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Weld locking the stock differential is a popular but controversial modification. Welding a differential is typically done to a drift-use car, and is unfavorable to daily-driving conditions. With the proper knowledge daily driving a welded differential can be a livable experience.
The "welded diff" is done by welding the spider gears together in the factory differential. Special care should be taken to make the most durable welds possible, some have welded thick bolts onto the spider gears to make for a stronger weld. Failure could result in an immobilized diff which would cause an unsafe condition for you, and those around you.
Pros:
- Breaks traction consistently, makes drifting much easier than open diff.
- It's extremely durable when done properly.
- Little to no maintenance.
- In certain situations, and if driven correctly, you will have more grip in cornering.
Cons:
- Requires a different way of taking corners. Must accelerate through a turn, to the limit of adhesion, taking care not to break the tires loose and cause oversteer.
- Tires make noise at very low speeds (typically parking, or U-turns) as the wheels "fight" each other. The wheels are traveling at the same speed, but along different radii, which causes the outside wheel to shake, hop, and break loose at low speeds. This will increase tire wear in normal use, but if you really care about tire wear over performance, you wouldn't be welding a differential. Let it also be known that most 2-way LSD's exhibit this same characteristic, especially the more aggressive ones.
- Car tends to "push" at low speed.
- Not recommended for inexperienced grip driving. Can be very effective and far more consistent than an open differential, but requires advanced driving techniques.
- If the welds break, they can cause differential lock, and lead to a potential accident.
No reason to get so hostile with the situation. As much as it seems like they're busting your *****. They have given you some good information on this thread, provided you a thread link to another thread regarding this discussion, and also posted a funny picture...and now I will too
- Requires a different way of taking corners. Must accelerate through a turn, to the limit of adhesion, taking care not to break the tires loose and cause oversteer.
- Tires make noise at very low speeds (typically parking, or U-turns) as the wheels "fight" each other. The wheels are traveling at the same speed, but along different radii, which causes the outside wheel to shake, hop, and break loose at low speeds. This will increase tire wear in normal use, but if you really care about tire wear over performance, you wouldn't be welding a differential. Let it also be known that most 2-way LSD's exhibit this same characteristic, especially the more aggressive ones.
- Car tends to "push" at low speed.
- Not recommended for inexperienced grip driving. Can be very effective and far more consistent than an open differential, but requires advanced driving techniques.
these cons you say.. everything i already know...
yes it will be welded properly, i want it to be easy to brake traction.. the whole point!!!
most of you guys dont drift.. and prob get your **** professionally done..... i dont. i do everything myself, as i did with previous cars.
my friend errol has a welded diff with his s13, and it works the way i want it to work..
and when the welds do brake.. i will buy a 2 way lsd.
and when the welds do brake.. i will buy a 2 way lsd.
You should remove the brake calipers off of your welds. In all seriousness, you should just save up and buy the 2-way LSD, and just deal with a non-welded differential until then. That way when it does break, you don't have to deal with the hassle of towing and other broken components
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