How to Install Limited Slip Differential (LSD) on '89-'98 Nissan 240sx

Step 1 Use a large sheet or heavy duty plastic to protect the work space/table.

Step 2 Bring your differential over to your working station. Remove differential cover by unbolting the bolts in a crisscross pattern.

Using the 14mm ratchet. Image 1 What it looks like once it's revealed.

Image 2 Mark the axle shaft according to which side it came from.

Image 3 Now carefully, bang off the axle shaft with a hammer. Careful not to hit the ring gear.

Once the axle shaft is off, place them on the clean table. You could put them on the side accordingly to where they came off on the table.

Step 3 Remove bearing cap bolts and bearing cap. Have a friend hold down the differential.

Keep the bearing caps according to which side and direction it came from.

Step 4 You can use a wrench or a pry bar to remove the open differential. I used the wrench and hit one end with a hammer to pry it out.

Image 3 What it looks like once it's removed.

Be very careful, once the differential is out. Keep the spacers according to its exact order and side.

Step 5 With a hammer and flathead, chisel away the old gasket. I recommend to use a gasket scraper to avoid any seal failure or damage to the sealing area.

Do the same on the differential cover. Use Scotchbrite to remove the remaining gasket on the cover and differential.

Step 6 Spray the inside of the pumpkin with brake cleaner and clean the inside and differential cover.

Step 7 Remove the ring gear from the open differential by unbolting the bolts with an impact gun.

You'll want a spare set of hands to hold down the open differential.

We will now start to work on the new differential!

Step 8 Squeeze some threadlocker on the ring gear bolts to help keep them snug.

Step 9 Tomei Differentials come with the axle shaft seals so remove the old seals by hammering them out with a flathead.

Image 1 After seal removal.

Gently hammer in new seals. I recommend using something flat to put between hammer and seals (piece of wood, etc.) to keep it level as you hammer.

Step 10 With a hammer and a piece of wood, hammer in evenly the new bearing on the new differential.

Step 11 Your new differential is ready to go in the pumpkin.

Put in the new differential, along with the new spacers provided with the new differential, and your ring spacer you saved previously.

Put in the spacers accordingly to its side.

To get the new differential in all the way I used a piece of wood and a hammer so that new damage would be caused to the new differential.

Make sure it goes in evenly.

Spacers tend to tilt and move on their own, be sure that they stay in place to keep it all even.

Be careful to not hit the ring gear in the process.

Step 12 Place bearing cap back on, accordingly to its side. Bolt it back in with 65-72ft lbs tq.

Step 13 Hammer in the axle shaft with a piece of wood in between, accordingly to which side it came from.

Step 14 Place gear marker on the face of the ring gear.

Rotate the shaft a few times so that it hits the marker.

Make sure it hits dead center of the ring gear.

If it doesn't you will need to buy adjusting shims of different sizes to move the differential either left or right.

Step 15 The differential is ready to be installed back on the car.

Installation is opposite of removal.

Break In Procedure: Find an empty parking lot.

Do Figure 8 in the parking lot. Go about 10 mph on the straight away, and clutch in around the turn.

When you get back on the straight away, release clutch pedal and get back up to 10 mph.

Do this for 30 minutes. Once 30 minutes is up, bring it back home and change fluid with the fluid your differential came with.

Lastly, drive for 60 miles, not exceeding the 40 mph speed limit.