To weld or not to weld

[genob2]

I've searched and found many threads that are pro welding of the differential pins and many replys to those threads that say just changing the roll pins is good enough. I've have to change the trans in my car for a blown diff pin. I don't want to lose another trans, so do I weld the diff pins or just change the roll pins? If I weld, which ways the best; 1. weld rods to the pins and to the ring gear pins, 2. make a ring that encompasses all four pins, 3. make brackets out of angle iron and weld those to the pins and the ring gear pins. All 3 of these methods I found on this site.

If changing just the roll pins is the way to go, which roll pins and where do I get them? Also, can anybody point me to a disassemble/reassemble for the trans? All I've found with a seach is the disassembly

 

[genob2]

bump....

 

[jayro]

I used a small piece of weldable steel rod and welded it as a support from the 2 short pins to the rivits on the ring gear. There are pics of this method avialable in a few threads here. The trick with this is to make sure the supports will clear the trans case. You also want to try and make them as close in size and weight as possible. I don't believe the long diff pin needs to be welded as the net force on it cancells out. I have heard from people that replacing just the roll pins does not work.
The drawback to any welding of the diff is that it can upset the balance of it and eventually cause excesive wear on the bearing. I figured that since I was going to be auto-xing and spinning the tires some.....an unwelded diff would eat itself anyway. A welded one, while not a perfect fix, would prolong the life of the stock one under the given conditions. The real fix would be to get in on the Wavetrac group but on Shonut.com and completely replace the stock unit. Hope this helps

Jeremy

 

[Brett]

Dont go tossing regular pins in there thinking you'll be good to go. I had my pins replaced with fresh ones, not even 20k later blown diff. I never did ANY burn outs with the exception of one, barely making smoke, 6 second burn out. Other then that just hard 1-2 shifts breaking the tires loose was enough to blow the diff.

 

[1995SHO9]

I knwo one other guy that had his diff blow, must have been 4K miles if that after replacing the pins.

Do you guys think that replacing the pins can actually make it more apt to happen?


Oh, by the way, WELD IT!!!!!!1

 

[1993MTXSHO]

Do you guys think that replacing the pins can actually make it more apt to happen?

no, the only reason the diff pins fly out is because the roll pins break in half due to lack of fluid getting to them, aka burnouts or inside tire spin. I can snap new diff pins in half in a few hundred miles if i wanted to, just do a bunch of burnouts and inside tire spinning. Having new pins in will make them less apt to break because they are replacing the older more worn pins. But to be even safer just have it welded.

FWIW I just replaced the roll pins in my 94mtx's tranny, I didn't bother to have anything welded. Even a welded diff isn't 100% safe, but it is certainly a good idea if you plan on really beating on the car.

 

[1995SHO9]

I'd never ever beat on a sho.....

I baby that shit.

 

[shoclown]

i have welded the last two trans i have done and the are still taking hard and high rpm drops for the last year (cant say the same about the clutches)

 

[genob2]

What type of roll pins do you guys suggest? Stock type or some exotic aftermarket?

 

[1993MTXSHO]

Just new roll pins, as far as I know there aren't any special pins you can put in that are stronger or something.

 

[Phoenix]

I got mine welded , so far so good. There's no one here that welded it and it still failed - cheap insurance if you dont wanna re-open it again.

Allthough some may point you that it may unbalance the diff unit. True but it seems it doesnt affect the bearings too much up to date. Just try to balance it so that you dont have a huge lump of metal on one side and a small on the other. Anyway once its welded try to turn it by hand in the case the clerance is rather small.