[Ben94]

Just wondering if any of you guys have or have a mate with a welded diff and is it reliable and what sort of affects does it have on the car i.e. fuel economy, acceleration, strength.

it has crossed my mind about doing it but just want to get some more information about it from you guys

[sando]

Good way to snap an axle. Maybe in a old shitter that only gets driven offroad but its still cheap as to buy a spool.

[want33s]

Welded/spooled/mini spooled is illegal on road.
This 'should' be an offroad only mod.

Locked rear will make the car understeer into corners, oversteer through and understeer out.
Will cause tyres to live a short life but will allow you to get so many more places offroad.

[stockman]

I'd only ever weld a rear. Front welded will make steering very hard when in 4wd, and will understeer like mad in the soft/sloppy stuff.

[just_cruizin]

Weekend toy only, preferably trailer if you need to drive more then 5 minutes to get to where you wheel

[Locks]

my last swb zook had a welded rear centre, I got quite good at changing axles and centres. once i stripped the ring and pinion gears (if thats what theyre called) and swapped in another welded centre and just set it up by eye and it went ok. it's an offroad only thing. if you do drive it on the road make sure there's plenty of air in the rear tyres to reduce your footprint and help the inside tyre skip/skid around corners or your inner axle splines are not going to last. well they wont last anyway but it'll be easier on them. i was pretty happy with it as the car was a complete beater. wouldn't do it to anything nice tho, get a locker or a spool.

[Ben94]

yeah i was only thinking of welding the rear diff, on my 97 ford courier

[Locks]

bit heavier than a zook, might be nothing more than a massive hassle in the long run.

[ellis]

i had a welded rear diff in my old sierra loved it was so much better to drive then a car with a auto locker it was my daily driver and i think you only snap axles in wt sierras when u go above 31 inch tyres

[christover1]

Ben94 wrote:

yeah i was only thinking of welding the rear diff, on my 97 ford courier

A welded rear in a light narrow zook is ok.

I would say no for welding a rear diff on a wider, heavier, more powerful truck.
It will twist or snap axles, and handle crap
(just an opinion, I have no evidencial proof)

[31zook]

I liked my welded front, and rear, reliable, never leaked air...

It's heavy, but you do get use to it

[buzbox]

I like my minispool, especially at under cover parking at shopping centres.

Everyday driving is a bit of a pain though.

[Fatzook]

ellis wrote:

i had a welded rear diff in my old sierra loved it was so much better to drive then a car with a auto locker it was my daily driver and i think you only snap axles in wt sierras when u go above 31 inch tyres

This.

[banga]

do you want to weld the diff in the courier because they suck offroad i know mine isnt that good and doesn't even come close to the vitara. and dont they have a lsd in them. if they have an lsd just get it shimmed up.

[Ben94]

banga wrote:

do you want to weld the diff in the courier because they suck offroad i know mine isnt that good and doesn't even come close to the vitara. and dont they have a lsd in them. if they have an lsd just get it shimmed up.

yes ahhaha i always pick wheels and just spin and its so annoying i was getting so much further in my old grand vitara

[suzukikid]

the rear in mine is welded....i swear by it! only a weekend car but never brocken an axel!

[SierraDan]

Fatzook wrote:

ellis wrote:

i had a welded rear diff in my old sierra loved it was so much better to drive then a car with a auto locker it was my daily driver and i think you only snap axles in wt sierras when u go above 31 inch tyres

This.

I've had some mega twists in my axles, but yeah never worried too much about one breaking on 31's.

[suzukikid]

SierraDan wrote:

Fatzook wrote:

ellis wrote:

i had a welded rear diff in my old sierra loved it was so much better to drive then a car with a auto locker it was my daily driver and i think you only snap axles in wt sierras when u go above 31 inch tyres

This.

I've had some mega twists in my axles, but yeah never worried too much about one breaking on 31's.

i was 32's for ages and now 34s and i give mine a hiding and never snapped one...the spline was bent on one...pulled it apart to do something and it was straight! haha must of givin it stick in reverse!haha

[SierraDan]

I'd prepare for a snap soon then haha

[suzukikid]

spares are in the back with bearings on ready to go!!! haha

[Ben94]

So an LSD would be the safer option?

[banga]

yes and you can get the lsd shimmed up so it is nearly locked but will have some give in it. your courier might already have one in it but could be worn out so it will act like a open diff.

[Bennyzarb]

I drive a wt Sierra with minispool rear that has gti engine and 32s I like it cause it is predictable but is quite annoying in car parks never broken a axle or anything I gess it depends on how you drive to

[ellis]

does anyone know if the rear diff and axles on a jimny running 30's would be strong enough to handle being welded and used as a daily

[Benz]

When my air locker in the jimny broke and got stuck on (locked) it was a huge pain in the arse to move around in the back yard.

dug up all the lawn trying to do a 3 point turn.

it also skidded around corners on the way home after breaking.
at the time I didn't know it was broken and gave it some around a round-about.
got quite the surprise

would hate to have to deal with that shit all the time...

[ellis]

ive had a welded diff in my old wt sierra im guessing it would feel about the same in the jimny but before i do it i want to make sure there diffs and axles are strong enough

[Sookie]

My vitara has a spool in the front and it don't really worrie me can be bi hard to turbo some times in 4wd but not that bad all ways been in it so have got used to it running 31s and have not broken anything yet but waiting for it.
Spool in rear as well don't worry me a bit!
Most cars I have owned have had a spool

[shep]

The reason your fordmazda is shit, besides the obvious, is the ifs front. I reckon you would have a better result if ya welded the front diff so at least one of the fronts will be driving.

[rob45x]

Everyone has different experiences with welded diffs. I welded a diff on a commodore 5L And the thing has chewed through 2 clutches being blown apart and a gearbox. Never snapped an axle or anything! Pretty Good Considering it has 300rwhp

[dougies_tx5turbo]

Ben94 wrote:

yeah i was only thinking of welding the rear diff, on my 97 ford courier

Ben94 wrote:

So an LSD would be the safer option?

My dads 4x4 98 bravo has a LSD, that's weird because they are basically the same car except for a few other minor things. Maybe look around for a bravo rear diff.