hey, i'm new to the FWD game, and was wondring if anyone has used a welded or locked differential. how does it drive? do you just loose traction if you gas it around a turn or what? i've driven welded differentials on RWD cars and it works fine. especially for drifting, but maybe its dangerous on a FWD.

 

There was a time when we pretty much didn't have any choice and everyone went that route. Not a big deal but I wouldn't do it on anything that's street driven.

K

 

does it handle better? why not on anythign street driven? i can deal with the wheel chatter

 

I did it because of lack of funds (I also had a welder). For me it worked great. Once on track you don't notice its locked up except for all the grip. I wish I would have done it sooner. In the paddock is another thing, it sucks! If I had the funds I would like to try LSD (just for the paddock).

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by vice &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">does it handle better? why not on anythign street driven? i can deal with the wheel chatter</TD></TR></TABLE>

What form of road racing are you trying to compete in?

Are you sure it's allowed in your class?

 

The point is that the performance advantage of a welded diff won't ever be utilized on the street, unless someone is doing stupid stuff. It's completely a major PITA in the rearl world of parking lots, three point turns, and 90* corners.

The only reason they work on the track is that the tires are maintaining pretty high slip angles - they are quite literally sliding in the corners, eliminating the binding that occurs at low speeds. Anyone seeing that kind of dynamic on public roads needs to build a racing car so they can understand how dumb it is.

On the track they work great but the whole reason for HAVING race tracks is to see how fast we can go. The reason for having streets and highways is to get to the track.

K

 

I've driven welded on the street a few times. It's really really crappy. But you can do it, sure. It's going to be a severe disadvantage on the street, though.

But on the track it's great

 

its gonna break axles on the street trying to make tight u-turns and things like that. just ask guys using spools on the street.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Knestis &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">...the whole reason for HAVING race tracks is to see how fast we can go. The reason for having streets and highways is to get to the track.

K</TD></TR></TABLE>

Nice. Can I use that in my sig?

 

It is pretty bad chatter... Parking is a nightmare.

Plus you'll break axles. I snapped one at an autocross, not while on course but while turning around in the parking lot.

-k