welded center dif

[Redfwdsm]

ive searched and not found anything that answers my question.
so is a welded center dif safe for street driving?

 

[jrohner]

I had one for a while and it sucked. Car jumped and jerked like crazy whenever my steering wheel was not straight. If you're idling in a parking lot or something and turn sharp the engine will kill or almost kill unless you give it some throttle.

 

[JackM]

Yes, it is safe. More so than a factory diff because the welded center keeps the car more predictable in any road condition.

Jack

 

[dSmgs-T]

Yes, it is safe. More so than a factory diff because the welded center keeps the car more predictable in any road condition.

Jack

so you would think getting the diff welded is perfectly fine?

i have heard from EVERYONE else other than you guys at Jacks saying that getting the welded diff is absolutely horrible for any type of driving other than at the track.

i would like to get to the bottom of this because i am hoping to send my trans out for a rebuild in the next week or so to finish up my BW build....

 

[JackM]

I don't know who told you that it was 'absolutely horrible'. I raced on mine all last year and drove the car every day. Most of us that make a lot of power and race regularly have welded center diffs. The welded center made life easy when learning my new setup. The only issues with a welded center that I could see on a daily driver would be increased wear on the drive train, and a little scuffing of the tires in very tight parking lot turns. A welded center takes your 2 spider diff that is the weakest link in the trans and makes it the strongest part of the trans. So it's a cheaper way to make your trans stronger.

I have seen some people try to weld the units themselves and they do it wrong. Maybe that's why they feel like crap to some. It's critical that the gear welded to the lower housing is setup so it's perfectly straight and not too much heat from the welder hits the gear or it will make noise and feel terrible.

Jack

 

[ilco187]

i have a welded center and i turned a corner tight cause the gas station was packed and it exploded in my trans now when i set at idle i hear metal rattling and when i accelerate the car acts like a slipping clutch, not to mention the hole in the back of the trans by the center diff, i dont like welded i say a 4 spyder is good for daily driving but i have yet to get one to see.

 

[JackM]

If you blew up a welded center it wasn't done right. There is no reason for a correctly welded center to break. It's comments like that which ruin a perfectly good and reliable mod.

Jack

 

[99gst_racer]

i have a welded center and i turned a corner tight cause the gas station was packed and it exploded in my trans now when i set at idle i hear metal rattling and when i accelerate the car acts like a slipping clutch, not to mention the hole in the back of the trans by the center diff, i dont like welded i say a 4 spyder is good for daily driving but i have yet to get one to see.

Who welded it and how did they do it?


I agree with Jack. If done correctly, there should never be a failure.

 

[ilco187]

Who welded it and how did they do it?


I agree with Jack. If done correctly, there should never be a failure.

i had a local trans shop do it called michiana transmission but i bet they screwed up but it has been out of warranty for the job, i like the direct strait line drivabilty but is just not good for my type of driving i hope to try a 4 spyder and be able to take sharp turns

 

[Savage Talon]

Jack does a locked center diff create under steer or over steer on a road course?

 

[Brianawd]

I have a welded center diff. After having it in the car for two years now I will never go back to a open diff. With the welded CD I can launch the car better. Before if I launched the car hard I would get wheel hop, or the car would porpoise back and forth. Those two thinks will brake a center diff. The car is also way more predictable


vid of open diff
YouTube - DSM LAUNCH SLOW MOTION

Vid of welded diff
YouTube - DSM Slo-Mo Launch Welded Center Diff

As you can see with the welded diff the power goes to all four. With the open power is going front to back. That right there is what brakes shit.

 

[JackM]

Jack does a locked center diff create under steer or over steer on a road course?

A lot of under steer. Not the ideal setup for road racing IMO, but it makes the car more predictable.

Jack

 

[DWR-DSM]

All I kno is I launch better with my diff welded than non welded b4. If you are on low idle it feels a lil hard to turn but I like the welded diff. I have no complaints about it, but you do feel the difference.

 

[T9S1i]

Been running one for over 3 years and about 14k miles. Car drives fine. You will skip the wheels making tight turns at slow speeds or making u turns. If you dont want this to happen, turn faster or make 5 point turns instead of 3 point turns...
You can drive around the welded diff, but i just pump up the tires more so they spin easier when making tight turns.

Overall i have no complaints.

 

[4pistons]

I welded my center diff 8 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

Those video comparisons are great! I never even knew how much smoother the launch is.

Rick - '91 GSX