to weld or not to weld?

[b3n16]

my toy is not road legal at all and is just a pay and play truck. i have been thinking for a while about welding either rear or both diffs up, what are your opinions on this as i have heard good and bad things about this. any information would be much appreciated.

[Jamie_stafford]

It will perform great with them done but your steering will be really heavy with the front done even with power steering unless on soft mud

[b3n16]

so would you maybe suggest the rear?. would it be worth doing just one axle?. also am i likely to start breaking things with it welded?.

[turbo-tom]

i have only known people to do it in the rear? but maybe im wrong

but please dont do this....

[b3n16]

oh very nice. there are some cards out there. if it was just the back that wont affect steering that bad will it, maybe just turning circle?. im not going to start ripping props or anything am i?. sorry to keep asking questions.

[Highlander]

Once you weld one you'll never go back to an open diff offroad

Most people just weld the rear diff.

it will make a huge difference to your truck, the traction improves tremendously.

you can weld the front one too and make it even better (true four wheel drive) but as mentioned it will make the steering very heavy and try and straighten the steering under load.

Front one is good when used with manual hubs, just leave one on until you need the other one.

If its just an offroad truck go for it, it will push the rear end in corners on hard ground but offroad its no problem.

What you could do is get yourself a spare rear diff and weld it up to try it, doesn't take long to pull the halfshafts and swap a diff if you don't like it.

The traction is very good,if you do get a wheel stuck or give it too much welly your chances of breaking things increase with welded diffs but if you are fairly sensible its not a problem.

go for it!

[b3n16]

its not always soft mud but its never like tarmac. is the actual process easy. thanks for the replies by the way.

[Darrell]

I agree, just do the rear. With no centre diff it would drive horrible in any dry conditions and most likely break something. Best write up I know of is this http://forum.difflock.com/viewtopic.php?t=27773 ,not that I've done one

[Darrell]

And for stupid people like me, here's a reminder of how a diff works.
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/differential2.htm








Don't worry after a couple of weeks I will have forgotten again , or is this just me

[b3n16]

thats brilliant thank you. i think its decided then that the answer is to weld. thanks for the help men. saves getting a locker.