Welded Diff, Too Dangerous for the Street?

[Cyberkreig]

The title says it all. I've decided that VLSD isnt for me, but with the turbo blown out I dont have the cash for a Clutchtype. Not to mention i dont want a 1k$ diff that needs to be serviced or replaced every year or two.

[Cyberkreig]

12 views with no responses, I gues i'm being impatient. Is this a stupid question? or does no one know/have experience with this?

[marshun]

i have a welded diff now. if this car is your daily then it might irratate you a bit. if you have power steering still then its not a problem in small turns, you'll just hear the wheel hop.

[Saru of the West]

its not dangerous but it is not the best get ready for some skeet skeet skeet.

[Exar-Kun]

diffys dont come welded from the factory for a reason, being able to turn is a good thing.-chet

[Altiman94]

Dont do it. Just buy an lsd and save urself the heartache later

[JJ240]

If you dont want to spend the money on a clutch type diff do it, just pick up an extra open diff from somewhere so if you grow old of it, or if your welds break you have something to go back to. When the welds break in a welded diff it very very rarely ends up going back to a one wheel wonder...usually it goes to no wheel wonder :-)

But you can pick up a tomei 2-way diff from http://www.tougefactory.com for a good price, and you dont need to overhaul it really that often, just need to change fluids.

[Stuntman240]

where is the diff on their site i cant find it. im a dumbass.

[JJ240]

I actually dont think its listed on their site. But they have them just call dave up and ask or email them. I may be completely wrong but I think the price was $695. Seriously dont quote me on that it may have been a special deal or I may just be way off.

[santi]

wow 695 would be a steal for a tomei 2 way.. i thought surely more like 1000

[JJ240]

Ok, just checked with my friend who got one and he paid 895 for it from them, I think it went down since then though. Just have to call and find out I guess.

[Cyberkreig]

Thanks to everyone who has replied so far. The yays and nays seem pretty balanced, and thats OK, I wanted to hear both sides of the coin.

jj240, i more than appreicate the tip. But while 700 is a steal compaired to 1000, both are way more than zero. Snow is comming faster than we all realize, and while I dont have to drive my car every day, stuff happens, weather changes and i'd like to have two tires spinning just in case. Not to mention the potential fun to be had.

Is there any reason i cant get the diff welded now and upgrade later? Even if the welds broke and destroyed the ring gear, I think all the diff internals are cheaply replaceable.

[Phax]

Snow is comming faster than we all realize, and while I dont have to drive my car every day, stuff happens, weather changes and i'd like to have two tires spinning just in case.

The last thing you want is to try to make a turn on a slick surface with a welded diff. You'll end up backwards in no time. With a welded diff, the wheels always want to turn at the same speed, even while turning. That means that one of them has to break traction for you to turn. Broken traction + ice = BAD.

[Cyberkreig]

I'm aware of that. But you might want a welded or limited slip diff if you were stuck in the snow, or if you had to stop at a stop sign and get going again.

edit: All i mean to say is that careful driving and just going slower can get you home safe in the situation you describe.

[leroy0053]

this is what we do over here. i shim lock viscous diffs. they break u can drive home on them. have i ever seen one break, yeah why he was a jackass didnt service his diff with enough oil. only the viscous diffs can be shim locked. open diffs yeah u can weld them. they break u are done no more drive home.

in about 3-4 weeks driftosenyou.com will have a tutorial on locking diffs. i will be the one doin the locking. easy task.

[Exar-Kun]

wleded diffs in snow wouldnt be much better than an open one, because they cant jugle orque between tire losing/gaining traciton like a LSD can.

once you weld the diff, you're SOL(try going in reverse and turning...). just get a VLSD for now for like 350 from phase-2 or PDM or something and call it a day.-chet

[santi]

hey leroy.. when the shim locks break does it go back to vlsd style diff or is it just an open diff but still gets you home.. and how much does it lock.. .. just wondering that sounds interesting.. i'll be looking forward to that tutorial

[leroy0053]

when it breaks it goes to vlsd style and its time to get another one. if u research some place in the states sells some spider gear mechanism that locks the vlsd. $300. now that would be cool. consider this, i guess yall pay 2-300 for a vlsd just by somethin like that and not worry about it. also as to shimming the diff just the same as welding it, always locked just safer than welding it.

[s13sr20chris]

i have never used my welded diff; it just sits under my bench at work. if anyone wants it i will sell for $100 plus shipping. i will ship it with no inputs and no axles for less weight if you want. or if you want axles and inputs then ill throw them in there too. i know this isnt the b/s/t forum so just email me if you want it. [email protected]

[nab911]

Welded in the snow sounds dangerous. Knowing how bad it comes out in the snow just from driving makes it jsut scary to think about that it WILL come out EVERY time you take a turb going more then 25-30.