Outer Limits 4x4 Board

I know there are HEAPS of threads on this and I've done over 5hrs of reading other threads looking for info.... things I need to know are or if someone can give a good link would be great.

"good" &/or "detailed" pics of a welded diff.
Where exactly does the plate go that gets welded in?? I know most guys just fill with weld but over the past 8yrs seems like the go is to weld this small plate in to add extra strength. everyone has opinions of wether or not to weld the spider and side gears to the cast housing?? any pro's/cns of doing this??

Will be using a Magmate 250(all I got at the old girls place) to weld this up so any pointers would be tops too!!!

Also, for a rear diff thats been welded, what inherrent dramas would you expect if driving at highway speed of 100km/h for 8hrs or so?? Mate is welding his diff up for Willowglen as his shipment of lockrite lokka didn't make it and has to drive from Goulburn back to the mid nth coast after the comp.

Cheers.

on corners with a welded diff either the inside wheel will spin or the axle will snap. I have driven small cars with welded diffs so the wheel just spins but a 4wd with big tyres will put alot of stress on the axle.

Personally I wouldnt weld the diff on a road driven 4wd but Im not sure how strong the axles etc are so it may be fine.

Just something to be aware of.

If the car is not going to break axles offroad with a locker it won't break them onroad with a welded diff.

I run a spooled rear in my sierra and have welded a bunch of rear diffs for suzukis.

Highway driving is fine, the bigger issue is tight winding roads and in carparks etc.

I can't comment on how to weld your particular diff as I don't know how it's configured.

Steve.

if its a cruiser it won't break axles on the road because it will be too busy snapping axle studs on the hub more often.

http://www.downunder4x4.net/forum/showthread.php?t=3167

May be of some use.

i had the ass of my zuk welded for about a year and a bit - it was very predicable on road (ie: you knew when it was going to slide out) and very easy to control when it did.

it definitely chewed up the tyres faster. when i got rid of the diff i was on the same fronts i'd had for 3yrs but it had slicked the original rears and gotten about 60% through the other set i put on... the fronts still had 50% on them.

theyre fantastic offroad and in the wet though - turning circle does suffer a bit.

i only welded mine cos i busted it up and it was a win win situation to fix the centre and give me a locked diff... i've since gone airlocker and dont regret it at all!

welded or spooled diffs are ok if your only using it in dirt sand offroad etc, i have got 2 sierras one with 2 lockrights and the other both welded diffs the welded one is shit doing u turns parking reversing etc always chirping/ripping tyres harder to steer always wants to drive straight and strains the axles both ways i had a spooled diff on my xd falcon didnt last long before it snapped the axle still drove with one till that went to

Welded rear on diff on my zook, hilux, patrol and cruiser. Never had one break yet but have heard of them going.

Will be on an 85 model 4runner, so not too sure how good their axles are!!! But the rig is basically only ever driven on road to get to tracks not far from home.... just that it's got to be driven all that way up the highway to get home thats the worry..... let alone getting through the comp unscathed!!!

i run a spooled rear in my lux, great offroad and fun in the wet, sux on tight roads and carparks, also chews rear tires. If you can put up with that and don't want to spend the money on airlockers, go for it. Mine gets driven on mutiple trips that are 5hrs+ during the year and although i've only done around 15k on my MTZ's and they are around 50% the offroad ability kicks ass, just don't go dropping the clutch on dry road or bang!

I would think it would be fine on the hwy. but round own would be a pain.

I welded the gussets into my GQ diff with the seals still in it and they aren't leaking and that was early this year. Since then it has done quite a few k's and a couple of comps.
So if you are careful then you won't stuff the seals or the seats.

good thread wat bout mq/mk axles would they withstand that ?