Anyone welded their diff??

Does anyone out there have experience with a welded diff in a front wheel drive?

I own a rear wheel drive with a spool, and I have welded diffs in 4x4's for off road use. I have no experience nor have I met anyone who has driven a front driver with a welded diff.

The reason I ask - I was planning on ordering a new diff pin/spiders/pin retainers this week so I disassembled my diff last night to have a look. I was also planning on machining up my own LSD.

Upon disassemble, the diff pin is trashed, the spiders are trashed, the bearings on the diff are trashed and the diff itself is trash. The holes for the diff pin are egg shaped alowing side to side play of the diff pin by more than .200" !!!

So really, I need to start with a whole new differential. But, since its out and cleaned up, I thought about making a Lincoln Locker out of it and trying it out.

This is for a 99.99% strip only car.

If anyone has ANY experience with this, please let me hear your comments.

Thanks.

take a look at this: http://www.mmrusa.com/phantom1.htm looks good to me for the price.

I can build that myself. I actually have one 70% complete now.

My diff itself is shot, though. I will not be able to use this without finding a good diff to start with.

[PentastarTurbo]

Quote:

Originally posted by pauvil take a look at this: http://www.mmrusa.com/phantom1.htm looks good to me for the price.

whats involved with the phantom grip setup?
any special maitnance involved? break in? Longevity for a street car?

just curious..

[squirrel]

NEVER NEVER NEVER weld a diff. Those parts are extremely hardened steel and does not weld well... It will break and cause you major grief.

[glhs636]

some people grind down a little to get through the case hardening , some heat it cherry red first to get good penatration (no comments squirrel) and with tig wqelding you can also see your heat depth.

[GLHS#116]

Is there something I'm missing here? I just don't see how you could weld the dif on a front driver and still be able to steer? I remember just locking the centre dif on a friend's Suburban and doing a full-lock turn on dry asphalt led to some screetch-hop-screetch-hop.

My welded diff is in the car and should be driven within two weeks.

I do expect some driveability issues. Steering is a major concern.

Since the car will only be required to turn off the strip and up the return road, I'm hoping there won't be too many issues.

As soon as I have some feedback, I will let the masses know.

I've welded diffs in 4x4's before without any problem. Front diff only and only used off road.

I've also welded many rear diffs for drag strip use. Just like a spool.

I chose to weld mine because the diff itself was not rebuildable. I am currently searching for a good cheap diff to rebuild and install a LSD into.

[squirrel]

BAD idea... BAD idea... it is a BAD idea... It is creating a spool... Worn tires, hard steering, limited drivability, and broken pieces will result. Cutting through the hardened steel and welding still won't get you a long life out of the thing. Just buy a Phatom grip or quaife. This will save you from the inevitable BROKEN pieces. I have seen it in rear wheel drive and front wheel drive and it isn't pretty...

[squirrel]

Quote:

As soon as I have some feedback, I will let the masses know

From experience BAD IDEA.

Quote:

I've also welded many rear diffs for drag strip use. Just like a spool.

Under high horsepower race application it is the WORST idea.

[sms rallysport]

I just registered on here but I have to pop in on the welded diff. discussion.

I don't know anything about drag racing...but...we rally an Omni GLH with a welded diff. and it kicks butt! It is still somewhat driveable on the street and we have never broken a CV shaft. Just had to point that out. :-)

We are running 555 gears in a 525 case.

-Dave

[2.2=8]

I can speak from expierience on this one, I have been racing my Laser with a welded diff for three years and had NO breakage problems at all.....low twelves with a 523 trans.....I just wire feed welded the spiders to the side gears no big deal. Now would I do it again NO,NO,NO! I'll tell you why, steers like a Truck!! not safe at all NHRA illegal, had to use power steering with it for sure, When I changed to a auto I built a posi. traction is great but not worth the safety issues.......forget about driving it in traffic! consider yourself warned. Warren Stramer

[BLUEBALL]

I unfortunately have one in a car of mine. Its got an eviction notice w/trans comes out. The worst part is when it doesnt run and you have to maneuver it in small area. Keep a big floorjack ready. It hasnt laid any better 60ft times than my stock A604 open diff in the other car.