J30 diff + 5 bolt axles... problems

[babowc]

Well,
upon aseembling my subframe, I ran into a small problem..
It seems as if the J30 5bolt axles dont work with S13 subframe + 5 Lug hub.

It barely fits, but doesnt..
If i can somehow get 1-2mm of clearance, I know I can fit it in, but its not working. If I try to force it in, the back cover pops off because the axle shaft pushes on it and it just turns into a big mess.

Anyone know what the deal may be?
or any ideas?

I came up with the idea of taking the links off and angle the rear upright, put the axle splines in and fit the axle to the diff..

But then, I realized if the axles are maxed out, it may pop out the rear cover or even scrape on the rear cover? I'm not too familiar with how the CV axles work..

Help!

[bardabe]

the way I did mine when I had to run a J30 diff for a little while. I took out the diff, then took out the axles. after I took out the axles i put the J30 axles in followed by the diff. try that Install axles to sub frame first. then pop the diff in.

[babowc]

Ya, actually I just got done with it and mounting the subframe on the car..
My alignment is going to be severely fucked up so I'll have to take it to a shop once its rolling, but I un-did the links on the rear spindle, angled it down, then placed the axles.

worked like a charm, but with all the adjustable arms, I have severely messed up alignment for the rear right now.

I'll tackle those later and adjust it so they're all stock length.

Thanks^for the idea!

[babowc]

What?
J30 axles aren't supposed to be used for S13s?
Who said that? AFAIK.. I was told J30 axles and J30 diff can be used with any S-chassis cars, minus the diff. cover.

I'd love to know where you got that info.. because I really dont feel like taking it all off again..
lmk

[GSXRJJordan]

Yeah everyone I know with 5 bolt output shafts runs J30 axles... I was under the impression they're the ONLY one's that'll fit.

Edit: Interesting Unisa, we'll have to hear from the rest of the crowd that uses them.

[babowc]

Unisa, I did realize there were no freeplay..
which did strike me a bit odd, but are there any alternatives to this?
I have a set of Z32 5bolt axles and I know for sure they dont work..
I have S13 axles.. I did see they were a tad bit shorter as well versus the J30 axles.

I'd like to hear from alot more using this setup. (J30 diff + J30 axles + S13)

[burnsauto]

does anyone have any/can take any pics of the j30 axle next to the 180 one? I'd really like to see this for myself. im not doubting you unisa, its just every source i've ever come across says to use the j30 axles (i have a z32 rear sitting in my shed i was ganna throw in..i just needed the j30 axles...but now you're saying they arent the best thing to use..)

[babowc]

Hm, I also have a local who drifts on S13 hatch w/ j30 diff and axles.

But ^that definitely does prove its different in lengths..
now, where could i possibly find a 180sx 5bolt axle..
gah.. this is being a real nuisance!

If anyone is running J30 5bolt VLSD + 5bolt Axles on a S13/S14, chime in please!

[SDS13COUPE]

In my S13 the 5 bolt J30 axle splines were too big and didn't fit. So I used my stock 2x3 6 bolt axles and 3 holes lined up so I used those 3 holes and with grade 8 bolts and it holds just fine. Also my KA driveshaft didn't line up with the driveshaft flange on the J30 diff. so I drilled it to line up the bolts. Although when I put my SR driveshaft in that flange bolted right up with the driveshaft. Hope this helps. Oh, this diff. locks hard.:bigok: and I did swap the diff cover.

[babowc]

Hm..
^How did you do that?

J30 diff and S13 diff have different bolt sizes..
I used the driveshaft bolts for the time being, but i'll have to purchase few more bolts so i can tidy things up..

^sounds really dangerous, haha.

[bardabe]

Unisa, I did realize there were no freeplay..
which did strike me a bit odd, but are there any alternatives to this?
I have a set of Z32 5bolt axles and I know for sure they dont work..
I have S13 axles.. I did see they were a tad bit shorter as well versus the J30 axles.

I'd like to hear from alot more using this setup. (J30 diff + J30 axles + S13)

I had that set up. for a few months J30 diff and Axles worked fine. sold it to afford the RB set up. and I now have a 180 VLSD with axles. they fit the same aside from the JDM LSD having the cooling fins on the cover

[burnsauto]

so if i decide to use that z32 vlsd i've got, and just change the cover...are the j30 axles going to be too long? (im not sure if the z32 half shafts stick out any longer/shorter than the 180/j30)

[babowc]

Hm.
Same with mine, it fits, but like UnisaJecs said, it doesn't have any freeplay.

What are the harms it can do by not having enough freeplay?

[Sir]

Im running Z32NA/5bolt J30 axles.
Had them in my S13 - ran fine
Putting them in my S14 sometime next month.

[Ragnarok043]

hmmm i got a jdm 180sx VLSD with J30 5 bolt axles and they fit fine.

[burnsauto]

this is getting intresting...we're having both sides...BUT WHO WILL WIN! *cue iron chef music*

[thejapino]

Hm.
Same with mine, it fits, but like UnisaJecs said, it doesn't have any freeplay.

What are the harms it can do by not having enough freeplay?

Maybe having no play in the axle puts an inward force against the bearings in the diff when the suspension is compressed. That would also put an outward force against the rear upright/hub. Im assuming that these parts weren't engineered to handle that but Im no engineer. Sorry for my sketchy diagram:

[]<-->O<-->[]

.....[] are tires, O is diff, -- is axles. :rawk:

[babowc]

yeah, I thought of the entire force being applied on both ends of the axle.

I dont think it could possibly damage the actual diff, but possibly the hub?
This is getting interesting for sure..
I have another J30 axles laying around, so i'll see what kind of differences, if any, there are between ones in the car and one that came with the diff.

Still expecting to hear more reviews, since I'm sure alot of people run VLSD from either J30/S13

[SDS13COUPE]

Hm..
^How did you do that?

J30 diff and S13 diff have different bolt sizes..
I used the driveshaft bolts for the time being, but i'll have to purchase few more bolts so i can tidy things up..

^sounds really dangerous, haha.

I'm pretty sure it's a J30. The back cover wouldn't work since it only had 2 back cover bolts and it had that extra oil baffle at the bottom for more gear oil. I will try to take pics of my diff. Only 3 bolts on each axle lined up and when I drift it holds fine. No problemo.

[SDS13COUPE]

I have another J30 axles laying around, so i'll see what kind of differences, if any, there are between ones in the car and one that came with the diff.


The J30 axles didn't fit in my S13 uprights that's why I used my stock axles.

[SDS13COUPE]

Hmm. I was told by the guy it was a J30 and it came with the 5 bolt axles. Idk. All I know is it locks good and works fine. I will definetly try to get pics up asap. This was a thread for Babowc but it's helping me too. Haha.

[Sir]

I might have a spare set of S13 axles laying around, I'll take some pics next time Im out there.

[turbo_duce40]

very interesting.... i was about to do a z32 diff wit j30 axles but now ima wait to see if there really is a problem...

[GSXRJJordan]

^^^ There's not. The REAL problem here is bolting your fucking output shafts to your axles with HALF the bolts they're supposed to have.

If you have to do that to get to work/school, whatever. To have that be your "solution" to not having the right axles - you're going to run into problems.

[MrMigs]

Plus, it's ghetto as hell...

[SDS13COUPE]

I think you guys assume too much. I don't want to keep it like that. I said that it holds fine but that doesn't mean I'm gonna keep it like that. I just left it like that for now till I source some different 5 bolt axles. I'm not even driving my S13 that often till I fix that, I daily my corolla.:bigok: Come on I'm ghetto but not that ghetto...

[McRussellPants]

The difference is less than a centimeter.

I know, I've looked, side by side.


With the suspension compressed its not an issue. when you first put them in for some reason they'll be tight but immediately loosen up when you roll the car and they'll have about a centimeter of free play off the output shaft.

babocabab probably has the output shafts in backwards or not seated all the way. I made that mistake too.



180SX VLSD output/carrier
J30 Re-manufacutred Axles.

[GSXRJJordan]

s13 and S14 clearances the same McRuss? You're still rollin an S14 right? I know we're talkin axle lengths and all, but you think it's noticeably different on diff chassis?

[McRussellPants]

I have an S13.


6h axles between S13/S14 should be the same. S14 would be longer if anything.

[babowc]

Actually, finished installing the entire thing today.
The two axles I got from J30, i only used one of, which was the shorter one.
Then I had spare Z32 axles laying around, utilized the shorter one for that as well.
fits like a charm.

The J30 axle (longer) was too long and the back cover popped off, resulting in a bearing falling out, etc. etc. Could've also been my alignment was off severly, since i just installed rear multi links.

Anyhow.. I was pretty surprised the Z32 axle worked, and if it works, it works for me.
it fits perfect and I had it on when the suspension was completely de-compressed (w.o shocks) and it sat fine.
I had the suspension (w.o shocks) fully compressed and it was also fine.

I still have the longer z32 and j30 axles.. so if anything goes wrong, I can always substitute, but I think it'll be good how it is.

[Sir]

I just installed mine yesterday.
J30 axles fit fine, still had room to compress them to get the diff in there.

[babowc]

meh, maybe it was just how my ruca were setup.
maxed @ neg camber, and i guess that had something to do with it.

[projectRDM]

Alright, I can't believe I missed all two pages of this nonsense.

S14 axles are slightly longer than S13s, same size as J30s. You can use the J30 axles easily in an S14, but in the S13, as mentioned, they're a hair long. People still use them anyway.
Z32 NA axles are even longer than S14/J30, but as mentioned you can mix/match and get the right setup.
JDM 180SX axles are identical to US axles in length but have the 5bolt flange.

Q45 axles are not only too long, they have a larger spline and won't work, same with Z32 TT.

[thejapino]

There's your answer right there. :bowdown:

[babowc]

Alright, I can't believe I missed all two pages of this nonsense.

S14 axles are slightly longer than S13s, same size as J30s. You can use the J30 axles easily in an S14, but in the S13, as mentioned, they're a hair long. People still use them anyway.
Z32 NA axles are even longer than S14/J30, but as mentioned you can mix/match and get the right setup. JDM 180SX axles are identical to US axles in length but have the 5bolt flange.

Q45 axles are not only too long, they have a larger spline and won't work, same with Z32 TT.


I suppose thats what I ended up doing.
Good thing I had a set of Z32 axles laying around.

I'll see if J30 axles can fit later, if the Z32s bust or something..
Which im sure would be a long time later!

would camber affect the fitting of axles?

[UNISA JECS]

Old thread I know but I never seen anyone put measurements up so I will:

S13 axle lenghts stock

Compressed lenght measured from flange to axle end of thread:

23.5"

and

25"

Uncompressed is:

25"

and

26.5"

Sorry forgot which side was longer and shorter if soemone can tell me i'll edited it to say so.

[oneviaman]

had the same problem. i just kinda ghetto shortened the long one like 1/2in. works like a charm.