I just got my SC installed on a manual 2k1 se...The guys that installed it for me when they test drove it noticed how bad the wheel hop was and how much the front wheels would spin-out in first gear with the SC. Like we all know (at least the 2k and 2k1 owners), our stock traction is pretty bad. I'm startig to think it defeats some of the purpose of having the SC mostly because of the damage it can do to the car when taking off hard or racing in 1st gear with that harsh wheel hop....
To stop this problem I know that a few things are out there...a few COSTLY things that is... Cattman has suggested his engine mounts to stop that harsh wheel hop as one option but what about the differential mods? What options would be best? I read a post on here that some of the canadian 2k and 2k1 maximas had vlsd available as an option...is that option available in the US? If it is, I think it also re that that mod from nissan would be cheaper that doing Cattman's Quaife differential mod for $1400 which is said to greatly improve traction, eliminate the wheel hop and even get more power to the wheels. Since I've already gone down the path, I want to make sure everything is a perfect as possible. So...can we get the Nissan VLSD mod or what do you guys think would be the best way to eliminate the wheel-hop and improve traction? Holla back...

Deac

 

See it pays to live in Canada! j/k! It sucks down here and the only reason why Nissan gives us those options are because it's snowy and slippery down here like 5 months of the year, but to answer your question, i would go the direction Cattman suggests cause there's only been 1 complaint (that i've heard about) so far, and it's still possible to melt the meats with the VLSD

 

Most Maxima SE's sold in Canada had the VLSD except for the 2k2 model. I don't think that a VLSD setup would help much with wheel hop. One wheel has to be spinning faster than other wheel before the VLSD starts to transfer power. The HLSD option, being offered on 2k2 SE's built in 2002, is torque sensing and transfers the power sooner to prevent one wheel slipping, but it doesn't do squat if both wheels are spinning (as happens with my 2k2 w/o LSD).

Stiffer mounts and springs would help with hop and try lowering the front tire pressure some. This may also help reduce torque steer. For drag racing a beefier FSB may help if one wheel hops more than the other and a FSTB may help prevent the body from twisting during clutch dumps.

 

From my experience, you are correct. I have the AE w/VLSD and the only thing that reduced wheel hop off the line was new tires.

 

Is the VLSD option even available in the US...I know about cattman but if the vlsd is available, said to be just as good and trustworthy that would be an option...

 

It is not an option...it came on the AE 2K1's and is not an option on the 2K2's.

 

I also have a AE with the VLSD and believe me I still have nasty wheel hop. Just go with the Cattman motor mounts this will keep your engine from rocking back and forth giving you wheel hop.

 

I, too, have an AE with the VLSD. And I still have wheel hop. For about two months I had no wheel hop--it seemed. I could lay down rubber through all of first gear. That was fun. Perhaps the tires or the temperature (?) affected wheel hop. I don't know. But I figured I was driving better and I eliminated wheel hop .
But now that the roads are getting slippery (salt, ice and crap), the wheel hop is back even without launching the car hard.

The VLSD doesn't seem to do anything to help alleviate this problem.

Cheers,
John

 

I concur. BottleFedMax, do you have the engine mounts?

 

The engine mounts are definately a worthwhile mod and not that expensive ($245) but if the cattman differential eliminates wheel-hop and increases hp to the wheels, I might just go for that! Gotta check w/brian I guess.

 

I don't see how any LSD could decrease wheel hop OR increase HP to the wheels. The extra gearing or viscous interface should actually rob some HP. It does prevent HP from being wasted on a single spinning wheel, allowing more HP to see the road.

Engine mounts and tires are the cheapest means to reduce hop. Stiffer struts and springs can also help prevent or dampen hopping.

 

what does VLSD stand for?

 

Viscous Limited Slip Differential - when the wheels start to spin at different speeds the "Goo" in the diff starts to get thick and effectively locks their speeds together.

 

Thanks...