2003-2008 350Z Rear Differential Carriers: Open vs VLSD, Manual vs Automatic

US-market non-NISMO 2003-2008 Nissan 350Z Coupe and 2004-2008 Roadster complete factory rear final-drive carrier assemblies only. Open Coupe, factory viscous-limited-slip, manual/automatic and 3.538/3.357 branches are separated. Every Infiniti G35, 2009 Roadster, factory NISMO, non-US/JDM application, welded carrier, internal rebuild, gear swap and aftermarket-LSD conversion is excluded.

OEM numbers

Complete rear final-drive assemblies: 38301-0C422 for the checked Coupe without limited slip/open branch38301-2C322 for factory VLSD with automatic transmission

38301-2C422 for factory VLSD with manual transmission. Open output flanges: 38220-AR000, quantity two. VLSD output flanges: passenger side 38220-AR010 and driver side 38220-AR011. Companion-flange production families: 38210-0C020 through 07/2004 and 38210-EC020 from 07/2004 onward. Rear antiskid sensor rotor: 47950-AR000, quantity two, 46 teeth. Common rear-cover reference 38351-0C000. Internal VLSD references 38420-2C000 automatic, 38420-2C500 manual and viscous coupling 38760-2C010 are not complete carrier assemblies.

Supersession

No complete-carrier supersession chain is asserted. The checked catalog flags 38301-2C322 and 38301-2C422 as multi-supersession records without exposing one safe successor. The 38210-0C020 to 38210-EC020 companion-flange change occurs at 07/2004 production, but it is retained as a build branch rather than claimed as universal interchange. Never cross 38301-0C422, 38301-2C322 and 38301-2C422 based on housing appearance.

Fitment

Confirm US-market 350Z, Coupe versus Roadster, VIN/build date, six-speed manual versus five-speed automatic, open versus factory VLSD, and installed/donor assembly identity. The checked open 38301-0C422 path is Coupe-only and uses the 3.538 manual ratio; no factory open-automatic or Roadster-open branch was exposed. Factory VLSD manual 38301-2C422 uses 3.538, while factory VLSD automatic 38301-2C322 uses 3.357. Match the companion flange across the 07/2004 production break, open versus asymmetric VLSD output flanges, and both 46-tooth rear sensor rotors. The sensor rotors are pressed onto the side flanges; rear wheel sensors are separate. Confirm cover, breather, mounts, plugs, flanges, rotors and hardware actually included. Do not infer G35, NISMO or 2009 Roadster fitment from seller overlap.

Aftermarket options

No universal aftermarket complete-carrier replacement is claimed. Correctly identified used factory assemblies are the principal checked replacement path. Housing-only listings, internal viscous units, welded differentials, clutch/helical aftermarket LSDs, 3.69/3.9/4.08 gear conversions and ring-and-pinion rebuilds are separate specialist work and outside this guide.

Before you buy

This page covers US non-NISMO 2003-2008 350Z Coupe and 2004-2008 Roadster factory complete rear carriers only. Match VIN/build, body, transmission, open versus factory VLSD, 3.538 versus 3.357 ratio, exact carrier identity, companion flange, output flanges and both 46-tooth rear sensor rotors. A complete-looking housing does not prove its ratio, VLSD contents or condition, and hand-spinning the outputs does not prove a worn viscous unit is healthy. G35, 2009 Roadster, NISMO, welded units, swaps and internal rebuilds are excluded. Support the heavy assembly safely; never jack under the aluminum rear cover, protect wheel-sensor wiring and follow the current Nissan procedure and lubricant specification.

Research and fitment sources

Supersede reviewed 24 unique research sources for this guide. 12 also appear above as a seller or official action and are not repeated here; 12 additional citations follow.

Research last verified 2026-07-27.

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