Solid Axles

Please help, I need as much info as possible. Has anybody found any info on an LSD for the solid axle in the 84 models? Other than that I wanted to kind of get all the solid axle guys to post pics/dtails about their custom suspensions if they have them. I just recently got really serious about building this car and would like as many ideas as possible.

Thanx in advance,
Scott

I'd get rid of the solid axle and convert to IRS if I were you. Also, there's no point in an LSD in a CA20 powered car. It just doesn't have enough power to justify the cost. I owned an '84 CA20 S12 solid axle years ago. There's no way I would throw money at that combination. I don't mean to come off as an ass, and I may get negative responses for this, but I just don't want to see you waste your hard earned money. I am on your side.

The 84's had solid axles? I got IRS and I got an 84 Turbo... Maybe the Turbo has something to do with it...

Yeah, the turbo model had irs in every year of production I think.:dontknow: Don't worry I'm not offended in any way. What I forgot to mention was that the ca20 isn't staying in there that long. I would try to find an irs equipped model but I can't find one for sale in my area.

You can keep your current car. Find an IRS equiped model in a junkyard and just transplant all the rear suspension components, as well at the diff and driveshaft. Everything should bolt right in. What motor are you thinking about?

Really it will all bolt in? Are you sure? If so I got a local junkyard with about 8 of them in there. I'm thinking about going with the CA18DET or SR20DET not sure which would be the better investment yet.

I haven't actually done the conversion myself, but all the bolt holes and everything should already be there for the IRS. It wouldn't make any financial sense for Nissan to have made two different chassis, one for IRS and one for solid axle. The only other stumbling block that I can think of would be whether or not the driveline is the same spline as your transmission. I'll be out at my local junkyard tomorrow to check out a couple things. They've got a solid axle and an IRS model right next to each other. Maybe I'll check that out. I wouldn't want to steer you wrong.

That would be a huge help. If they are I can start on that next week. Definitely if you could, check that out for me.

Thanks,
Scott

Ok. It's not quite that simple. I'm going to post a link to an archived string and the addresses of the pics seeing as the links to them are "unauthorised". Just copy and paste the pic addresses into the address bar of your browser.

This is the string..... http://www.club-s12.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5458

These are the pics
http://upload.silviansw.com/IRSsmall1.jpg
http://upload.silviansw.com/IRSsmall2.jpg
http://upload.silviansw.com/IRSsmall3.jpg
http://upload.silviansw.com/IRSsmall4.jpg
http://upload.silviansw.com/IRSsmall5.jpg

I hope this goves you a bit more of a look into what you need to do to convert to IRS from solid axle.

Unfortunatly it's not just a straight swap in, but it can be done.

i know there is a offering for lsd's for nissan pickups that have the r180 as well that someone once stated could work

This pics aren't working. I went out and compared the two. They are in fact different. The upper mounting points for the springs and shocks are the same, but that's about it. The I-beam that the diff mounts to is different. That wouldn't be that tough. Just reinforce the solid axle I-beam and make a custom diff mount. Where the crossmember would mount on an IRS car is in a location that would take some fabricating and reinforcing as well. Unfortunately, it might be easier to buy an IRS car. That sucks. Looks like I proved myself wrong on this one.

I have done an IRS conversion on my own car. It's not to difficult if you can pick up an IRS cheap but you need a fair bit of fabrication skills. I reckon it might be just as easy to madify a hilux live axle or similar cheap LSD equiped solid rear end to fit. The IRS has camber issues the live axle doesn't and there is nothing wrong with a solid rear end anyways.

as far as the worth of the SR20 v. CA18DET, i'd go (and am going) CA18DET. Way cheaper, easier to get parts for (ca18 crossovers) and an easier swap. SR20's are too much, especially if you go blacktop.

The pics work. You have to copy them into the browser line. Just clicking on them won't work.

as far as the worth of the SR20 v. CA18DET, i'd go (and am going) CA18DET.
I agree, the CA18DET swap is a piece of cake. If i did my car again it would more than likely be a CA18DET with a LSD in live axle just because it would have been done in half the time hehe. Cheaper too yeah, the price of SRs has been going up lately. When you say blacktop be carefull it's not just a late redtop. Late model redtop cars had black rocker covers as well despite not having a VVT or a T28 turbo on them. It's easier to tell from the shape of the rocker cover. A late model motor has a high plenum, bulge on the plenum side of the rocker at the front and the rear of the rocker slopes down. O yeah i have heard that the H190 (ie live axle) LSD is weak weak. dunno for sure though.

After months of research and inquiring, I've found one. Though it'll be a while there is one. Don't if there's more but the source is from japan. It's hard to translate in english but there located 2hrs away from tokyo. And yes, it's expensive. About $700 +.

Definitely keep me posted on that.

I personally like solid rear axles. They don't handle as well, but you can't beat them for traction. When I put a CA18DET into my 84, I'm going to see if I can fit my RX-7 axle under it. I've found that it has a similar wheelbase to the 200SX (1mm wider than the IRS, 1mm thinner than the solid) and similar gear ratios, so with some custom parts and welding, I should be able to put two and two together.

that sounds pretty good, i always liked the live axle, in stock form i think it handles better IMHO. I take it thats a series I or II RX& rear end, i presume they are the same.

I've got a series II, off of an 81 GS. It has a limited slip and disc brakes, so I thought it would be a good place to start with custom axle work.

Definitely, definitely let me know if the RX rear would work. That would save me so much time. How can you tell if it's a series 1 or series 2?

A series I RX is a 79-80, a series II is a 81-83, and a series III is 84-85. These are the only RX-7's that came with a solid rear axle. The best axles are the GS and GSL axles from series I and II, and also the GS, GSL and GSL-SE from a series III. I believe those axles came with LSD and disc brakes. By the way, Racing Beat sells several different gear ratios for this axle at a good price, and Mazdatrix has a good price on rebuild kits for the LSD clutches. It will probably be a while before I get to put my axle under my car, because it will take time I don't have to prep the axle and create new mounts for it.

beware of the stud patterns, as far as i know, s1,s2 are 4x110, and only s3 are the common 4x114.3

If you want the IRS from a Hatch, and your current drive line is CA20, I would go with the 86.5, 87, 88 IRS that came equipped with the CA20 cars. The other option is to keep with MK1 parts, and get the 84-86.5 Turbo IRS. I believe all the parts are the same except for maybe the rear diff, and also if you car is a standard try to find a standard IRS. All the turbo cars 84-86.5 are standard if this makes it any easier.

beware of the stud patterns, as far as i know, s1,s2 are 4x110, and only s3 are the common 4x114.3

Yeah, I figured that the stud patterns would be different, but I wouldn't mind dealing with that fact if I can get A LSD and disc brakes out back.

Exactly. It's a lot easier to deal with a lug pattern than the rest of it

go by an irs car i think its insane to cut the solid one up and do all that crap to go to irs but thats my opinion.

if u stick with solid axel there is lsd options
nismo lsd $1750 ozzie a dude found one for me for that pitty i dont have the $

second hand nismo i no of 3 in oz 2 are $1500 each 1 $1000

h190 also come in 720 pick ups and in the frount of some 4x4 nissan datsuns just finding one can be time consuming and luck based.

phantom grip have a lsd action center mod about $350us

also a dude in vic in oz is doing that same thing its $250 oz
all this was on the last fourm but is gorn cause i carnt find it any more on club s12

rear disk brakes the easyist is datsun nissan 910 there brakes bolt on all u have to do is change your axels and shorten ya e brake cabel by 30mm and dba and other companys make drilled and slotted rotors for them

rear shockes i use toyota hilux fronts they are rancho 9000rsx 9 way ajustable but they are shorter than stock if ya car is lowered by 2ince or more you could use them or go to a long travell version.

in oz rear springs king spring lists a 1.5 ince lowered
so dose dobension. both companys with make custom
kmac makes any hight u want but are a little more $ but less than custom other companyies

i have driven both irs and solid both lowerd and stock versions i think the irs is good if u are driving on ruff roads all the time but if its for smooth tar the solid handels better the lett down is it cost's more for a lsd in the solid than the irs so yer but if u live in oz the solid styles are plentifull for parts the irs are rare and seemed to only come in a poverty pack with wind up windows.
i have more info as in numbers and links for any of this stuff.

Hey don't be knocking the roll up windows...lol...Racing organizations don't like the power BS, and they also don't like sunroofs (a lot of times if you have one you have to remove the glass, and weld steel over top). 8)
I say if you have solid axle, keep it that way, and be creative...Like the project that hopefully will be hapening soon here in Ontario...details shortly. 8) I have IRS, and the toe in is horrible...20,000 km's on tires and even worse if you drift...

If any other solid axle guys are interested, I'm gonna be having all the rear links on my suspension fabricated out of chromoly or aluminum. Give me some info/ideas on whether or not ohter people will be interested.

Thanks,
Scott

also a dude in vic in oz is doing that same thing its $250 oz
all this was on the last fourm but is gorn cause i carnt find it any more on club s12
this might be thread you're thinking of:
http://www.club-s12.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5157
it pretty much covers what you just said.

hey i heard you saying stuff about the lsd's for solid rear for $1000, i live in victoria AUS, and i have a luive axle gazelle i am desperate for an lsd can u please help me, i would like to get in contact with you, email me at [email removed]

Thanks

I don't think I'm gonna get an LSD for a little while... but what kind of suspension fits with a solid axle? I'm re-filling my front shocks, and adding 280z springs in the front, but what fits in the back in terms of springs/shocks?