Diffs! Weld or Not? no arb junkies

[diffin out]

i would like to know if anyones welded there front diff?
is it worth it or not?

[pongo]

i have, Is worth it i reckon, Major disadvantages, But im happy with it.

[joeblow]

what you mean no arb junkies?.......sorry for not bein tight.....

[stool]

Yep weld it up

It works for my GQ

[Z()LTAN]

the lux that has come 2nd in the last 2 mud events here in perth has welded front n rear.

Go for it buddy.

[sanger]

Another vote for weld it

[HotFourOk]

2 of my mates have welded fronts, one IFS rig and one solid Hilux.

They perform much better offroad, but both have replaced thier CVs recently due to major breaks. Just have a few spares on hand.

The only reason I would weld is that you cannot buy lockers for my 4x4

[joeblow]

mmm...how do they perform much better offroad?.....

[RockyF75]

mmm...how do they perform much better offroad?.....

Sorry, but what a stupid question

The answer is inevitably yes

Its a locker. Basically. Only your permanently locked. So, turning becomes a PITA.

[joeblow]

i mean so how do they perform better to a locker? i believe that is his question...welded over a locker...

[-Scott-]

i mean so how do they perform better to a locker? i believe that is his question...welded over a locker...

I think the original poster believes lockers are not an option, so it's either weld or don't weld - yes or no. He's not interested in opinions on lockers, of which ARB is the most common.

[whitemav]

Yep weld it up

It works for my GQ

Whats your technique, do you run in 3wd until needed then lock the hub?
I can see it working well in most terrain, but do you ever find the driveline binding up so badly you have to reverse then unlock one of the hubs?

[RockyF75]

i mean so how do they perform better to a locker? i believe that is his question...welded over a locker...

Welded diff = locked diff. Difference in a locker that you buy, is it can be turned off, = open diff

So in offroad ability, they are equal

But that wasn't his question. Question was to weld, or not to weld.

[Dee]

I wouldn't weld the front, only option for me is a selectable locker up front. I want the car to steer when I turn the steering wheel with the hubs locked... (I'm in a lightweight zuk tho so it may be different for others)...

If its a bigger/heavier rig maybe an auto locker might work for you...? They can be had for $250 or so bucks from the US i think...

[stool]

Whitemav The steering is heavy but not to the point of unlocking a hub or not being able to turn the wheel

some times when turning a sharp bend you just need to wheel spin a tad by a quick hit of the right foot or just do a 3 or 4 point turn.

[tom_286]

i mean so how do they perform better to a locker? i believe that is his question...welded over a locker...

Welded diff = locked diff. Difference in a locker that you buy, is it can be turned off, = open diff

So in offroad ability, they are equal

I dissagree, there are many situations off road where you are much better off with an open front diff (eg turning & reversing, espeshly up hill), a welded diff doesnt give you that option, a selectable locker does.

I had an auto locker in the front of my landcruiser, I took it out because it was a PITA to steer and I kept breaking CVs in reverse due to not being able to unlock the front diff. I found it much better having an open front diff than the auto locked one. In these situations a welded diff would be even worse so I wouldnt recomend welding your front diff. But I would consider welding the rear diff if it was for pretty much all off road use.

[j-top paj]

weld it

[nastytroll]

depending on vehicle, if money is tight get an auto locker. They are cheap and you will break cv's regularly with a welded front. eg 2 NTN GQ CV's are around $500, thats the price of a auto locker, proberly get change if buying from the U.S.

Some times CHEAP is MORE EXPENSIVE.

Welded rear maybe but welded front, I wouldn't.

[Gwagensteve]

Welded diffs are dumb and only viable for cars you can't get a locker for. A front locker is so rarely required when off road that putting up with the crap turning circle, getting in and out to lock hubs, steering load, pinballing from one side of the track to the other on greasy hills, poor maneuverability isn't worth it.

We always have a few welded front cars in our club and while they work in hard terrain, they're always the guys holding up the trip doing 400 point turns, unlocking hubs etc.

PS your thread title and question aren't very helpful - you always need to clarfy your car use, and reasons for why you are considering the modification.

Steve.

[djroberts]

welded front differentials are no good, yes they are cheap, yes they make the vehicle perform better in the rough stuff and yes you can bypass it if you have free wheeling hubs. the problem is, YOU WILL BREAK THINGS!! unless you are extremely careful and spend all your time on high traction surfaces in 2wd you should be considering something else - maybe even just leave it alone the effort and heartache later may not be worth it.

-Dave

[grimbo]

also what vehicle are you talking about, what use, why discounting manual or auto lockers?

[dogbreath_48]

I dissagree, there are many situations off road where you are much better off with an open front diff (eg turning & reversing, espeshly up hill)

or driving down a steep hill and coming to a tight corner, where a 7-pt turn may not be an option, driving on a smooth but slippery track is also a major PITA (and 2/3wd might not be enough to keep moving)
As others have said, maybe the rear, but not the front. I wouldn't even put (another ) auto-locker in the front of mine!

-Stu

[locktup4x4]

I ran a spooled front end for one run up Outer Limits at the Hammers. In that one run I broke 2 ringed/treated Longfield cv's , 1 chromo 27 spline Longfield axle , 1 spindle and 1 hub . That was about six years ago with 38" SX's. I wouldn't recommend welding or spool a spool in the front from my experience. But I know people who are welded in the front that have had very little trouble.

Jason

[1MadEngineer]

DO IT!!! and the $1000+ you saved on NOT putting an air locker in it should go towards some chromo axles and cv's. It will be stronger and last longer then your mate with 2 busted stock cv's sitting there stuck making gay PSSSSST sounds!!!

We have won more comps with 2 welded diffs than i care to remember!! You do what you need to with the money available!!!

[jessie928]

also what vehicle are you talking about, what use, why discounting manual or auto lockers?

its obvious its a COST thing.

if you want your truck to perform better offroad and thats all you care about, weld the front and back

but be prepared to
break more CV's
bad turning circle
more jumping in and out of the truck to unlock one hub ( if you care)
if you cross camber on a steep slippery slope it will be a problem unless you get out and unlock.

if you are ok with the above, then weld the bastards.

the rear is a no brainer, just weld it anyway, just you need to be alot more careful on the road especially in the wet.

what would be ideal with this setup? REAR DISCONNECT

JEs

[jessie928]

DO IT!!! and the $1000+ you saved on NOT putting an air locker in it should go towards some chromo axles and cv's. It will be stronger and last longer then your mate with 2 busted stock cv's sitting there stuck making . PSSSSST sounds!!!

We have won more comps with 2 welded diffs than i care to remember!! You do what you need to with the money available!!!

X2

Jes

[sierrajim]

DO IT!!! and the $1000+ you saved on NOT putting an air locker in it should go towards some chromo axles and cv's. It will be stronger and last longer then your mate with 2 busted stock cv's sitting there stuck making . PSSSSST sounds!!!

Or your other mate having to use a winch

[Tazz]

A front locker is so rarely required when off road .

Steve.

What the???

[Gwagensteve]

sorry, I'm obviously not hardcore enough, but occaisionally, I drive on tracks that don't require a front locker. In terms of Km travelled per trip, 90% of the time, there's no need to have the front locker in.

Have a think about, on the average trip, how much of the time between leaving the bitumen to getting back on the tar you spend with the front locker in?

Even on the average hard track.... 90% of the time you might need low range but not the front locker.

I've been driving cars with front lockers for 15 years and wouldn't be without one, but for driving on actual tracks, they're not required most of the time.

Steve.

[thehanko]

But if 10% of the time you do still use it your stuffed without one, by stuffed I mean getting out and setting up the winch all day is tiring.

But I see your point that to have it locked the other 90% of the time would be frustrating. I guess you just have to unlock one hub 90% of the time.
Can unlocking 1 hub do damage?