Welded center diff at the track

[aDee]

Any advantages of having a welded center diff at the road course?

Is any of the shift light users experience a short, random flashes at idle or when the rpms drop? (Moroso w/ adjustable knob) Can this be a sign of some fault in the ignition system?

thanks

 

[underradar92]

Any advantages of having a welded center diff at the road course?



thanks

I can't imagine a point on a road course where forcing two wheels to slip, would be any kind of advantage.

When the center diff is locked, all 4 tires are on differing radii while turning, and 1 front and 1 rear are now forced to slip to make a turn. This effect should be less prounounced on a large radius sweeper, although a fast sweeper is where I'd like as much side grip as possible.

Optimally all tires would share turning duties, taking 2 out mechanically seems sub-optimal.

Which makes me wonder why, aside from ease of rule enforcement, Australian V8 Supercar spec's a spooled rear axle. Equally compromised?

 

[Elvenhome21]

If I made my fwd into a full track only car I would weld the front diff up in a heartbeat. With a bigger sway bar say about 1inch or 1-1/4" in diameter in the front, the bind you would get from turning with a locked diff would be partially eliminated because when the car would roll in the corner it would unload the inside tire allowing it to be able to slip (or equalize the speed difference).

I have no experience with racing an awd yet but, heres what I would do.
I would leave the front diff alone and I would weld the center diff. It shouldn't cause to much of an issue because the inside and outside wheels per axle have to compinsate approx. the same overall distance. But the advantage really comes in for rain and hard accel. out of tight corners where you are still turning when you mash the gas.

 

[underradar92]

Ok, don't take my word for it. Read this, it gets to the point around post 23. http://dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=193255&highlight=welded+diff

 

[JOEY A]

You might get more understeer in some areas...

 

[konicom]

Ok, don't take my word for it. Read this, it gets to the point around post 23. http://dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=193255&highlight=welded+diff

I have to agree with the extensive writeup in one of the posts.
I've been running a welded center differ for over a year now - mostly Autocrossing.
Since its mostly tighter corner / slower speed competition, i don't beleive there is an advantage to have one - infact i beleive it makes the car far more understeery. Unless you can compensate for that with the suspension setup to make the tail looser ( and loose more time ) you will notice a big disadvantage. I beleive the above problem on a road course would be less pronounced as the speeds are greater and corners longer.

Im ready to swap - anybody??

 

[Elvenhome21]

I would swap

 

[konicom]

I would swap

what do you have?

 

[Elvenhome21]

the green car in my avatar is a GST, with an open front diff. With the slicks I had on it at Road America I was roasting the inside tire in most of the corners from acceleration (stock 14b 7 psi boost). I wish that car had a welded front diff but without PS it would be impossible to drive.

I now sold that car and will be taking the red 91 I just picked up to RA for Nasa in the fall.