Why weld a differential

That may make drifting much easier, but is it going to ruin your daily driver? A welded differential keeps both of the back wheels on the car spinning at the same speed, but since the wheel on the outside is typically spinning faster than the inner wheel in a turn or corner, keeping both wheels spinning at the same rate will cause the inner wheel to lose traction and skip, making oversteer easier to accomplish. Show the supply chain who's boss Get a head start on your holiday shopping at Amazon, Target, Best Buy, and more.

Technically this makes the art of drifting safer, as the welded diff means sliding can be performed at much lower speeds than usual, giving the driver more control and time to react. Meanwhile, an open diff car can be unpredictable once the back kicks out, with wheels rotating sporadically and somewhat randomly. With the right pair of hands behind the welding torch then, a welded diff can be extremely durable and - by taking the moving gears out of the equation - maintanence becomes virtually non-existent, if maybe only to check how the welds are holding up.

For out-and-out drift cars it is a wise and cheap solution to sideways action but on a road car it could totally change how you approach even the simplest of driving tasks. Low speed stuff like parking and manouvreing can result in the outer wheel shuddering and screeching as it fights its own rotation and roundabouts and simple corner have to be approached with much more care and attention given to the car's behaviour in case the back were to step out.

Tyre wear is also an issue due to the amount of scrubbing and skipping, although I think it's safe to say if you're in the market for a welded diff, you probably aren't too bothered about saving your tyres. The more professional but expensive route would be to buy as aggressive an LSD as possible.

Limited-slip differentials are the halfway-house between an open and welded diff as they can simulate a locked or open setup depending on the torque inputs being thrown at it. The aggression of said diff is therefore governed by the locking characteristics which are governed by a set of clutch packs, with performance road cars opting for a less aggressive setup compared to a genuine drift car.

If you're a fan of Haggard garage, you'll be used to seeing those guys welding diffs on pretty much anything that enters their shop. So if you're a keen drifter and fancy a bit of oversteery shenanigans at your local drift track, welding the hell out of your differential would be the ideal start, preferably not on your daily driver though.

Have you ever tried a welded diff? Is it one of the many jobs that is on your project car's list? Comment with your experiences below! I had a welded diff on my R33 skyline for the 4 years I drove it almost daily. No issues whatsoever. Own work assumed based on copyright claims. Classified Ads. Dean Larson. Powder Coating at Home ». A Quick Fix ». Crash-Course Cabinet Making ». Learning Curve ».

It is essential that the weld on the diff is done properly because the last thing you want is shards of metal inside the differential.

The hardest part of welding the differential can often be removing it from the car in the first place. If it is your first time welding the diff, it may be advised that you purchase a used differential incase things go wrong or you decide to return to an open differential.

After you have removed or have a spare differential, you will want to drain any oil and remove the housing. Before you begin any sort of welding, you will want to completely clean the diff. If there are any tough bits of dirt, you may want to use a brake cleaner. Once fully clean, you are then ready to begin welding.

Many people have their own methods of welding but most people begin with the corners where the spider gears meet together. This allows for more steel to be connected and making it a more solid weld. Others may simply weld where the gears meet and that is the weld complete.