Welded Center Diff now hard to move car forward.

[TheBoz]

I just put a welded center diff in the car. Before the center diff, the car ran great. Now it is very hard to move the car forward. It does not matter if the car is in, gear or not. It feels like the car has the emergency break on all the time.

So what we have checked so far.

1. pulled the rear brakes off the car. Still there
2. pulled the Transfer case - The rear wheels now spin fine even with the drive shaft still in the transfercase. The transfer case spins freely.
3. The front Diff still works fine, both of the front wheels will spin freely.

So I am not sure If maybe I jacked something up on the install of the center diff or what this could be. Any info is welcome.

 

[TheBoz]

No Replies yet, so I have another question.

Should it be hard to roll the car forward with a welded center diff. Like if you put the car into nutural, and and just push the car by hand should it be easy for the car to move or should it be harder.

So after I put the Tcase back on the car and lowered the car it was able to move freely forward and backwards. I then started the car and backed down my driveway, and then it was hard to move it forward and backwards again.

I am guessing that I just messed up something when putting the trans back together however I am not sure.

Does anyone have any info at all?

 

[ilco187]

i have a welded center diff since i shattered a 4spider gear center diff every now and then it will bind up as you accelerate into reverse it will lock up and when i go forward it will free then lock up i dont know what its doin but i just exploded the welded diff a week ago

 

[TheBoz]

Did you install your center diff? So let me see if I understand you. Sometimes when you backup it will bind up and then when you are going forward it will be fine.

Mine seems to always be bound up. Evreything spins freely after the install, I then put the car on the ground, and it rolls forwards and backwards easy. As soon as I back out of my driveway, 20-30feet the car is very hard to move forward, it seems to free up once the car is moving forward, however once I pull back into the garage, completly straight it will be hard to push the car forward by hand.

Now this could be a by product of the welded center diff, however I cannot find any info on the internet about it.

So how did your car drive with the welded center in?

 

[ilco187]

i havent had a awd trans apart but i soon will, as for when pushing it a few times i have pushed it ok and some others it will move 2 feet and lock up and be stuck.

downfalls i have had with a welded center is reduced turn radius as meaning no excessive tight turns, bein stopped at a stop light and it locks up as i tried to accelerate,

the positives more straight line acceleration and winter fun less chance of 2 spider gear breaking and better launch off line

 

[turbo90gsx]

Did you or someone else weld the differential?

 

[TheBoz]

I had Jacks Transmission weld the center diff. Everything on that looked perfect. I am just curious if I put the trans back together wrong or if this is how it is supposed to work. It feels like there is something wrong but this is my first time with a welded center diff.

 

[toofast82]

I had Jacks Transmission weld the center diff. Everything on that looked perfect. I am just curious if I put the trans back together wrong or if this is how it is supposed to work. It feels like there is something wrong but this is my first time with a welded center diff.

I'm under the impression you removed/installed the center diff yourself and had Jack's weld it? It is possible there was an error during assembly?
Have you driven it yet or just pushied it?

 

[TheBoz]

Correct, I removed the transmission took it appart, sent Jacks the Center Diff he welded it and mailed it back to me. I then reassembeled the trans and put it back in the car. I have driven the car up and down the street. Once the car is moving forward it feels ok, however once I come to a stop it feels like everything is binding up.

 

[99gst_racer]

No, that's not normal.
As long as the steering wheel is straight, you shouldn't have any issues pushing the car forward or backward.

My 2G has a welded center diff, and I can move it around by pushing on the windshield/hatch glass with one hand. With the steering wheel even slightly turned in either direction, it's a different story though.

 

[dsm-onster]

My 2G has a welded center diff, and I can move it around by pushing on the windshield/hatch glass with one hand. With the steering wheel even slightly turned in either direction, it's a different story though.

So based on the above, are you severely out of alignment?

Also, did you reinstall the viscous coupler?

 

[TheBoz]

Yes, everything went back into the transmission. I did not have any bonus parts . The cars alignment is good. The car tracks very well.

If you guys are saying that the car should move forward and backwards smoothly then this is for sure a problem with the transmission. Do you guys have any suggestions as to what to check. I will pull the trans off this weekend and take it appart again.

 

[Ahsieh2]

This is a crazy thought, but are you sure that the tires/wheels are the same size? The slight difference in wheel diameter of even a worn vs new wheel could cause some binding that the VC would have allowed for.

 

[99gst_racer]

This is a crazy thought, but are you sure that the tires/wheels are the same size? The slight difference in wheel diameter of even a worn vs new wheel could cause some binding that the VC would have allowed for.

I had considered tire wear, but I'm unsure if that could play a large enough role.

Lets compare two like DSM tires, one with .375 less tread. The difference in circumference between the two is roughly 2.25". So, the question is: Is that a larger enough circumference varation to cause binding?

 

[TheBoz]

Tires are pretty new, maybe about 2-3000 miles on them, they are all the same size. I am going to check the tire pressure tonight and set them all the same.

I also sent Jack at Jackstransmissions this stuff and here is what he had to say:

Hello, it sounds like your gear ratio between the front and rear wheels is not correct. The rear diff should say 3.545 on the back. Here is a quick video on how to check the t-case:

Gear set identification

If those check out okay I wonder if the front diff in the trans is the wrong ratio. Are the trans and t-case original? What year is the car?

So first off, Jacks Transmissions if awesome. Super cool people willing to help even though I was the one to mess this thing up. Next I am pulling the trans out this weekend and I will count the teeth and see if everything is what it is supposed to be.