Welded Diff

[dreny]

i am considering welding my diff as i can not afford a 2way diff (as they are more than my car). I have an ae71 with many suspension mods and my car is used as a daily. I just want to get some opinions. Is it still ok to drive as a daily? (not too annoying). How have your axles and rear trailing arm bushings holding up? Where in Adelaide do you recommend getting it welded?

Any other feedback would be greatly appreciated.

[4ac_mang]

people in shopping center carparks don't like you and you go through tyres really fast
also high speed corners can feel a bit dodgy

[Jonny Rochester]

If you go to the racetrack sometimes, extra tyre wear on the street will not be noticeable. High speed corners are fine. With low speed corners you will notice a little bit of initial understeer.

On a Silvia, I have had to replace a snapped lower control arm after use with a locked diff. On a Corolla, the car is much lighter and you don't get many problems. You can expect to snap an axle after 6 months.

[DRFTPG]

i drive with a locker daily and its fine, easy to put up with. just get some funny looks from people lol. and take it real easy in the wet if theres traffic around

[Sprinter86]

mines been locked for a couple o months now, by far the best bang for ure buck mod! can be a tad interesting when parking, and don't run really wide tread on the back.(as if you were going too anyway =P )

[dreny]

Does a locker put alot of strain on the gearbox and driveline? Would it be a good idea to replace the upper and lower trailing arm bushings with nolathane items?. Cheers for your comments. Keep them coming.

Would it be ok to have 195/50/15's on the back with the locker.

[Rob]

All my corollas have had lockers, never had a problem.

Also i have locked centers for $30 Changeover in Adelaide

[DRFTPG]

yeh that tyre size will be fine, don't even worry about the bushes till they go, just lock her up and start driving..you will never go back!!!

[Roo]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (SON57A @ Jul 15 2008, 03:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=561708)</div>
yeh that tyre size will be fine, don't even worry about the bushes till they go, just lock her up and start driving..you will never go back!!![/b]
true

my favourite was going into one of them car parks floors that squeak when you turn, that was so funny with a locker

[Sherlock]

I've got 185's on the rear and mine don't squeal, its sweet as.

[Konakid]

Had mine for ages, car feels much more stable and planted in the hills...until it gets wet but even then it becomes really predictable if a little snappy.

Works the front tyres harder but if you are not into drift then don't do it. Everytime it rains you will want to go driving!

Recommend replacing the trailing arm bushes straight away!

[pebbles]

Definitly get it done, if you like skids
(which i know you do)
i was abit iffy about getting mine done, but once i did i kicked myself for putting it off so long

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>
All my corollas have had lockers, never had a problem.

Also i have locked centers for $30 Changeover in Adelaide[/b]

good bloke, he did m diff, didnt whine and put up to a heap of thrashing,

also i had 185/60/15 with a 4k so 195 should be fine.

and what that guy said about track, don't run to thin track either, with more track i find you can get faster skids going

[Mr Fujiwara]

i welded my diff before even driving the car, once it started running it felt great, i run new tyres on the front, they've been holding up okay, but my god, in the wet its the best fun ever.....

BUT 2 days ago, i was talking to a friend saying "man i don't know why people hang shit on S series, this is holding up fine" and honest to god, no shit, about 10 seconds later it made some really seedy noises, but it was still locked, then the next night, taking advantage of the rain, it just started singling....i thought id broke and axel. but it'll single left or right, or twin if its on grass or somthing...so some how 12 arc rods wernt enough...

got a T series today, will be welding swaybar mounts on it soon, and welding the centre tomorrow....

welded is the best thing you will ever do (if you're a man)

you drive around your understeer coz you expect it, if parkings an issue get lock spacers.

sqeaking carparks are the best!

[zemeron]

anyone know where to get ur diff welded in sa professionally but cheaply?
looking to do so in my ke70.
i heard boiler makers are good at that sorta stuff.

[Sherlock]

Exhaust Technology do them. But seriously, get Rob to do it. Mine doesn't even whine and is so tight. Best locker ever.

[zemeron]

Rob and his workshop FTMFW!!
PM me rob, need ur help

[Konakid]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Mr Fujiwara @ Jul 20 2008, 09:17 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=564005)</div>
i welded my diff before even driving the car, once it started running it felt great, i run new tyres on the front, they've been holding up okay, but my god, in the wet its the best fun ever.....

BUT 2 days ago, i was talking to a friend saying "man i don't know why people hang shit on S series, this is holding up fine" and honest to god, no shit, about 10 seconds later it made some really seedy noises, but it was still locked, then the next night, taking advantage of the rain, it just started singling....i thought id broke and axel. but it'll single left or right, or twin if its on grass or somthing...so some how 12 arc rods wernt enough...

got a T series today, will be welding swaybar mounts on it soon, and welding the centre tomorrow....

welded is the best thing you will ever do (if you're a man)

you drive around your understeer coz you expect it, if parkings an issue get lock spacers.

sqeaking carparks are the best![/b]

You used an arc welder, what do you expect! They should be outlawed.

Get someone to gas MIG that shit, do it once, do it proper

[Rob]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Meathead #2 @ Jul 20 2008, 10:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=564070)</div>
You used an arc welder, what do you expect! They should be outlawed.

Get someone to gas MIG that shit, do it once, do it proper[/b]

Trust me Arc is way better unless you have a huge MIG

I use a 130 AMP inverter, havent had any problems so far

[dreny]

Ok, its gonna happen. The diff will be locked. I need to find myself an open centre to weld (as i want to keep an open centre and a welded one). Anyone got one in SA (to suit ae71)

[ke kid]

What, like a borgy centre? Standard AE71 diff?

[zemeron]

how badly do lockers go through tyres? is it worth keeping performance tyres on the rear or just stockies?

[turbobrad]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ke70mate @ Jul 21 2008, 12:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=564272)</div>
how badly do lockers go through tyres? is it worth keeping performance tyres on the rear or just stockies?[/b]

You WILL chew your rears with a locker. run stockies day to day.

[Sherlock]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (DonkeyKong @ Jul 21 2008, 02:14 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=564280)</div>
You WILL chew your rears with a locker. run stockies day to day.[/b]

+ 1. I'm up for some new tyres...AGAIN. :P

[bigm]

just run cheap crap on the back with a hard compound, will last longer and is cheaper..
or retreads that are bloddy cheap (or free in my case)

[zemeron]

so in the end....worth getting locker?

[turbobrad]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ke70mate @ Jul 21 2008, 01:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=564294)</div>
so in the end....worth getting locker?[/b]

Fuck yes. Lockers are awesome skids galore :teehee:

[nathanhann]

yes. as soon as my car is painted it will be driven straight to robs work shop for a change over.

[Sherlock]

First time it rains you'll want to crawl under your car and kiss that dirty ass locked diff!

[zemeron]

lets have dinner at rob's workshop.
i think that would be nice.

[roadsailing]

This thread is great, a year or so ago and it would all be "OMG don't weld up your diff or you will die!" responses from people who have never driven on one.

Fine day to day, it does make your car that bit more bogan/shitheap, but who cares.

You need to be careful all the time, but they arent really any more dangerous in the rain unless you are ham fisted&footed.

[zemeron]

its pretty weird how no-one has shunned us yet saying "oi u shitheads! why don't u pay $4200 and get a real LSD like my cousin Hamud has on his Civic! It drifts heaps good eh"

Dreny - u and i are gonna get a locked diff each and meet up.

[AE86AL]

HA at "welded diff proffesionally"

don't expect any warranty man!

Weldies are awesome, cheapest and most effective mod.

The understeer can catch you out in the wet.

Axles break a bit.

Shiny concrete floor carparks are rad.

Hard dry tight carparks where your car is jumping round harder than paris hilton at a hard dry tight cock swallow contest get interesting but amusing looks.

Man up and lock it its good experience

[Rob]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (AE86AL @ Jul 21 2008, 09:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=564501)</div>
HA at "welded diff proffesionally"

don't expect any warranty man!

Weldies are awesome, cheapest and most effective mod.

The understeer can catch you out in the wet.

Axles break a bit.

Shiny concrete floor carparks are rad.

Hard dry tight carparks where your car is jumping round harder than paris hilton at a hard dry tight cock swallow contest get interesting but amusing looks.

Man up and lock it its good experience[/b]

I Give a short warranty as long as its installed correctly and correct oil etc.

[lowau]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ke70mate @ Jul 21 2008, 07:51 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=564494)</div>
its pretty weird how no-one has shunned us yet saying "oi u shitheads! why don't u pay $4200 and get a real LSD like my cousin Hamud has on his Civic! It drifts heaps good eh"[/b]
This happens in every other car forum, cept for this one which I like.

Corollas are thrashers so they don't deserve very expensive mods, hahaha

I recommend taking a car for a drive that already has a welded diff in it just so you know what your getting yourself into. There are a heap of negatives(I think all of them are covered in this thread) with driving with a welded diff but for you if the positives outweigh the negatives then go for it.

[zemeron]

lol..sik! warranty for a welded diff! i love it.
look forward to seeing u again rob.

[Driftspec]

Nothing against a locked diff, just remember that in all states it is illegal to have one (increased turning circle in low speed turns), the sheepisj look you give when doing a slow-speed manoeuvre in front of a popo is actually quite funny :D

[DRFTPG]

yeh they can be dangerous in the wet but only if our stupid, you jsut need to take it easy unless your trying to slide

[pebbles]

i don't find that they increase ur turning circle, ur front tyres are what does the turning and when you are going slow unless u have a bad wheel alignment or real fucked fronts its still gunna grip and go where you are turning to...

[ke70dave]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (grape_moosha @ Jul 23 2008, 01:51 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=565254)</div>
i don't find that they increase ur turning circle, ur front tyres are what does the turning and when you are going slow unless u have a bad wheel alignment or real fucked fronts its still gunna grip and go where you are turning to...[/b]

that is true to an extent, but when your doing a small circle, the inside wheel has to turn a smaller distance to the outside wheel, and since the rear wheels are locked,funny things happen. if the surface is slippery then one wheel skips along and its all fine, if the surface it grippy, then both will try and grip, and youll have some fun trying to do u-turns etc.

but since you seem to be speaking from experience, maybe your rear tyres aren't that grippy, do you find it skips all the time when goin slow corners?

ive only driven a car once that had a locker, bahnuggets CA18turbo sprinter, the locker wasn't that noticable, but i have a feeling that more power helps take away the effects.

that car is so damn noisy, having a locking just adds to the experience B)

[Anthony]

Yeah basically if your tyres are working even close to how they should be, your turning circle will be increased.

You just have to be a tiny bit more aggressive with turn in, most people are driving around a locked diff within minutes.

[driftke70]

bit more revs make em smooth on tight turns, i eventaully replaced mine with a 2 way as i do a fair amount of grip and lockers can get unpredictable.

[pebbles]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ke70dave @ Jul 23 2008, 08:57 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=565291)</div>
that is true to an extent, but when your doing a small circle, the inside wheel has to turn a smaller distance to the outside wheel, and since the rear wheels are locked,funny things happen. if the surface is slippery then one wheel skips along and its all fine, if the surface it grippy, then both will try and grip, and youll have some fun trying to do u-turns etc.

but since you seem to be speaking from experience, maybe your rear tyres aren't that grippy, do you find it skips all the time when goin slow corners?

ive only driven a car once that had a locker, bahnuggets CA18turbo sprinter, the locker wasn't that noticable, but i have a feeling that more power helps take away the effects.

that car is so damn noisy, having a locking just adds to the experience B)[/b]

well ive never run brand new tyres on the rear so i guess I'm missing out lol

but yeah, depends on your car and the tyres you run i guess.

[turbobrad]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (driftspec @ Jul 22 2008, 11:55 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=564824)</div>
Nothing against a locked diff, just remember that in all states it is illegal to have one[/b]

They should totally make magnas illegal

[zemeron]

so having a locker gives u a certain degree of understeer?

[Mr Fujiwara]

they give understeer because when you think about it, both back wheels are most happy driving straight, because they will not be putting a torsional force (twisting) on the axel, this makes the axel act like a spring, one thing if you lock it you will notice, is as soon as you let go off the steering wheel, even if you're full lock doing a uturn, the car will straighten completely almost instantly, i personally prefer this.
understeer is minor issue compared with the AMAZING predictability and stability in the wet, even in the dry i sware the cars a lot stiffer

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Rob @ Jul 21 2008, 08:27 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=564163)</div>
Trust me Arc is way better unless you have a huge MIG

I use a 130 AMP inverter, havent had any problems so far[/b]

i agree, the reason i went an arc, is basic metalurgy ( i think, i havnt studied it thou) i figure, welds get strength from penetration, and the diff centre is about 15kg of solid cast/iron or steel or watteva it is, so to effectivly penitrate that, i think i need to get a SHIT LOAD of heat into it, as much as id like a slag free weld, most of the migs everyone would have, unless you've got a 3-phase one at work or somthing, don't have the balls even to a shitty Arc welder. ive locked 2 R180s and an R200 nissan diffs, and helped lock a Borgie, and mine (the S series broke coz it was my first, and i must have just welded like a goose), but everyone else's is fine, and i think heat is the key, and also, i made certain i used the same number of rods on each side of the diff, to retain balance....good oil helps shut it all up too.

just my opinion.

LOCK IT!

[Anthony]

I use TIG maxed out on 220A. Zero spatter, zero hassles and a 100% success rate.

[pebbles]

just do it, you wont regret it

[McDrlft]

in my old ke30 , i cranked the amps on my arc welder as high as i could go and i dropped small bolts and nuts in and melted them down along with 18 rods and it lasted over a year till the car flipped on the gravel :(

[zed x]

do it! itll be the cheapest and funnest mod youll ever do.

[resol]

i can't believe theres a thread aksing if a locker in a rolla is a good idea?

...i figured it was just expected that all rollas should have a locker.

[Sherlock]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (resol @ Jul 24 2008, 11:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> (index.php?act=findpost&pid=566379)</div>
i can't believe theres a thread aksing if a locker in a rolla is a good idea?

...i figured it was just expected that all rollas should have a locker.[/b]

+ 1. Both manual KE's I've had the first mod I did was lockaaaa

[af300e]

I just welded one for a mate. He loves it (ta22 with 90kw@wheels, semi slicks). He has done some track days and commented that there was no real increase in understeer. Perhaps on tighter street turns there would be.
You need to cut a small rectangular piece of say 6mm plate that fits exactly inside and picks up all four of the spiders. Then preheat the spider gears, and weld. I hit it with around 270 amps (big mig, max 350 amps) after a good spray with anti-spatter. Repeat for the other side. Make sure that the plate will not foul the axles if the come through into the void between the spiders.
Then give it a really thorough clean to avoid spatter in the crown/pinion.
If you want more info on the plate and its location, let me know, i'll try to get pics.

[Ksevn-T]

this threads epic. Good read on people's opinions! :banana:

[JDM-086]

ive driven on my locker for a year now, ive bent axles before i snapped them. also i drive a fair bit on it, into the city and such. my advice if you do a fair bit of driving, parking, city driving etc etc. its ok but id plan for a 2 way sometime in the near future. i mean its crazy fun having it, but it can get a bit savage driving on it constant day in day out, my bearings are shot though and mine constantly makes noise. +1 FOR SKIDS THOUGH.
s-series/borgys should all be locked factory, t series id go LSD.

[MountainRunner]

^ thats about somes it up!

[JDM-086]

i 4got to mention. YES it does chew tyres at a ridiculous pace, YES it does chew trailing arm bushings (id suggest replacing them, you should be replacing them anyway if you intend to slide the thing = great upgrade), YES it does put strain on the drivetrain and the rest of your car especially your clutch (ever tried parrallel parking when your diff is jarred? not clutch friendly). not whinging about these but just outlining everything for him so he can weigh up his options.


ps. if you do lock it don't do it dodgey with bolts n shit thrown in there thats silly, weld it tight, after each layer of weld pick off the weak bits, then reweld, repeat procedure till windows are packed tight. this way if anything does give way chances are itll stay locked lol :P

[Ksevn-T]

Welded my diff yesterday. First welded diff ive owned. Sounds so sketchy!
Took around 2 1/2 hours.
Put a F**k load of arc rods into each side, so i don't think its going to brake...just axles.
Not looking forward to the amount of parts that are going to give under the stress.

[turbobrad]

You should not need heaps of weld if your penetrating the metal properly.

But ghetto diffs ftw.

[Ksevn-T]

They sound like absolute shit! Thought id snapped an axle it was clunking that bad!

[Sherlock]

Mine sounds mint, doesn't whine, hardly clunks. Robs lockers FTW!

[JDM-086]

change your bushings coz if they are rooted it will move around more thus clunk more. and its a must mod anyways especially if ur gonna slide the thing. generally running wheels with smaller rolling diameter and less width lessens the harshness also, more grip = harder to skip whilst cornering = harshness. its also a good idea because u want traction to break before axles do :)