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Jul 10, 2009 14:45:36 GMT
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Should I do it? Should I? Hmmmm?!! Now, does anyone run a welded diff daily and rack up the miles with one? I use the Capri everyday, my issue isn't with handling and it being dangerous in the wet, as I'm sure like everything its a case of being careful and learning the 'new' way in which it'll handle. What I'm more concerned about is the destruction of halfshafts/bearings/diff itself etc.... Does anyone have any real world experience? I love the ratio on my diff so even if I could afford a £500 second hand 90 000 mile 2.8i special LSD I don't think Id want one! And the quiafe proper LSDs cost a fortune too. So, who has one? Cheers fellas  Oh - and I run sticky 265's on the back, even more chance of exploding componants?  |
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Jul 10, 2009 14:49:26 GMT
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256s? What size wheels are those? And what are the tyres?
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Jul 10, 2009 14:53:22 GMT
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Don't do it! I have no real-world experience of owning a welded diff, but I get the strong feeling that with 265 section tyres and a welded centre, your axles will not like you very much! Bearings should theoretically be fine, but low speed turn-in and tyre wear will go to pot. Of course, if you want a welded diff in the first place then I'm assuming that your rear tyres wear rather quickly anyway, sometimes whilst the fronts undergo no wear at all!
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v8ian
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,778
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Jul 10, 2009 15:01:55 GMT
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Got to be a no frm me too, I know a well known international sports car Racer who put a Escort thru the side of a house many years ago with a welded diff, And did a runner too!!!
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Atmo V8 Power . No slicks , No gas + No bits missing . Doing it in style.
Austin A35van, very different------- but still doing it in style, going to be a funmoble
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sketch
Part of things
Posts: 194 
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Jul 10, 2009 15:18:14 GMT
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in have, i used to have an s13 200sx and then a s14a, tried a welded diff in both and its awful, its good fun when you want to it be but for real world evryday driving its a no no, scrubs to much when turning, especially at junction etc, even worse if your at the petrol station and a police car pulls and watches you leave.... dunno how hard it is with these older cars but you would be much better off getting a 1.5 way diff or maybe a 2 way depending on how you want to use it
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rtlkyuubi
Posted a lot
Low and Slow
Posts: 2,922
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Jul 10, 2009 15:37:05 GMT
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My mate ran a welded diff in his sierra, then a welded diff in his e30, and is gonna be having 1 in his new e30. And he has used every car as a daily! I have no idea on the strength of the capri axle so i cant comment on the half shafts etc, but no mechanical faults arose on any of my mates cars.
I will also be running a welded diff in my viva. The only downsides are they skip when doing low speed (10-15mph) cornering / parking and they whine very loudly!
If you can put up with them then it will be fine.
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Colonelk
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,740
Club RR Member Number: 83
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Real world welded diffs!!Colonelk
@colonelk
Club Retro Rides Member 83
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Jul 10, 2009 15:41:37 GMT
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what width tyres are you running on the front and what rep do capri bits have for strength? Ive never run a welder on a live axle personally, but I know plenty of the IRS crowd who run them with WIDE tyres. You ARE shortening the life of all driveline components however, so best to keep that in mind, regardless! They are a hoot to drive with (IMO) but I would find out from fellow owners whose welded one and how long did it last |
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Jul 10, 2009 15:55:29 GMT
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^^^ I was about to say a lotof the +ve feedback comes from people with IRS and the negative comes from people with liev axles. Maybe theres a noticable difference in the performance of the two.
IMO the differential is there for a reason...
FWIW I followed a 2.0 Capri round a roundabout once a while ago, saw his wheel come off, oh, no, the hub and halfshaft are still attached... What a mess that guy got in LOL. No idea how that happened.
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Last Edit: Jul 10, 2009 15:56:56 GMT by akku
1937 Austin Street Rod - 1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1976 Rover V8 - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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Jul 10, 2009 15:57:18 GMT
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i drove my old capri (2.0l, 8 inch wellers with 205's) with a welded diff for about 7 months, was fine, i would imagine halfshaft failure would be more likely with your chunky rear tyres, but i have to say it's extremely fun once you get used to it. Be ready for strange looks when you're parallel parking!
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In mid-life classic car-less wilderness. 2001 Audi A6 avant...
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Jul 10, 2009 16:02:04 GMT
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It all depends how much grip you've got, I reckon with the size tyres you have on there its not a good idea, welded diffs are fine otherwise, you want the tyres to slip and not the shafts twisting.
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Volvo back as my main squeeze, more boost and some interior goodies on the way.
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Nathan
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 5,627
Club RR Member Number: 1
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Real world welded diffs!!Nathan
@bgtmidget7476
Club Retro Rides Member 1
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Jul 10, 2009 16:38:42 GMT
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Was there not a company who did some sort of conversion kit?
Phantom name comes to mind.
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Jul 10, 2009 16:51:37 GMT
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Good fun when you're out and about, but the experience of parking up will make you wince - expect skipping and strange mechanical noises.....!
We ran one VERY briefly in an MX5 a couple of years back, but soon swapped it for an ATS LSD we picked up cheap on ebay.
Save the money that you would be spending on broken shafts and scrubbed tyres and buy a second hand diff!
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ChasR
RR Helper
motivation
Posts: 10,201
Club RR Member Number: 170
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Real world welded diffs!!ChasR
@chasr
Club Retro Rides Member 170
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Jul 10, 2009 17:15:24 GMT
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One thing that has been mentioned here is tyre life. It will reduce the life of them drastically since they will scrub quite a bit. As said, it's best to go with a good secondhand LSD but don't be tempted by something uber cheap.
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rtlkyuubi
Posted a lot
Low and Slow
Posts: 2,922
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Jul 10, 2009 20:24:25 GMT
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off the tramp drift website:  ;D |
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Last Edit: Jul 10, 2009 20:25:03 GMT by rtlkyuubi
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Jul 10, 2009 21:25:26 GMT
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i have a (potentially silly) question to ask
how often does an lsd need servicing and its plates renewing?
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Someone just shot the elephant in the room. |
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Jul 10, 2009 21:51:45 GMT
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I have a (potentially silly) question to ask how often does an lsd need servicing and its plates renewing? depends how hard its used, pretty much any second hand Capri LSD will either need a rebuild or have had one, its usually almost as cheap to buy a new one and fit it in an existing axle what with the price people want for old capri slippers these days. |
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Volvo back as my main squeeze, more boost and some interior goodies on the way.
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Jul 10, 2009 23:51:25 GMT
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Yeah, they are stupidly expensive considering they're more than likely in need of a rebuild. Drift tax?!! |
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Jul 10, 2009 23:57:32 GMT
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The Aussies tend to use Hilux axles or similar i believe, they swop the shafts from something with less studs from a van i think, not too sure exactly, most of the older J 4x4 pickups had LSD, dunno about the newer ones with traction control though.
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Volvo back as my main squeeze, more boost and some interior goodies on the way.
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I have no idea on the strength of the capri axle so I cant comment on the half shafts etc on your car Same. I've no idea how it'll be, read this article in classic ford, by one of the writers who's done it on his capri: i430.photobucket.com/albums/qq29/abcarpix/CF-04.jpgThe actual write-up was a few issues back. I've run a welded diff in my E30 for errrrrm, a year and 4 months ish, killed 3 CV joints (all shagged already), but no other problems. Car is fine too. Had a local mechanic interested in buying my car but had heard horror stories of welded diffs, so I let him drive it around - he was amazed, said it was absolutely fine. Pushing a car hard it WILL understeer more though, unless it is perfectly set up. 265's could be a problem, but hey, just try it! Replacement standard diff will be pretty cheap if you dislike it! I've done about 12'000 miles on mine now btw. |
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The journey of 1000 miles starts with a single coffee.
I don't like coffee!
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Jul 11, 2009 10:14:41 GMT
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Right then. Here's a bit more for you.... If your car is a nail that you don't mind breaking/binning and are willing to sacrifice comfort, practicality, driveability, reliability and longevity of your car in the pursuit of going sideways, then a welded diff is for you my friend! If, however, you have invested time, love and money in your car and regard it as your pride and joy, then: a) leave it standard, or b) do it right and fit a proper diff. People have already commented on the fact that genuine Capri diffs are a fortune, but bare in mind that performance live axle Fords have been around for decades now and as such there are loads of companies making diffs to fit English, Salisbury and Atlas axles. They are not huge money either, £450 would buy you a brand new item such as a TranX. In my opinion though, you would be better going for a second hand item - expect to pay less than £250 for a Quaiffe, or similar, in good working order. All diffs are serviceable and consumable parts (plates) are not expensive. Pick up a copy of Motorsport News, or check your Yellow Pages for competition/rally car builders and speak to them about second hand stuff to suit your application. In terms of life expectancy, a good condition, well built diff will last a lifetime. Oil changes at regular intervals will prolong rebuild intervals too. If you have your diff out, you may also want to change your ring and pinion ratios too. If you are running a 4 speed, or are making big power, then a ratio in the mid-to-low 3s would be somewhere around ideal. If you have a five speed, or want a more lively car and don't mind loosing top end speed, then you could maybe go to a 3.7 or lower (higher number, lower gearing). Standard Ford ratios go right up into the high 4s, so there's bound to be one that suits. One final thing about a good LSD is that you can build them to suit your style of driving - a tight diff will give you less individual slip and more of a snappy oversteer character and a loose one will give you a smoother, softer transition from grip to slip! I know this is a bit long winded, but hope it may be more helpful than the do it/don't do it comments. Joe |
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Oh - and I run sticky 265's on the back, even more chance of exploding componants? 
