Drivetrain Tech General discussion of drivetrain for the Ford Ranger.

Weldinmg the diff

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old May 17, 2005
  #1  
88RangerGT's Avatar
Thread Starter
|
Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 70
Likes: 1
From: Decatur IN
Weldinmg the diff

I cant afford to get a posi so I am seriously considering getting the diff welded. I want to be able to smoke both rear tires when I dump the clutch or power brake. I know some will think thats stupid, But I love to see tire smoke. Some off road some do other things. ANyways, Will I regret it afterwards. I cant afford the lockers or a rearend swap right now. MAybe down the road. I would like to here from those who have done this or know someone who did and what all was encountered
 
Reply
Old May 17, 2005
  #2  
n3elz's Avatar
RF Veteran
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 10,623
Likes: 6
From: Kennett Square, PA
Yes, you probably will regret it. You'll wear out your tires amazingly fast, squeal through just about every turn, and have massive handing problems during high speed maneuvering.

In addition, if you just weld the diff, sometimes they break, or the axles do. I really think on an older Ranger that is street driven, you should just wait until you can afford to do it right.

Just for the heck of it, I put my locker on and tried to do normal street driving. I don't like it -- it's something you wouldn't do for a street driven truck PARTICULARLY if you need handling ability and not just straight-ahead traction.
 
Reply
Old May 17, 2005
  #3  
SoundPer4mance's Avatar
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 3,048
Likes: 0
From: Fuquay Varina, NC
dont do it. not for the street. not if its EVER going to be driven on the street. i bought a spool once for the torino and changed my mind, sent it back and bought a rebuilt POSI. the spool was 30 and the posi was 450, but with a spool, you could damage the tires axle shaft and driveshaft. maybe for a drag car or demo derby car, not for a car you like
 
Reply
Old May 17, 2005
  #4  
gatorblue92's Avatar
RF Veteran
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 8,239
Likes: 3
From: Delaware
i agree just wait till you can do it right
 
Reply
Old May 17, 2005
  #5  
92 Ranger's Avatar
Member
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,229
Likes: 0
From: Raleigh NC
yeah i wouldnt do it either, just go to a junkyard and find one that has a posi and youl be set... what rear end are you running?
 
Reply
Old May 17, 2005
  #6  
n3elz's Avatar
RF Veteran
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 10,623
Likes: 6
From: Kennett Square, PA
On an '88 I would think most likely a 7.5.
 
Reply
Old May 17, 2005
  #7  
NHBubba_Revisited's Avatar
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,351
Likes: 0
From: Somewhere, XYZ
Originally Posted by 88RangerGT
I want to be able to smoke both rear tires when I dump the clutch or power brake. I know some will think thats stupid, But I love to see tire smoke.
Yup, some will think that..
 
Reply
Old May 17, 2005
  #8  
Skyjacker_44's Avatar
Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,079
Likes: 1
From: Hillsboro,Texas
if u drive it on the street alot don't do it .....i welded the rear end in my blazer and love it cheap and haven't broke but if u do do it......there is only one way to do it right.... look it up on RPS and if u weld it right u shouldn't have any problems..
 
Reply
Old May 17, 2005
  #9  
Trevelyn1015's Avatar
Still El Presidente...
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 4,903
Likes: 6
From: Texas
weld it up... you can be the example we go back to, when we need to tell people in the future why you shouldn't weld your gears...

keep a camera on you, so you can document the after effect, when you take a corner in a light drizzle. many telephone poles in your area?
 
Reply
Old May 17, 2005
  #10  
FORZDA's Avatar
Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,671
Likes: 0
From: Mississippi
Originally Posted by Trevelyn1015
weld it up... you can be the example we go back to, when we need to tell people in the future why you shouldn't weld your gears...

keep a camera on you, so you can document the after effect, when you take a corner in a light drizzle. many telephone poles in your area?
LMAO!
 
Reply
Old May 17, 2005
  #11  
doc's Avatar
doc
Member
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,406
Likes: 0
From: Media, PA
:rofl:
 
Reply
Old May 18, 2005
  #13  
Skyjacker_44's Avatar
Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,079
Likes: 1
From: Hillsboro,Texas
eyayh man if u can't get a posi get a spool i'm not sure if they make them for a 7.5 but look in to it they are only like 100 bucks
 
Reply
Old May 18, 2005
  #14  
buckgnarly's Avatar
Member
iTrader: (11)
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,709
Likes: 0
From: West Topsham, VT
Originally Posted by Skyjacker_44
eyayh man if u can't get a posi get a spool i'm not sure if they make them for a 7.5 but look in to it they are only like 100 bucks
A spool would still leave you with the same problems driving on the street as welding the spider gears.
 
Reply
Old May 18, 2005
  #15  
n3elz's Avatar
RF Veteran
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 10,623
Likes: 6
From: Kennett Square, PA
Except it might be less likely to break (though the axles still can).
 
Reply
Old May 18, 2005
  #16  
cheesehazard's Avatar
Member
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 120
Likes: 0
From: New Orleans, LA
I saw something on another forum, I think it was generation edge, but they added in something to the rear end that gave it posative traction. I do not know much about engines, transmissions, and other mechanical parts. Just thought it might help.
 
Reply
Old May 18, 2005
  #17  
Wowak's Avatar
Member
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,223
Likes: 2
From: Merritt Island, FL
Spool or welding on the street is asking for death in the rain. Spools are for off-road use only!
 
Reply
Old May 18, 2005
  #18  
Skyjacker_44's Avatar
Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,079
Likes: 1
From: Hillsboro,Texas
Originally Posted by Wowak
Spools are for off-road use only!
Hey man Curb Hoppin counts
 
Reply
Old May 18, 2005
  #19  
optikal illushun's Avatar
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 2,232
Likes: 4
From: Coal Region, MTC to be exact...heart of the coal region.
Welding a differntal is the best bang for the buck. BUT it needs to be done right or else the gears will break and...well ur fawked. since this is going to be a pavement pounder id look into, like suggested before, a OEM limited slip carrier. rebuild it with an 8 clutch pack and heavier Z spring and it'll perform like a locker because the limited slip will be very tight. add some good gear erl and LSD additive and go to town.

other options are a power trax locker that'll drop in the carrier in about 2 hrs and will effectivy lock both tires together but "allow" for slippage when u let off the gas.
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
Clinton
Snapshots
15
Jul 6, 2011 03:11 PM
fordguy19
4.0L OHV & SOHC V6 Tech
4
Oct 30, 2010 04:21 PM
gatorblue92
Drivetrain Tech
25
Dec 3, 2005 11:22 AM
ranger024x4
Drivetrain Tech
4
Oct 12, 2004 08:34 PM
FoMoCoFiddy
New Ideas
17
Sep 28, 2004 11:54 AM




All times are GMT -6. The time now is 09:44 AM.