd transmission has a solenoid in the case that activates the lsd. You might check for that. Anybody know if this is true?

 

Doubt it. The VLSD isn't "activated" mechanically. There is no on or off. It just works.

 

Well that figures. These parts yard guys always talk like their experts on every vehicle made. (Still, who'd a thought a Canadian would steer me wrong - they seem so honest.) The parts guy I talked to yesterday here in Austin tried to tell me that the only difference between the vlsd and non-vlsd trannies were the shafts!