onephatz Posted July 24, 2004 Share Posted July 24, 2004 can anyone please tell me why if the r-200 is supposed to be the stronger diff., why is it that I have just killed my 3rd one? took it apart today and found the same culprit as last time. the idler spider gears pin just doesn't hold up in the housing and breaks loose. any ideas of why this keeps breaking on me? thanks jesse p.s. 280z, turbo, 14psi, 5spd, 3.54 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rags Posted July 25, 2004 Share Posted July 25, 2004 Smokey burnouts on a bumpy road? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 305240 Posted July 25, 2004 Share Posted July 25, 2004 me thinks you prolly enjoying the 14psi boost way too much! lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMortensen Posted July 25, 2004 Share Posted July 25, 2004 Because it is a 2 pinion open carrier. I'd bet you'd do a lot better with a posi (all R200 clutch type posis are 4 pinion) or a 4 pinion open if they made one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgkurz Posted July 25, 2004 Share Posted July 25, 2004 Just curious, if Jessie bought a Quaffe LSD for his R200 does that do away with the 2 or 4 pinion parts or does he still have to get a 4 pinion R200? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
240Z28 Posted July 25, 2004 Share Posted July 25, 2004 Sounds like someone needs to upgrade to an R230. You'll sleep better at night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spork Posted July 25, 2004 Share Posted July 25, 2004 hmmm..never broke one and I've been running 25psi on a hybrid with 9 inch wide M&H slicks out back... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zgeezer Posted July 25, 2004 Share Posted July 25, 2004 I think infiniti M30's are 4 pinion open R200 "long neck" rear ends. g Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pop N Wood Posted July 25, 2004 Share Posted July 25, 2004 The weak point in an R200 is the spider gears. You have proved that those are the first to fail. You need an LSD of some type. Spinning just one wheel is what that gives the spider gears a work out. Many have said the LSD types, whether it is a quiaffe or otherwise, hold up much better for just this reason. Since you have 3 broken R200's, why not try welding up the broke spider gears and swapping that in for hard running track days? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest the_dj Posted July 25, 2004 Share Posted July 25, 2004 Hehe. Were you doing donuts by any chance? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug71zt Posted July 25, 2004 Share Posted July 25, 2004 Late 86 and newer Z31 have 4-pinion diffs from the factory(or LSD). Spider gears really don't like one-wheel burnouts or shock-loading. I blew up an R200 with one wheel spinning on gravel and then hitting pavement. But, that was being stoopid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buZy Posted July 25, 2004 Share Posted July 25, 2004 I have the R200 in my 71 240z 327 T56. It's an open diff non posi unit. Are you guys saying hear that if I were to ugrade to a posi unit I would pick up more strength?? Going from a 2 pinion spider gear carrier to a 4 pinion spider carrier?? I dont know much about these rear ends. All I know is that I have worked way to hard on mine getting it to run smooth to go out and wreck it. lol. I see these light independant rear end cars as more road racing cars than drag cars with low ets. With a almost balanced car would a posi unit better my already great cornering? I know a detroit locker type diff is too much lock up for cornering and expensive. Any suggestions? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug71zt Posted July 25, 2004 Share Posted July 25, 2004 The road racing guys may have to step in on this one, But my car had more push (understeer) with the LSD.It does change the handling of the car. But that can be compensated for with tire pressures, sway bars, etc. Even upgrading to a 4 pinion open diff will be better, as we know that the R200's weak point is the spider gears. Doubling them up will make a big difference in how much abuse the diff will handle. I've never heard of any other mode of failure in the R200. The only problem is the choice of ratios available with the 12mm Ring gear late R200's - 3.7 and 3.9 are common. Doug Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMortensen Posted July 25, 2004 Share Posted July 25, 2004 Doug is right. Right now you only have one cross pin and 2 pinion gears taking the load when you go around corners or do burn outs. I'm guessing its the burn outs that are taking out your diffs. Get a 4 pinion and you've got twice the cross pin area and twice as many gears taking that load. Scumdog, the LSD makes an unbelieveable difference in the handling. Yes, a clutch type will give you more push as Doug said, but you can tune around that. I've only seen one Detroit Locker R190 ever about 10 years ago, and I've never heard of or seen another one since. That was in a friend's 510, and he put it in, drove around for about a month, then sold it. He said it was brutal, and it almost killed him getting off a rain soaked offramp one evening. When he went around corners I expected to see the differential in pieces in the middle of the road because the thing was so loud. Mat73GNZ has made spacers so that you can put your 10mm ring gear on a 12mm carrier. Don't know if he still has any left, but he sold me a set. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onephatz Posted July 26, 2004 Author Share Posted July 26, 2004 is there list of possable replacements for my failing r200. where would I find a 4 spider r200? I know where I can get a r230 in a local uwrech it. does the drive shaft have to be modifyed for a r230? I am also interested in putting 3.36 gears in my car. what 280zx came with the 3.36 r200? I also know where I can find a 87 3.7 lsd for a good price, but I would rather keep my 3.54 gears though. don't the 84-86 turbos come with a 12mm 3.54 open r200? thanks jesse p.s. I am gonna swap the rear end out this week and I'll take pictures for ya all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest plainswolf Posted July 26, 2004 Share Posted July 26, 2004 1979 280zx 2+2 4speed only had an R200 with 3.36 gears... I have one myself..the rear end that is.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest plainswolf Posted July 26, 2004 Share Posted July 26, 2004 but I never bothered to put it into my car yet.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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