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opinions on welded diff

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Old Mar 13, 2013 | 10:16 AM
  #1  
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From: hermitage pa
opinions on welded diff

Jus lookin to see wat u guys think about getting ur diff welded or should I try to find a rx7 with a factory LSD
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Old Mar 13, 2013 | 04:28 PM
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Isaiah 53.7
 
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I daily my FC in any weather including a recent 10 in. snowfall with a welded diff, and I'm not dead yet. However, I'm accustomed to welded diffs AND their disadvantages.

I feel most would recommend an LSD unit, though. Welding a diff is cheap, but if you don't use your head, your car can be a hairball to drive, not to mention the extra stress on you drivetrain potentially costing more money than an LSD.
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Old Mar 14, 2013 | 12:13 PM
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Thank u. My buddy has his own and is a certified welder and he said he would do it for me. So I think I'm gona go that route as well
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Old Mar 14, 2013 | 12:39 PM
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NOOOOOOO bad idea. for one in the turns your tires are going to chirp causing premature wear. for 2 welding your diff is very hard on rear end parts. if you are going to go that route id suggest finding a spool or an lsd from a different car. i have tons of friends that drag race and are in demo derbys that have welded their differential and wished they hadn't. although this is my first rx7 that ive owned i'm talking from experience from working in a transmission shop too. i've seen them cause catastrophic failure!
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Old Mar 14, 2013 | 06:54 PM
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Originally Posted by RacerX125
NOOOOOOO bad idea. for one in the turns your tires are going to chirp causing premature wear. for 2 welding your diff is very hard on rear end parts. if you are going to go that route id suggest finding a spool or an lsd from a different car. i have tons of friends that drag race and are in demo derbys that have welded their differential and wished they hadn't. although this is my first rx7 that ive owned i'm talking from experience from working in a transmission shop too. i've seen them cause catastrophic failure!
^ Exactly. However, a spool would be the high $ form of a welded diff, in which case, I'd get an LSD. Increased wear is just one of the consequences of locked diffs regardless of what kind of lockup you got, a spool or welded diff being the most extreme. Then again, since you're probably planning on drifting, you've probably already come to terms with rear tires being disposable along with other drivetrain components as well.

Have fun!
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Old Mar 14, 2013 | 07:00 PM
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ive had a welded in my fd for 6 events now pushing 400+ hp and nothing has broken but traction.
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Old Mar 15, 2013 | 07:19 PM
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my car with locked diff was almost undriveable in the wet so keep it in mind if its a daily or raining.LSD is far superior way to go.
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Old Mar 15, 2013 | 07:41 PM
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My neighbor is 16 bought a 240, welded the rear end, and two months later comes about 4 feet short of plowing through a huge propane tank at a gas station. If you plan on having alot of sideways about 1/3 less turning radius then go for it. However if your inexperienced driver maybe lsd or locker....
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Old Mar 15, 2013 | 11:17 PM
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From: hermitage pa
Thanks for the input guys. It is not my daily driver. I have another car. Although I will b driving it on the street. I'm mainly goin to drift practices and little events in my area. So I don't think welding it would b to bad. And I am ok with burnin through tires. My buddy works at a tire shop and I get used tires with decent tread for free
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Old Mar 16, 2013 | 01:03 AM
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Just weld it. It's not a big deal. If its a secondary car by all means do it. When ppl always ask this question I feel like it's up to the type of driver your are and how tolerant you are to the little things that might bother you in the future. Premature wear in the wheels, the chirping the tires make.....
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Old Mar 16, 2013 | 08:09 AM
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From: Ocala
weld it!
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Old Mar 16, 2013 | 09:30 AM
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LSD is the way to go
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Old Mar 16, 2013 | 09:32 AM
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Although welding is not a big deal
I still prefer the LSD
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Old Mar 16, 2013 | 12:14 PM
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I'm gonna weld it. The little things don't bother me. Thanks for the other perspectives guys
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Old Mar 17, 2013 | 03:30 AM
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From: nova scotia
NS

Sounds like you have friends who can / will help you out with issues that come up if any.
I have run with both welded and LSD. I prefer LSD, BUT in certain applications welded is just as good.
Life (and 7's) is an adventure. Weld the sucker, learn the good the bad the ugly and add that to your bag of tricks.
Keep looking for an LSD. If you are patient one will aooear at the right price.
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Old Mar 18, 2013 | 11:11 AM
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Uncomfortable for a daily
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Old Mar 19, 2013 | 10:45 AM
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M swann. U r right thanks for the advice
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Old Mar 21, 2013 | 12:31 PM
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My roommate welded the diff on his 240sx. worked fine but wore is right side tire a lot faster than the left. If it was me, id go for lsd. but its not too bad welded.
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Old Mar 23, 2013 | 02:06 AM
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They arent that bad to drive with, but I would only suggest it for drifting
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Old Mar 23, 2013 | 02:07 AM
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Its pretty hard to grip with a welded diff hahaha
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Old Mar 23, 2013 | 11:26 PM
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if mine was a track car i would weld it
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Old Mar 24, 2013 | 01:12 AM
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My friend pull me off when I was looking at a welded diff RX7
He said its dangerous and sucks when driving slow
suggest you only use for drift
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Old Mar 24, 2013 | 05:14 AM
  #23  
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From: haddon heights nj.
i welded a 7.5 camaro i would weld no more than 2 or 3 seconds of bead while alternating between hot welds and its opposite cold counterpart ;ie flip it over , 1st rear welded when cooled drive pin got stuck after inserting n b4 i could get it out. WARPING = scrap . Go slow check pin fit after each short bead keep heat low = time to cool between beads and they can be fairly reliable . good luck . ps disk brakes on boltin axles, if it dies 1 side 'll still spinnin = sharp turn to tree or wall
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