Outer Limits 4x4 Board

What are the real disadvantage with a welded rear diff.
How bad is it on tyres, i understand in tight spots onroad such as car parks,
but what about general driving?
What about off road in tight situations?
And everything else that goes with a welded rear........
I know an air locker would be better, but i can't yet afford one yet.
Don't crucify me, i've searched, but i get mixed answers, so if you've done or have it, tell me about the real disadvantages from your experience.

Thanks Pep

Tyre wear? Can't comment. Sierras are pretty light on tyres anyway so I would say it's not significant.

Off road? Can't really comment on disadvantages, I don't think there are many. the rear might fall of a side angle a bit more readily, maybe it doesn't turn quite as tight, but you get used to it pretty quick. the added traction more than makes up for it.

In general driving the effect is initially a bit odd but you get used to it. The car pushes a bit on the way into a corner and then at the apex it switches to oversteer. It's predictable but you do have to adjust to getting used to pulling lock out more quickly.

It sort of amplifies the squirelly/bumpsteery effect.

Just my 2c - I have welded aheap and had one in mine for about 6 months now. I have no intention of going to an airlocker in the rear, but I do know how good they are in a DD.

Steve.

Tyre wear is increased but not greatly
The biggest thing I find is its embarrasing in carparks, everybody looks at you cause the wheels are screeching on your only doing 10kmph
Off-road the difference is huge
Unis and axles cop heaps more load and wear
Tendancy to understeer on road in the wet if your not on the ball as it wants to push straight ahead
This is not a road legal mod

Thanks guys
I understand it's not a road legal (wat is in Qld?)
As anyone had any legal prob with it?
As far as the road driving, would it be sort of like driving as a worked ZJ Fairlaine with a very tight LSD?

Pep

had one in mine, only took it out when i bought new tyres(mrs bought them for me ) rotate your tyres often.
onroad, does squeel, maybe alittle bit more hoppy around corners, but you love it offroad.
understeers alittle more easily, and oversteers only when you have enough power to turn both wheels, for example, i could usually spin it in second going around a corner, but if i tried that with the welded, would end up going straight ahead, i would have to changed down to 1st, and then give it the boot result .

going to put it back in at the end of uni season when i start to go wheeling more often.

i have one.

yeh there a pain but also there awesome. i have the 1.6 and 31s. can sideways in the wet way easy. some times scary but u get used to that quickly in the wet. Sqeaky in carparks and also in tight roundabouts etc. turning circle is reduced on road btw also.

offroad, all good. traction is great. in sand i have been using 2wd more now as dont get hung up on one wheel.



Nic

Have lock rites in mine but if the rear ever packs up i will weld it for sure!

As for every one lookin at ya in the car park cause your wheels are scretching you shoul see the looks you get when you swing into a car park with the clutch in and the locker is clicking away!

welded rear is fantastic! before mine became a paperweight (dont talk to me about it) i had it welded up (busted some internals, this was the easy fix! haha).. i could go places i wouldnt dream of before offroad, and on road it felt great - i felt it improved handling - in the wet, rather than the rear suddenly kicking out on a corner the welded rear gave a slow progessive slide, which easing off the accelerator would hold or stop the slide. Carparks are DAM noisy! haha lots of dirty looks from old ladies. On road in the dry it wasnt really noticeable.

I do recall my arms hurting a little the first week though cos the steering gets a little heavier =) hahaha god i sound like a wuss.

get a spool does the same thing but u can take it out if u dont like it
does any one know if u can get a spool for the back of the coilys wat are the back diff the same as

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Suzuki-Sierra-Mi ... dZViewItem

(suzisport international)
Diff Locker A$ 350.00
This Diff lock is a mini spool type locker and will give even drive to both rear wheels all the time.



Plus Suzisport at springwood have the auto lockers for the rear now not just the front! $450 or something like that, not permenatly locked but if you give it some gass locks right up, same principle as the detroit I think

i've receintly welded the rear in my suzi, its just like what everyone else says on here u get used to it pretty quick. i dont think it is worth it getting a rear auto locker for a suzuki, cause u pay like $350-400 for a lockright or something, but u can weld the rear for free if you own a welder, or a small price from someone on here who knows what they doing. i rekon weld the rear and spend the money on getting a front locker. just my 2cs

geko2040 wrote:i've receintly welded the rear in my suzi, its just like what everyone else says on here u get used to it pretty quick. i dont think it is worth it getting a rear auto locker for a suzuki, cause u pay like $350-400 for a lockright or something, but u can weld the rear for free if you own a welder, or a small price from someone on here who knows what they doing. i rekon weld the rear and spend the money on getting a front locker. just my 2cs

Would have to say the same....Had a welded rear on me LJ80, It went soooo much further off road that it made up for any lack of on road manners. I found with the 80, The quicker I went around corners the easier it got.....Probably because the inside rear wheel was in the air!!!

Nah, it's not just the LJ thing, at higher speed the effect is less. They show the worst behaviour at lower speeds.

Steve.

MORAL OF THE STORY:

Weld your diff, and drive it harder and faster than ever before =)

Thanks, you guys are champions.

A welding we will go

Pep