Welded front diff

[hokey]

hi everyone,

thinking about welding the front diff in my gq lwb and had a couple questions. from what i understand you drive around most of the time with 1 hub in then when you need it lock in both hubs.

1. say i have the left hub in transfer case in 4wd will it want to push forward and understeer around right hand corners? what if the transfer case is in 2wd?

2. with 1 hub in is it just as capable as having an open centre with both hubs in?

gq front centres are plentiful these days so thought why not give it a go.

thanks, Calvin

[Matt_85Lux]

honestly, IMO, having a welded front diff is a retarded idea, as is having to get in and out of the car to lock a hub everytime you need 4wd and then have to to the same again to unlock when you need to steer

[V.W.Dave]

hi everyone,

thinking about welding the front diff in my gq lwb and had a couple questions. from what i understand you drive around most of the time with 1 hub in then when you need it lock in both hubs.
1. say i have the left hub in transfer case in 4wd will it want to push forward and understeer around right hand corners? what if the transfer case is in 2wd?
2. with 1 hub in is it just as capable as having an open centre with both hubs in?
gq front centres are plentiful these days so thought why not give it a go.
thanks, Calvin

To answer your questions. As you have power steering you can just drive it around with both hubs locked in but it will not corner as sharp and be careful the first few times you drive it around like that. Be sure to keep your speed down as it will want to power strait ahead on dirt road. Keeping one hub unlocked is a common practice for people that weld up or spool there front diffs. Leaving one unlocked it will drive "ok" but it will feel a little heavy and it will pull a little towards the locked hub. Once again with power steering it will not be to much of a problem. Having a welded diff and having one hub locked you will brake CVs a lot easier so be sure to lock them both before hitting anything that is not flat.
If you leave both hubs locked and drive in 2wd it will want to push strait ahead but not has bad as when in 4wd. With one hub unlocked and 2wd it will drive normally but it will wear things out. I am a fan of welding up all diffs if it is a weekender but not rear diffs if it is a daily driver.

I say go for it but as I said be careful at first as it will be different.

honestly, IMO, having a welded front diff is a retarded idea, as is having to get in and out of the car to lock a hub everytime you need 4wd and then have to to the same again to unlock when you need to steer

Well mate get over the high and mighty we all will hate you if you weld it attitude.

As he has pointed out he just wants to try it as he has a few spare if he dosn't like it. I can't stand all you people on here and every other sight that jump on the wagon when ever anyone brings up welding a diff.

[brad 93hilux]

Weldng the front and having one hub locked in is not the same as a open centre.

You will be loading up one axle, one side of the centre and one cv.

Be a pain (as said) to get in out all the time, you could shift to 2wd but that won't always be possible as well as having the high range. Or just drive with it in, won't turn tight corners real good...

May be ok in a dedicated comp truck where you just cane the shi$ out if it but you will regret it and will be throwing away money you could have used for a lokker which you WILL change to later any way..

But up to you

Brad

[RED60]

1. What VW said..

2. If you have traction at the locked single hub it will still drive... whereas an open centre with hubs locked will try to drive the wheel with least resistance.... so a welded centre MAY be better as far as traction is concerned in particular circumstances......

[Wozza244]

You will be loading up one axle, one side of the centre and one cv.

Correct me if im wrong but, with a welded centre when the diff is being turned, the whole thing will be operating, hence being "locked" together.

If you have one hub in regardless whether your in 2wd or 4wd the whole shebang will be turning, the opposite side just wont be grabbing any traction cause the hub isnt in.

[V.W.Dave]

You will be loading up one axle, one side of the centre and one cv.

Correct me if im wrong but, with a welded centre when the diff is being turned, the whole thing will be operating, hence being "locked" together.

If you have one hub in regardless whether your in 2wd or 4wd the whole shebang will be turning, the opposite side just wont be grabbing any traction cause the hub isnt in.

You are both correct, Brad is just talking about when you are loading it up. All the pressure and twisting force will be put onto the one side that has the hub locked. When driving on a flat ground like on road it will be fine but is not good for it.

[Wozza244]

Personally i dont think its a terrible idea, however i wouldnt be doing any fancy stuff like only locking one hub in. The only thing your going to do is break stuff.
Go ahead tho mate, with prices like 1200 for lockers no wonder people want to weld diffs.

[Matt_85Lux]

.

honestly, IMO, having a welded front diff is a retarded idea, as is having to get in and out of the car to lock a hub everytime you need 4wd and then have to to the same again to unlock when you need to steer

Well mate get over the high and mighty we all will hate you if you weld it attitude.

As he has pointed out he just wants to try it as he has a few spare if he dosn't like it. I can't stand all you people on here and every other sight that jump on the wagon when ever anyone brings up welding a diff.

as I said "in MY opinion" welding the FRONT diff is a stupid idea. Mate did it in his cruiser, it lasted 1 trip before he put another centre in it. Weld the rear up fine, i mean i wouldn't do it but if someone wants to do it then go ahead. Welding the front though is a pain in the arse but that is my opinion your's obviously differs. But having a go at me for voicing an opinion on the matter, well.......

[bazzle]

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honestly, IMO, having a welded front diff is a retarded idea, as is having to get in and out of the car to lock a hub everytime you need 4wd and then have to to the same again to unlock when you need to steer

Well mate get over the high and mighty we all will hate you if you weld it attitude.

As he has pointed out he just wants to try it as he has a few spare if he dosn't like it. I can't stand all you people on here and every other sight that jump on the wagon when ever anyone brings up welding a diff.

as I said "in MY opinion" welding the FRONT diff is a stupid idea. Mate did it in his cruiser, it lasted 1 trip before he put another centre in it. Weld the rear up fine, i mean i wouldn't do it but if someone wants to do it then go ahead. Welding the front though is a pain in the arse but that is my opinion your's obviously differs. But having a go at me for voicing an opinion on the matter, well.......

Im with Matt

Dont waste your time unless its just for the odd comp.

My experiences are you will regret it evn if you have lots of diffs lying around.

Take this senario, gnarly down hill, weight on front end, try to turn, good luck. Ok , get out unlock hub (on a steep dangerous hill, 6 trucks behind you) try to back up to unwind transmission.. etc etc
Between tracks, cant be bothered to unlock hub, slippery corner, turn wheel, truck goes over edge.. dont believe me

I dont care just my views

Bazzle

[351ciofgrunt]

The poor man's air locker

I've done it so I can speak from experience. It works but I'd only do it if you really can't afford an air locker.

I only did it to a bashed up old GQ that I was having some fun in and wanted the maximum fun for the minimum money.

And don't worry about having to jump out to unlock/lock the hub, that's what passengers are for!!

[brad 93hilux]

You don't necessarily need air lockers, look at the lock rites.. Usually around. $600 and cheaper to get one from USA

Look at price of centre plus stuffing around to change them over, throw in a broken cv or axle and you aren't that far off the price of a auto lokker..

That comment about going down hill... He is spot on. It could cost you in a big way.

Brad

[V.W.Dave]

.

honestly, IMO, having a welded front diff is a retarded idea, as is having to get in and out of the car to lock a hub everytime you need 4wd and then have to to the same again to unlock when you need to steer

Well mate get over the high and mighty we all will hate you if you weld it attitude.

As he has pointed out he just wants to try it as he has a few spare if he dosn't like it. I can't stand all you people on here and every other sight that jump on the wagon when ever anyone brings up welding a diff.

as I said "in MY opinion" welding the FRONT diff is a stupid idea. Mate did it in his cruiser, it lasted 1 trip before he put another centre in it. Weld the rear up fine, i mean i wouldn't do it but if someone wants to do it then go ahead. Welding the front though is a pain in the arse but that is my opinion your's obviously differs. But having a go at me for voicing an opinion on the matter, well.......

Have a re-read from the start....
He was not asking should he do it he was asking what to do when he does it. So your opinion on not to do it means nothing. he wanted to know wat to do when its done. Thats why I made the comment.

[hokey]

hmm interesting replys.

comment on the slippery downhills not having good steering concerns me as does the chance of breaking more cv's. i'd lIke to think i'd do majority of driving with 1 hub in then lock in both when i need it but will prolly get lazy and leave them both in

when i can be bothered i'll weld it up and post results up here.

cheers

[dad]

I found that short side axles generally let go first, so my tip is to leave that one unlocked unless you need it.

[hokey]

yeh that was the plan haha. i've blown a short already and have one spare long in stock

[Gwagensteve]

We've had a bunch of guys in the suzuki club run welded fronts over the years and none of them do anymore. Do they work? Yes, they do exactly what you'd expect when you need them. They also make the car a total pain to use. Get ready for all sorts of pinballing nonsense on downhills, turning 3 point turns on difficult terrain into 456546 point turns, and getting totally over getting in and out unlocking hubs.

The frustration gets so great people end up just pinballing off trees because they can't be stuffed with all the back and fill to miss them.

Have a think about your driving now. Odds are, there's a couple of hundred metres of track each trip you really need a front locker, and 50-100km of driving on the trip where the welded front will annoy you.

Go crazy and weld it, but it won't be in there long.

My understanding is the hot setup for a GQ is the stock LSD in the front - I vote weld the front carrier, put it in the rear and put the LSD in the front. Much better to drive.

I've run a spool in the rear of my car for a few years and it's fine. I run and airlocker in the front though.

Steve.

[hokey]

locked rear is not good as the car is my current daily. i don't think lsd fits in rear. whenever i go to wesburn everyting there needs a front locker. it'll prolly be annoying for high country stuff though.

i'll get onto it in the holidays

[brad 93hilux]

Nope you can't put the rear LSD in the front, the GQ's have different splined axles... Not sure how you got that idea.

Don't forget to take pic's of any carnage afterwards, good luck.

Brad

[GQ Toy]

Mate over here did it - pain in the arse always breaking cv's, ended up having to replace to entire housing as the axle seals did not stay in place and was always leaking.

Off topic
Can put an LSD from rear h233b from some navara (and pathfinder i think). this bolts straight in as they are 31 spline - have done so in my GU