Outer Limits 4x4 Board

wat does everyone think about welding the front diff in sierras

the only difference is a slightly larger turning circle.

RB zook wrote:wat does everyone think about welding the front diff in sierras

the only difference is a slightly larger turning circle.

hope u have got big arms

tims just a girl !
do a search and than WELD IT!

Apart from sore arms my friend, traction will be increased with these ailments;
Tyre wear will increase dramatically due to no 'give 'n slip' in your diff centre...
Your cv's will lurv you no end...
Tyres are gonna chirp more than a tree fulla sparrows when cornering...
Increased stress on your ring 'n pinion(s) with the spider gears welded...
A big change will be the amount of understeer you get with no slipage in the diff centre i.e. the outside wheel would normally turn faster than the inner when cornering. The zook will want to go straight ahead so you'll have to steer harder to turn it...
Could be a bit scary under brakes on corners as well as steep ascents and descents, your steering wont be as responsive and will more than likely wanna slide in a direction less than favourable...

All said though, the positives in increased traction and saved money from no lockers are all good. These are just observations over the years from all different makes of 4wd's, I'm a zook boy- so I know the definition of 'budget'!
Hope that makes a bit more sense for ya!

just went wheelin on the weekend and was verry disapointed with how the zook went.

just want somethin till i get lockers maby i should just wait till i win lotto

raqmup wrote:Apart from sore arms my friend, traction will be increased with these ailments;
Tyre wear will increase dramatically due to no 'give 'n slip' in your diff centre...
Your cv's will lurv you no end...
Tyres are gonna chirp more than a tree fulla sparrows when cornering...
Increased stress on your ring 'n pinion(s) with the spider gears welded...
A big change will be the amount of understeer you get with no slipage in the diff centre i.e. the outside wheel would normally turn faster than the inner when cornering. The zook will want to go straight ahead so you'll have to steer harder to turn it...
Could be a bit scary under brakes on corners as well as steep ascents and descents, your steering wont be as responsive and will more than likely wanna slide in a direction less than favourable...

All said though, the positives in increased traction and saved money from no lockers are all good. These are just observations over the years from all different makes of 4wd's, I'm a zook boy- so I know the definition of 'budget'!
Hope that makes a bit more sense for ya!

when the hubs are unlocked he wont tell the front is welded

ahh, crap- I kinnda went a bit in depth with the 'cig weld' thing, you're right with the hub information, he's gonna put shite loads more stress on the front diff off road if there's nothin' in the rear to help it along. CV's will have a fun time I reckon, they'll be like a chick on a first date- be gentle with me... hehe!
Am I right in sayin' that? or am I going downn the wrong path with that train of thought?

I've got a welded front in my coily, Yeah it affects the turning circle but when I go out I leave the hubs locked in all the time and I've never had a problem. Bit harder to turn the wheels when stationary also. Worth it if you can't afford / or get a locker.

I'm on a pension, tried to save for proper front locker, but gave up and a mate welded it. $10 worth of oil and done...I agree on all the breakage theories, but saying that, my rears been welded over 2 years, and the front for over a year, and I have not broke anything yet. Its my daily driver too. I leave 1 hub on free for most light off road, then jump out and lock the other for hard stuff, a pesky nuisance, but better than nothing. On road with hubs out, its all normal. Off road steering is heavier, but ya can add power steer. Handling does change, but you learn it, christover

ive had a welded diff in the front of mine now for a while with my mQ's and i was running one on my vitara, i know lots of people who have done it. Yes hard on the arms, so put power steering on your car:)
as in stress on the front end, its no different than an Air locker, you just cant turn it off. its not like your running it on the road with locked hubbs, so it shouldn't affect tyre wear.

Beeing a coily forget it as your CV's are the same as a Jimny and won't last for Shiat.
SAM

raqmup wrote:he's gonna put shite loads more stress on the front diff off road if there's nothin' in the rear to help it along. CV's will have a fun time I reckon, they'll be like a chick on a first date- be gentle with me... hehe!
Am I right in sayin' that? or am I going downn the wrong path with that train of thought?

A welded front is going to put no more stress on components that an air locker in the 'on' possie

sudden traction, when a wheel spins then lands on high traction surface, can cause breakage too, so balance the fors and againsts.

Im with sam on this one , If its a coily the front
centres a rarer as well so if you want to go back it will cost more than a normal zook to do , c/vs are in the same boat harder to get so more bucks if you break .

RB zook wrote:just went wheelin on the weekend and was verry disapointed with how the zook went.

just want somethin till i get lockers maby i should just wait till i win lotto

Perhaps weld the rear then and avoid the steering issues Yes there's still issues but the coily front will go pop if you weld it imo so the rear might be your best option

If you hate it the rear diff is the same as all 1.3 sierras so a new center won't be a big kickindanuts

Just a quick question are the front and rear diff centres interchangable in a 1.3 NT. The reason that I ask is that I have got a spare diff center that I am welding for the back and I want to know if I weld the old rear centre can I put it in the front and have a normal one as a spare if I start breaking stuff? Also does anyone know the website that has the really good pics of welding the diff centre. It shows them actually welding the gaps in the teeth up so that it won't rotate instead of trying to weld the teeth together.

Cheers
Paul

ca18escort wrote:Just a quick question are the front and rear diff centres interchangable in a 1.3 NT. The reason that I ask is that I have got a spare diff center that I am welding for the back and I want to know if I weld the old rear centre can I put it in the front and have a normal one as a spare if I start breaking stuff? Also does anyone know the website that has the really good pics of welding the diff centre. It shows them actually welding the gaps in the teeth up so that it won't rotate instead of trying to weld the teeth together.

Cheers
Paul

i believe but for the side gears the centers will be the same , simple fix.