welding diff pros/cons

Post by **Alex** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 11:29 am

hi all

i have a 90 l-series wagon, im looking to weld the diff...i use the car as a daily driver, and am wondering whether people would recommend getting it welded or not!??

cheers
Alex

BrennyV · Post by **BrennyV** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 11:52 am

lmao, i drive the leone everyday with one in it. just isnt the best in car parks and the wet

AndrewT · Post by **AndrewT** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 12:09 pm

Best way is to pop one of the rear axels out and drive it on the road with just one. Makes no difference to onroad driving at all cause you are in front wheel drive anyway.
I forget which one it is, but either the left or right one is way easier to remove and reinstall than the other.

Just means you need to spend 5 to 10 minutes putting that axel in just before you hit the dirt, but the rewards should outweigh this!

Couple key points....

- A welded diff won't wear out like an LSD will (it will always be locked solid)
- It's WAY cheaper than an LSD
- It provides you with constant drive to both rear wheels no matter what. LSD's slip at a certain point and let's face it - all the old RX LSD's won't be very tight these days and having one re-faced isn't too cheap.

Bare in mind if you have the rear end airborne with the engine at 6000rpm then come crashing down and get instant traction then you might snap an axel - ask Vidler about that!!
Oh well axels are cheap as chips anyway.

BrennyV · Post by **BrennyV** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 1:09 pm

just call me skippy

seagull · Post by **seagull** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 2:22 pm

whats the ratio , I may well have a lsd here for it

seagull

Post by **Alex** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 2:28 pm

i THINK its 3.7 its the stock L-series one....

robdddd · Post by **robdddd** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 3:06 pm

I am also considering this option in future but not too keen on having to completely remove the axle........particularly middle of winter at the end of a muddy trip!.

Anyhow if i do it I was thinking of fabricating a bracket mounted on the diff that has a short axle stub on a bearing so you just swap the diff end from diff to dummy stub and vise versa??? (is it correct you need to shorten the diff stub slightly)

Just don't like the idea of what would happen if it broke away on the open road, perhaps an additional strap/loop that would restrict it from flogging around if it did come off the dummy stub....i read ages ago of straps under tailshafts of some rear wheel drive rally cars, similar principle i suppose?

Subafury · Post by **Subafury** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 8:27 pm

sounds like a good idea...but who can weld one? and how easy is that to do?

SuBaRiNo · Post by **SuBaRiNo** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 8:55 pm

ok... i know i have an LSD so i don't to sound biased at all but i will tell u what i think.

Pros
- Unbeatable offroad
- Cheap

Cons
- You will be putting the rear under a lot more strain. You can brake studs and axles very easily.
- You need to jack up the car and lie in the dirt to install the axle.
- Driving it on the road with the axle in is a real bad idea... not good for any of your running gear.
- Easier to roll your car (watch the footage i have of the subi sedan rolling) I belive without a welded diff it wouldn't have.

Having said this however... if i did not find an LSD diff I would have welded it but i would still be looking for an LSD. I like the convenience of being able to put it in 4wd with the leaver and nothing else.

If your don't mind removing your rear axle and u want to save money then definately go the welded diff.

Dave

Jack · Post by **Jack** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 9:13 pm

Dunno anything about welding diffs, but I do know that Detroit Dominator clutch type LSD's are still available brand new. They're around the $1000 mark and while I can't afford one myself, I'm happy to share the info:

Locked Drive Systems Pty Limited
5 Peel Street, Granville, NSW, 2142, Australia
Phone: 02 9897 7912
Fax: 02 9897 7913

E-mail: [email protected]

Website: http://locked-drive.com.au/dominator.htm

mattims · Post by **mattims** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 9:18 pm

the point about the LSD's wearing is valid though, when i first had mine it would skip in car parks and could drive with the other wheel completely in the air, now i have to give it alot of revs to do that.

I havent looked into getting it rebuilt yet though. I've changed the oil a few times and that helps.. but it is great fun to use on the road in the wet and it slips enough not to bind up to bad.

seagull · Post by **seagull** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 9:29 pm

I recall now I sold the diff , it sold very fast on here .

SuBaRiNo · Post by **SuBaRiNo** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 9:29 pm

And they make these to suit the old school Subarus??

Dave

seagull · Post by **seagull** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 9:34 pm

no , I made the diff into LSD by changing the crown wheel over

seagull · Post by **seagull** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 9:35 pm

I can weld it , but it would need to be very clean inside & out

SuBaRiNo · Post by **SuBaRiNo** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 9:39 pm

I was refering to Jacks post. Yeah i have done that too Seagull... relatively easy job.

Dave

seagull · Post by **seagull** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 10:26 pm

Ok , thought that was off ball for you Dave

Jack · Post by **Jack** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 10:40 pm

SuBaRiNo wrote:And they make these to suit the old school Subarus??

Dave

Last year when I phoned Locked Drive Systems, I spoke to fella called Claus. He said to me that these LSD's were for the older type Subarus (before C clip axles).

I also asked Claus about detroit lockers and the story he told me was that 500 lockers were built for Australia some years ago, and when they were sold no more were manufactured.

If you're lucky you might come across a wrecked subie with a locker fitted, but it's a very slim chance. Yarney and I stumbled across a lifted MY a few weeks ago in a wrecking yard and we spun the rear hubs hoping for evidence of either a locker or LSD, but the rear diff was open.

Jack

Suby Wan Kenobi · Post by **Suby Wan Kenobi** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 12:19 am

Basically if you weld the diff and leave the axles in place while tarmac driving you will end up snapping drive shafts or stub axles on the diff. Go buy yourself a cheap picnic rug and remove one side drive shaft when not in use put the shaft in a plastic bag and then wrap in in the banket store it in the rear under compartment and when the need arises you have something to lay on when you instal your shaft for offroad use. That wont stop you from breaking things as offroad you can still snap an axle or stub easy enough.

See Stinkys hill climb vid

subarursliberty · Post by **subarursliberty** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 6:35 pm

So you guys say don't drive them on the road. So what if I was to hit a track with a nice low and handling L series. Do you think it would snap there or on the road going around a corner at a set of lights?

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welding diff pros/cons

welding diff pros/cons

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