Anyone have a welded center diff?

[Baron4406]

Ok something I noticed with the virgin drive of my project/basket case '93 Talon AWD, I went to turn out of the garage and the car wouldn't move, felt like the brakes were on. I straightened the wheels out and it was fine. After I drove it and felt how the trans shifted like butter made me think the trans has a welded center diff. Tight turns and slow speeds feel like my 2005 Xterra did in 4WD. The car will just be a playtoy and its gonna be drag raced a fair deal, still I plan on driving it alot. Should I try and find a trans with a more livable diff? I really cant see this trans being stock either, it shifts like butter at any RPM. Cool huh?

 

[GRAVEDIGGER]

Yeah, it sounds like it has a welded center diff. I have one in mine and it is a bear to manuver in tight spots. It will definitely bind up if you are turning and free up again if the wheel is straightened up. I don't dd mine so I can live with it. If you drive alot and HAVE to do some tight turns (like parking lots or parking in your garage etc.)it might get old pretty quick though.

 

[Bender]

Sounds a lot like a welded diff. Make sure your tires are the same size, have the same wear, and are kept at the same pressure.

You can get a 4 spider center diff upgrade which is stronger than the conventional 2 spider, but still allows slippage.

 

[jnf63]

As mentioned already, you appear to have a welded center differential. When a shop rebuilt my A/T, I immediately went back to them and asked what would be causing my car to chirp the tires while trying to park in a parking lot. I had not known that the shop was going to even perform such a change. I had informed the shop that I do not race it, and I really doubt anything was wrong with my spider gears. After about a year, I had my A/T returned to normal spider gears (an added expense) because a welded center differential is a huge annoyance while turning corners slowly. If you plan on driving your AWD Talon on the street a lot, then you are probably going to become annoyed at the way the car handles around slow turns.
Jim

 

[mattdev]

I have a welded center diff, and I love it! It's on my daily (my only car) and is no big deal. Everyone makes a ruckuss over welded, and yes, it like to hop around when at full lock, who cares?! Some say it is bad for the drivetrain, but if the inside wheel is actually spinning then the shock to the drivetrain is minimal. It's not a big deal IMO, and it gets rid of the POS Viscous LSD...

BTW, that was a front diff pictured.

 

[1995gsx20g]

I have a welded center diff, and I love it! It's on my daily (my only car) and is no big deal. Everyone makes a ruckuss over welded, and yes, it like to hop around when at full lock, who cares?! Some say it is bad for the drivetrain, but if the inside wheel is actually spinning then the shock to the drivetrain is minimal. It's not a big deal IMO, and it gets rid of the POS Viscous LSD...

BTW, that was a front diff pictured.

finally a dsmer that doesn't mind to daily a welded diff. i have a spool for where the vc used to go. haven't had the chance to put it in yet. imo as long as you have power steering why not. 60ft is way better!!

 

[4pistons]

I welded my center diff 9 YEARS ago, I've put over 90,000 daily driver miles on it, Drag Raced it, and Autocrossed it. I would never go back to the stock open diff. Here's my writeup on it Welding a Center Diff - How and Why - DSM Forums

Here's a thread discussing the same thing - http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/drivetrain-tech/334915-welded-center-dif.html Check out the videos of a drag race launch near the end.

Rick - '91 GSX

 

[Bender]

Funny someone mentioned power steering. I don't have power steering and I have a welded diff. It makes having a welded diff less noticeable since you don't turn lock to lock anyways.

 

[1995gsx20g]

Funny someone mentioned power steering. I don't have power steering and I have a welded diff. It makes having a welded diff less noticeable since you don't turn lock to lock anyways.

its because i drove a welded diff with no power steering, pulling a 180 in a parking lot 2 lanes wide(like most im in) was not something i ever want to with out power steering again. a dsm stock has a very poor turning radius to begin with and with a welded diff even worse. being a 2g has no "easy" manual rack swap im keeping power steering. i live in a city compared to most people on the board.

im pretty sure i read both of those threads but am going to again tonight. i have seen the slowmotion launch and wont settle for less

and there's nothing like hopping fully locked while backing out and people give you the craziest look in the world and you put on the biggest smile in the world, its priceless every time

i have been debating on weather or not its worth the money to get a qualif for the front diff while having the center welded. currently i don't do any autocross but that could change the day i finally compete in an event or even go to one, hopefully this summer. maby just run one of those cheap inserts..

 

[talondave]

I'm new to the welded center diff, I had a shep stage 4 with a 4 spider gear diff last year. And for this year I sent my tranny to shep to get it welded! Can't wait to rip the shizz nezz out of this thing. Car should be ready to rip wednesday!!!

 

[Bender]

I found I started liking my center diff after I blew my rear end and driveshaft out at the track. Being able to still drive home in FWD mode instead of calling a flatbed on a Sunday saved me $135.

 

[GRAVEDIGGER]

I found I started liking my center diff after I blew my rear end and driveshaft out at the track. Being able to still drive home in FWD mode instead of calling a flatbed on a Sunday saved me $135.

I hear ya on that one. It saved me one night when I was at the track and pushed the wimpy little 3bolt axle over its limit. I just unbolted what was left of the axle and pulled it out. Then stuffed a paper shop towel into the hole and drove it home.

 

[slowgsr]

I've driven home with broken tcases since I have a welded diff.

 

[codeofdastreets]

So if you diff is not welded you can't drive home wit a broken axle??

 

[mindset]

I daily drive my car with a welded center diff. Does anyone else experience chirping if you pull into a driveway? Even going slow it will chirp the front tires. Kinda funny but it has no slip at all.

 

[1995gsx20g]

So if you diff is not welded you can't drive home wit a broken axle??

if you break an axle and try to drive it you will most likely blow the vc

i forgot about this bonus with a welded center diff add that on the list of bonus's

-60ft way better
-drive home with a broken axle
-drive home with a broken t-case
-not breaking weak spider gears

 

[mattdev]

if you break an axle and try to drive it you will most likely blow the vc

i forgot about this bonus with a welded center diff add that on the list of bonus's

-60ft way better
-drive home with a broken axle
-drive home with a broken t-case
-not breaking weak spider gears

-60ft way better
-drive home with a broken axle
-drive home with a broken t-case
-not breaking weak spider gears
-get sideways consistently and predictably

 

[Bender]

Actually, I doubt you would be able to move at all. The center diff is pretty much an open diff, so once it senses no load on the rear wheels, that is where it will direct all the power. It would be like breaking one halfshaft on a FWD car with an open diff.


Also, add better awd donuts in the snow to the list of good things with a welded center diff.

 

[4pistons]

-60ft way better
-drive home with a broken axle
-drive home with a broken t-case
-not breaking weak spider gears
-get sideways consistently and predictably

And a welded diff eliminates the weak thrust washers which prevents excess output shaft endplay.
Then you don't end up with stripped splines... like this:

<img src="http://www.dsmtuners.com/gallery/files/7/9/2/7/failed_shaft1.jpg" alt="Failed Output Shaft" />

Rick - '91 GSX

 

[1995gsx20g]

-60ft way better
-drive home with a broken axle
-drive home with a broken t-case
-not breaking weak spider gears
-get sideways consistently and predictably

i was waiting for this one..

 

[1995gsx20g]

-60ft way better
-drive home with a broken axle
-drive home with a broken t-case
-not breaking weak spider gears
-get sideways consistently and predictably

-take out your driveshaft and transfer case because your rear diff has alot of backlash and is thumping really bad and still drive the car as a daily until you can afford a new diff

 

[talontd92tsi]

You guys are really making me want to pull out my center diff and get it welded...

The trans only has 8 miles on it though!

 

[1995gsx20g]

You guys are really making me want to pull out my center diff and get it welded...

The trans only has 8 miles on it though!

do it!!

but really i would do it at 1000 miles when you change your oil.

 

[92dsm1]

I broke a rear axle on my old car which was a 90 with a 3 bolt and a stock tranny and still drove the car the 30 miles home from the track. I did not have a problem just took a little more effort taking off and on hills. I did not know it was a broken axle until I got all four off the ground and spun each wheel. When I pulled the rear end out the Pass. axle fell right out, axle was broke just inside the diff.. I put a 4 bolt rear in it and the VC was not noticably hurt at all. I recently last week broke my center diff on my 92 so now I am getting a welded diff., damn Competion Clutch stage 4 little to rough on the diff for a DD.

 

[Baron4406]

I was a little surprised to see the thread I started almost two months ago got so many responses, I'm really hating driving this welded diff everyday, even trying to pull into my garage is a challenge. However after reading all these responses and realizing my car is mostly a track beater and fun play car I'll keep it. Funny I have a comfortable, quiet and fun to drive Focus SVT sitting out back and its sits now. When I hopped into it a few days ago to go to the store I was like......where is all the power? This thing is too darn quiet and it turns too easily-no chirping . So my rough riding, noisy as all get out, cranky DSM gets driven daily now.