So I recently bought a 1995 Nissan Maxima GLE and I need to replace the cv axle. I went to the auto part store and they're saying the part is different for limited slip differential compare to open differential. I know if you jack your car and spin one of the tire lead to the other tire on the same axle spinning the same direction you have a limited slip differential. If the other tire spins the opposite, you have an open differential. However, I don't have a jack so I can't do this. Is there any way to find out like from the vin number or something?

 

yes, your vin will tell you, i believe it's the 2 letters towards the end. just copy your vin and call a shop or the dealer.

 

There is an aluminum plate on the firewall on the passenger side right behind the strut top with a bunch of info. There's a line for the trans/axle type. Like 4 rows down. A32 will be on top.

Info Line will start with RE. If it ends with an A... It's an open drive. V = VLSD.

Canadian Maximas came with LSD. American Maximas came with open drive. Pretty much all of the time unless it was swapped after. As who wouldn't want LSD when given the opportunity. They came standard in the Infinity I30t.

 

As stated, unless your transmission was swapped at some point from an Infiniti I30t, then your Max definitely does not have VLSD.