Welded Diffs
12-18-2009, 03:52 PM
#1
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Welded Diffs
I'm looking to buy a car that has a welded diff and driving it nearly 4000 miles back home. Aside from the fact that I'll likely want to kill myself by the end the seller has mentioned that it's been making some noise. I'm wondering if anyone has used a welded diff that's unwelded itself and what kind of risk I'm running in this case.
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12-18-2009, 04:04 PM
#2
i welded my diff. instantly dropped 2 sec. at the auto-x, 1 sec. at track days. and put it thru hell for 1.5 years. finally broke while drifting one day. took it apart, noticed it just broke the welds, rewelded and my buddy's about to use it while he finds another lsd. i say drive it home. i daily drove my car also and had no problems except the annoying chirps it makes in parking lots.
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12-18-2009, 05:35 PM
#5
i welded my diff. instantly dropped 2 sec. at the auto-x, 1 sec. at track days. and put it thru hell for 1.5 years. finally broke while drifting one day. took it apart, noticed it just broke the welds, rewelded and my buddy's about to use it while he finds another lsd. i say drive it home. i daily drove my car also and had no problems except the annoying chirps it makes in parking lots.
silly kids, welded diffs are for ****.
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12-18-2009, 07:01 PM
#7
I have a welded diff, but I do not drive the car much on the street. I really do not like it much on the street. It works like a charm on the dragstrip.
I have been getting a noise from one of the axle cv's (typical clicking noise), but only in turns. That might be what is going on with your car. If the rearend is humming, than it is possible that a chunk broke off somehow, and damaged the ring and pinion. If that is the case, it probably will not last long.
I have had my welded diff crack and had to redo it. I did not have damage to the ring and pinion, but there were no chunks floating around in the diff fluid.
I have been getting a noise from one of the axle cv's (typical clicking noise), but only in turns. That might be what is going on with your car. If the rearend is humming, than it is possible that a chunk broke off somehow, and damaged the ring and pinion. If that is the case, it probably will not last long.
I have had my welded diff crack and had to redo it. I did not have damage to the ring and pinion, but there were no chunks floating around in the diff fluid.
Last edited by miata2fast; 12-18-2009 at 07:28 PM.
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12-18-2009, 07:41 PM
#8
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Heh, I'm looking at a 91 with a 97 1.8 and MS with ITBs that's listed on SomethingAwful. The guy's done most of what I want already and the price is right which is why I'm considering it rather seriously. The only thing that's a bit unnerving to me is the welded diff but I plan on replacing it when I can and keeping it as a weekend car. It's in Orlando and I'm in Vancouver though so I'm thinking of making it a road trip, even knowing that the pumpkin might blow up. The question to me is how bad and what kind of failure cases there will be.
If it breaks the weld and just works as an open diff then I don't give two ***** about that. If it leaves me stranded in bum **** Nebraska though then I'll have to pack some lube along the way. Everything else seems pretty solid though.
If it breaks the weld and just works as an open diff then I don't give two ***** about that. If it leaves me stranded in bum **** Nebraska though then I'll have to pack some lube along the way. Everything else seems pretty solid though.
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12-18-2009, 08:27 PM
#9
Ask the owner these questions. Can you explain to me what the noise sounds like? Did it make a noise when it was first installed, or did it just start doing it.
If the rear is suddenly making a loud humming noise from chipped or broken teeth, it will likely leave you stranded. I personally would not chance it.
If the ring an pinion was not installed correctly, it may also make a noise (softer maybe), but probably from the time it was first installed. I could not tell you how long it would last. I would suspect if you drove it 4000 miles with the incorrect gear lash or alignment, it would do permanant damage to the gears.
If the rear is suddenly making a loud humming noise from chipped or broken teeth, it will likely leave you stranded. I personally would not chance it.
If the ring an pinion was not installed correctly, it may also make a noise (softer maybe), but probably from the time it was first installed. I could not tell you how long it would last. I would suspect if you drove it 4000 miles with the incorrect gear lash or alignment, it would do permanant damage to the gears.
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12-18-2009, 09:08 PM
#11
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Find a rear end for sale, even a 1.6, close to flordia. Drive it there, buy the guy a six pack and have him help you put it in. Shouldn't take more than an hour or two I one of you knows what you're doing. IMO it'd be worth the time and money for peace of mind, even if it was a pos open diff painted pink. When mine blew I could barely push it onto a dolly it was jammed up so much, FYI.
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12-19-2009, 12:46 AM
#12
Find a rear end for sale, even a 1.6, close to flordia. Drive it there, buy the guy a six pack and have him help you put it in. Shouldn't take more than an hour or two I one of you knows what you're doing. IMO it'd be worth the time and money for peace of mind, even if it was a pos open diff painted pink. When mine blew I could barely push it onto a dolly it was jammed up so much, FYI.
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12-19-2009, 06:54 AM
#14
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Rethinking this, but not the travel and car buying part. I might go down to Orlando to see it first and if it doesn't pan out I'll have a vacation there.
That and it was drifted. *sigh*
Where else should I look for road trip worthy miatas?
That and it was drifted. *sigh*
Where else should I look for road trip worthy miatas?
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12-19-2009, 09:20 AM
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Find a rear end for sale, even a 1.6, close to flordia. Drive it there, buy the guy a six pack and have him help you put it in. Shouldn't take more than an hour or two I one of you knows what you're doing. IMO it'd be worth the time and money for peace of mind, even if it was a pos open diff painted pink. When mine blew I could barely push it onto a dolly it was jammed up so much, FYI.
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