Welded Differential Drivability? (AWD)

[Clinical]

Okay so I've realized that going to a 4spider simply won't be in my budget this winter and am considering running a welded differential.

I tried to search this but it seems like the site's search function isn't working for me, wont load pages I try to open.

I'll be running around 400whp+ next winter and don't want to rely on my stock diff.

My car isn't a daily driver but I do drive it a lot, I drive it 140 miles to the track and 140 miles back.. I can't locate a solid explanation of how poor my handling would be with a welded diff. Will it be pretty easy to make the switch as long as I don't try any super quick auto-cross like turning and such?

 

[VETTE_50_TH]

Good luck with any turns. Its hard as #### on everything. The wheels turn at the same speed, so driving slow and turning at a corner youll hear the tires skip and chirp. Itll wear down the tires much quicker and its harder to drive. I wouldnt do it.

 

[Clinical]

ugh, sounds like maybe one good idea would maybe to get my diff welded in my current tranny when I rebuild it this winter and find a stock awd tranny for around 200-300 to run and just swap to the welded diff one when I'm heading to the track.. my buddy with his 300whp civic does it but his tranny also only takes 40-60 mins to swap

 

[cookmeup272]

Just make 5 point turns instead of 3 point turns. But really if you only drive it to the track, are you making THAT many short radius turns?

 

[spooln4fun]

I'll second vette_50 on this, I have a welded center diff in my 1g and I DD and its not the greatest. It does chirp and can hear the tires gripping at different rates when I'm in a parking lot or parking spot. As for switching trannys, I know ours is know 40-60 minute job.



James- when did you get a 2g? We may have another DSM cookout if u wanna come down again.

 

[VETTE_50_TH]

Cool. Hit me up. PM me and ill send you my info. I got a 2g this winter. Motor is at the machine shop. Building a 2.3...

 

[jrohner]

I hated mine. There's so much extra load when you turn, that if you turn when going slow your engine will die if you don't give it a lot more throttle. If you mostly drive on the hwy and don't have to screw around in parking lots or turn around much you probably won't mind.

 

[fran_drivertsi]

If you are talking about welding center diff, the biggest benefit would be, first of all, eliminating the weak link in the transmission. Secondly, you will be able to run the car as RWD or FWD. For instance, if you blow your xfer case, you can just take it out, along with driveshaft, and still drive the car as FWD until you can fix it. Or you can take apart front axels and leave short parts in the hub and the tranny itself, so it doesn't leak and do some RWD drifting, which is a hella lof of fun for a little, I did it

 

[Colt4G63 also]

I have a TRE center diff spool in one of my trannies, and it launches nice! It doesn't affect normal driving much but I don't know how it would be on snow around curves. On dry or wet pavement the car handled fine; I'm pretty sure it gave a little oversteer as opposed to the normal understeer, so personally I think it may handle better with it locked.

I didn't like it in parking lot situations at all, and even when I pulled into a driveway, if I try to coast through the turn the car would just stop! Huge pain in the ass right there if you ask me. Forget trying to push the car into a parking spot in a shop or confined area.

The one thing that sucks without the spool, (I have the stock trans back in now) is that the front tires sometimes smoke during a launch. A 4 spider won't help with that of course.

 

[awd96]

I have a TRE trans with a welded diff in my 96 TSi AWD, it's fun in the winter, a slight pain going through fast food lines, and I dont like to park close when I go to stores because I don't want some idiot denting my car so I often choose the farther spots where I can pull in and out easily. I also cut consistent 1.7 60's on crappy Michelin Pilot street tires and have never blown a diff

Pick and choose your battles, if your going to make real power, go welded. Most people in the low 10's on DSM's go that route anyways, its a weak link in the trans. Or buy a Quaife

 

[dsmdeliveryboy]

I had a 240 with a welded rear diff and it was a PITA making turns, "chirp chirp chirp" Lol. I'd imagine it would be the same but with all wheels so a lot worse..

 

[99gst_racer]

I had a 240 with a welded rear diff and it was a PITA making turns, "chirp chirp chirp" Lol. I'd imagine it would be the same but with all wheels so a lot worse..

The complete opposite is true, actually. A differnetial that locks left-to-right will make turning far more difficult, because car's turn left and right. A differential that locks front-to-back will affect steering much less. The two shouldn't even be compared, IMO. Apples to oranges.


I've been street driving on a welded center diff for about 4 years now, and I love it. In my car, it's hardly even noticeable. With any other performance part that has some sort of drawback or downside, you quickly adapt and driving with it becomes second nature. The only time my welded diff really makes itself apparent is during a full-lock turn while in reverse. And that's usually only while backing out of my driveway. I've also never had a single drivetrain failure in the 4 years that I've used it.

Or buy a Quaife

Quaife front diffs are the cat's ass, but the center diffs suck for our cars.

 

[snapc3]

I daily drive my welded diff. Its a pain at first, but you learn to work with and around it, after a week or 2 I don't even notice anymore. For the price, strength/reliability/performance gain, it is worth it for sure.