AaronMC

I have an S13, non-ABS, open diff. I went to Pick n Pull and found myself a few J30s and ripped one of the differentials out, opened it up, and tore out the VLSD. Now I'm not going to be a noob like everyone else and ask why the 5-bolt won't fit onto my stock axles. Instead, I have a question that I cannot find the answer to, and am unsure if the subject has even been addressed.

Out of the 5-bolt axle pattern and 6-bolt axle pattern, which is more efficient? Is there even a difference in torque loss between the two patterns? I'm not going to be a simpleton and say the 6-bolt is better ("obvi, since it has one more bolt") -__- since the 6-bolt axle has only 3 flanges held by 12mm bolts, versus the 5-bolt axle which has 5 flanges in the shape of a star held by 14mm bolts. I'm only concerned because I have plans to be pushing over 500 horses to those rear wheels in the next couple years, and am curious if any of you Nissan/Silvia veterans have the answer to my question.

I found a J30 with the 6-bolt output shafts, as well as a J30 with the 5-bolt output shafts and axles, both in great condition, so both options are open to me (for now, these parts go quick at PnP, I'm hoping to get an answer tonight) and pricing is not a concern (it's Pick n Pull lol).

alixander2012

Sounds like you answered it for yourself. With the 5 bolt axles the torque is more evenly spread along the axle. The reason the 6 bolt axles have 6 bolts is to make up for the loss of the torque being absorbed evenly it's just extra strengthening.

AaronMC

Thanks man, I just wanted to make sure I wasn't making up my own laws of torque.
So this leads to my next question: if the 5-bolt is more effective at transferring torque through the axle, then how come Nissan stopped using it in the J30 in '94 and changed to the 6-bolt? Lol seems like a step backward, don't you think?

alixander2012

The 6-bolt and 5-bolt xfer torque at the same effectiveness. The bolt bolt was merely a difference, not better... not worse.

KiLLeR2001

S15's use a 6-bolt setup as well. I personally prefer 6-bolt over 5-bolt.

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fliprayzin240sx

Who cares, you dont have to worry about these axles until you're making a buttload of power and torque (above 600hp range).

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AaronMC

Like I said in the original post ^^^^ I plan on pushing over 500 horses, most likely over 600 in the next year or two, strategic planning for the future dude.

But thanks everyone for the input!

eek

If guys that have a TT swap in their NA Z32 chassis, and modded NON-GTR skylines making over 500hp have no issues with the 5bolt axles you should be fine.

milesbizzell

I grabbed a z32 NA diff (5bolt) from the pick n pull tore out the NA axels and used my s14 axels from a one wheel wonder diff base model (6bolt) with ABS because i did not want to change my wheels, I have the 4 lug. so org. gear on the z32 diff was 4.03.
Car pulls hard from the line with pos traction engauged, (2.0) 60 ft no problems untill I hit 100mph. then the whole diff sounds lik it is going to explode with shaking and loud growl on the highway.
Ideas anyone?
i have a 97 SR incase anyone is wondering, not that that matters in this question.