Suspension And Drivetrain Question

[TriniGT]

I have recently acquired a GT Four and I am in the process of swapping an R32 RB26DETT into it. The thing is the engine has upgrades and have been told that the rear diff has been too upgraded and want to swap the diff onto the sedan. Besides this the rear suspension on the R32 has complete Nismo arms that I want to swap as well, which arms can work, the toe, traction and LCA only or can I get away with the circular RUCA as well for my setup? What do you all advise for the diff swap, will I need to swap the guts from the R32 into the R34 housing and can it physically fit without problems and will I need to shim it? Your advice please as I am not sure on the R34 sedan where the speed signal is pulled from if the rear diff or the transmission/gearbox?

[GTSBoy]

The R34 rear suspension is a better arrangement than the R32, so don't swap anything from the R32 over. In fact, the R32 arms won't go onto the R34 subframe anyway. Going backwards by trying to fit the R32 subframe to the R34 doesn't seem smart.

The diffs are sort of compatible. If you are putting the 32 GTR's front diff in with the new engine then you probably have to change the rear diff anyway (unless they both have the same ratio). I'm not completely sure of what's going to work and what's not here, not least because I don't exactly what diff is in the back of a 34 GT Four. The GTR diffs have larger diameter half shafts and I don't know if you can fit those into other R200 housings. And the GTR half shafts are 6 bolt so you need to use GTR driveshafts with them as well. The GTR diff also uses a CV joint type connection to the rear end of the tailshaft, which the RWD Skylines do not (they use uni joints) but I don't know if the GT Four has one or the other. You really need to get under there and see what you have, and see if the mounts on the 34 subframe for the diff will pick up the 32GTR mounts.

You won't need to shim the GTR diff unless it is worn.

The R34 speed signal is off the gearbox, so no problem there. Only the S15 took it off the diff housing.

[TriniGT]

Thanks for some answers, not swapping the R32 subframe, just some arms so will check things over and compare diffs to see what can work. This is a GT four but the rear suspension has eye hole shock ends so I am thinking of swapping the rear spindles for R34 GTR setups and using R34 GTR coilovers. Will see when I begin working on the car in a week or two.

[KiwiRS4T]

I have an R32 GTR diff in the back (and the front) of my Stagea. I also used 6x1 half shafts (but swapped the abs sensors from the Stagea axles). but watch axle lengths - there are some different ones about GTR, 260RS, GTS-4 Z32 all in 6x1 and some are different left and right. Don't know how the attessa pump is mounted on the GTS-4 but on the Stagea it is different from the 32GTR so had to remount it.

[mystery_kid]

I think you will have issues with compliance for an older model engine in a newer car

Older rb26 won't meet the standards for the year restrictions the r34 was Released.

Edited March 11, 2012 by mystery_kid

[TriniGT]

Don't worry with the compliance, here in the Caribbean it ain't a factor. As for the Axles, I also have access to R34 front spindles and axles so if need be I can use them as well. Actually that may make it easier for the rear also if the R34 sedan and GTR have the same abs setup as I can get my hands on a GTR R34 rear subframe as well with axles and spindles as well but I really want use the R32 diff guts to match the front diff that came with the engine. Will find out what can work and measure things up and get back to you all, unless someone has done this before and can clarify.

[KiwiRS4T]

R32 GTR RB26 will have a 4.1 diff in it unless someone has swapped it so you will need the GTR rear diff as well (or at least the crownwheel and pinion). So far as I know the front half shafts are all the same but not 100% on that. The front driveshaft is definitely the same (GTS-4, Stagea, GTR).

R34 GTR rear diff is 3,545:1 so no use to you.