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Welded front diff question

Cash214

By Cash214
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Cash214 Enthusiast

Cash214

Posted
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I’m wanting to have a front locker in my 2015 Sierra 1500. If I can just weld the gears that would be even better because Im a on a tight budget but I am a good welder. 

 

From my research and understanding it seems like the front differential has a disconnect so that in 2wd a locker (or welded gears) in the front wouldn’t make a difference. It would only be noticeable when the center axle disconnect is engaged due to 4wd being engaged. Does this sound correct and does anyone have experience with this? 

 

Also its on 35s and I know that the strength or the front end isn’t great and I would have to be very careful with a locked front end. This is also a daily driver but it seems like this would not effect anything while in 2wd. 

Snowcamo Senior Enthusiast

Snowcamo

Posted
Posted

I don't think it makes a diff wheither front or back. If its welded to rotate both wheels it will chirp/ skip in turns.

Sent from my LG-G710 using Tapatalk

  • Like 2
SierraHD17 Senior Enthusiast

SierraHD17

Posted
Posted

It's going to pull to the drivers side.  With it locked and the passenger axle disconnected as it does you still will have load spinning the front driveshaft constantly on the drivers side that normally would just go the path of least resistance to the disconnected passenger axle. Since the carrier is locked to the drivers axle side it and the driveshaft will always spin where it normally wouldn't.  Guys have been trying this since 1988 and it's not pleasant.  

  • Like 1
SierraHD17 Senior Enthusiast

SierraHD17

Posted
Posted
2 minutes ago, Snowcamo said:

I don't think it makes a diff wheither front or back. If its welded to rotate both wheels it will chirp/ skip in turns.

Sent from my LG-G710 using Tapatalk
 

It won't.  Passenger axle has a collar that connects the inner and outer portion.  In 2wd it disconnects so the passenger side freewheels.  It will however pull to the drivers side.

 

In 4wd it will hop and skid.

  • Like 1
Cash214 Enthusiast

Cash214

Posted
  • Author
Posted
Just now, SierraHD17 said:

It won't.  Passenger axle has a collar that connects the inner and outer portion.  In 2wd it disconnects so the passenger side freewheels.  It will however pull to the drivers side.

 

In 4wd it will hop and skid.

So in 2wd it will pull to driver side? Can you explain why? I don’t know a ton about differentials but I have a basic understanding. Why would it have a load spinning the front driveshaft? Does the open diff in the front allow the wheel to spin while the driveshaft doesn’t and then a locker would make the driveshaft and driver wheel locked together? 

Cash214 Enthusiast

Cash214

Posted
  • Author
Posted

I understand how it would operate in 4wd and have no issue with that, it’s just the 2wd operation I’m trying to understand. 

SierraHD17 Senior Enthusiast

SierraHD17

Posted
Posted (edited)

Your passenger wheel hub is freewheeling with zero resistance other than the bearing.  The drivers side is turning the gears and the driveshaft putting drag on it.  Yes it will pull to the drivers side.

 

When it's open all you spin is the spider gears and that disconnected passenger side axle....and not the entire gear set, front driveshaft along with the transfer case input shaft.

 

How noticeable will it be on your truck?  Do it and let us know lol.  

Edited by SierraHD17
Cash214 Enthusiast

Cash214

Posted
  • Author
Posted
2 minutes ago, SierraHD17 said:

Your passenger wheel hub is freewheeling with zero resistance other than the bearing.  The drivers side is turning the gears and the driveshaft putting drag on it.  Yes it will pull to the drivers side.

 

When it's open all you spin is the spider gears and not the entire gear set and front driveshaft.

Thank you. Do you know how hard it would pull? I wouldn’t think it would be very bad but I don’t have experience with it. And couldn’t you align it to pull to passenger side slightly to compensate? 

asilverblazer Senior Enthusiast

asilverblazer

Posted
Posted

Welding up the differential is something you do on a 20 year old mud truck, not a 4 year old daily driver.

 

You will regret it.

 

Drivability will suffer as noted above, plus, whatever you are doing with 35" tires that warrants a locked front axle is going to result in other far more significant failures. If your funds can't afford a proper locker, then they won't support the magnitude of repairs you will encounter either.

  • Like 1
SierraHD17 Senior Enthusiast

SierraHD17

Posted
Posted

He can't even get an actual locker or limited slip of any kind for the 8.25" front as far as I know.  There is nothing available as they are so weak they can't handle it.  The 9.25" has a couple options but that's it.  

flyingfool Senior Enthusiast

flyingfool

Posted
Posted (edited)

for the rear 

https://eastcoastgearsupply.com/i-20655114-gm-9-5-14-bolt-powertrax-lock-right-1950-lr-all.html

 

some people also fill the carrier with a bunch of lead and melt it into the spider gear housing, theres lots of cheap lead in dead old car batteries, this is reversable, just remelt the lead from housing

Edited by flyingfool
  • 1 year later...
flyingfool Senior Enthusiast

flyingfool

Posted
Posted
On 12/3/2019 at 6:21 AM, Jacoby said:

This thread should be titled “how to ruin a perfectly good truck”

that should be the name of the entire forum. lol

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