lsd last question didn't get answered!!

OK, i got a 2001 xterra se and i lifted the back end off the ground and turned the back wheel. When i turned the one wheel in the back forward the other wheel in the back turned backward. I read in an earlier post that if this happens then the xterra is equipped with a open limited slip differential. But, i have the orange lsd oil only sticker on my rear axle, which i thought meant that i had the regular limited slip differential. So, my question is did nissan come out with two different limited slips for the 2001 xterra or is the open limited slip the only thing nissan provides? If you don't understand the question i can clarify more.

There is no such thing as an open limited-slip diff. It's either open, or limited-slip.

It's possible your Xterra was built without the LSD when it should have one (SEs should), or perhaps your LSD is just worn out, but I doubt that.

How did you perform the test? I assume you had the transmission in neutral, but what about the t-case? Was it in 2HI or N?

I just tried mine out. If the t-case was in 2HI, I got both tires rotating the same direction when I turned one. However, in N, I got opposite rotation. Seems the driveshaft can't spin very easily in N (not what I expected, but I did confirm I can roll the X around that way with the tranny in Park) and if it can't rotate freely the only way for the diff to go is to rotate opposite.

Another thing to try is to put a jackstand under one side, put the t-case in 2HI and the transmission in D or 1 and let the high side spin. You may hear the spider gears going bonkers in the diff, that's OK. Put your jack under the other wheel and slowly lift it until it just starts to be able to try to turn, still scraping the pavement fairly good. If the tire will only spin if it's completely off the ground, it's open, but if it will still spin while scuffing pretty good, it's LSD.
A good demo of the LSD's limitations can be seen by observing how the high tire will spin freely while the low one will come to a halt if you lower the jack a turn or so, but if you get in and hit the brake to stop the other side, then let off, both will start spinning even with the low side dragging heavily.

Brent

So, the se model xterra should have an lsd and not the open diff? Should i take my truck to the dealership and complain, because on the tag that has the sticker price of the truck, it says it has an lsd. When i performed the test i lifted the back two tires off the ground, put the transmission in neutral and left the transfer case in 2hi. When i did this the one back wheel spun forward while the other spun backward.

I'm kinda pissed about this whole thing, does anyones xterra (if u put one tire in mud and the other on pavement no matter what side of the truck u do it on) back tire thats in the mud just spin? if i do this my one tire will just spin the other tire thats on the pavement will do nothing.

The "limited" slip really sucks on Nissans! You have to engage your handbrake about 2/3 of the way to get the "limited" slip to work.

The LSD won't work if there is a large traction differential between the 2 tires. Once one gets away, it won't catch it again.

Brent