front diff
#11
10-09-2008, 10:46 AM
RE: front diff
That is where you are wrong. While turning, even slightly, the front wheels take very different paths and as a result turn at different speeds. The outside tire turns faster than the inside tire (inside and outside referencing the center point of the turning circle). Even with the power not being transferred to the front axle, the solid connection side to side would cause the front axle to bind. Either the wheels slip or things break.
Do not take this as a slap in the face as far as your knowledge on differentials, etc, but HowStuffWorks.com has a good article on differentials that explains this concept quite well - How Differentials Work
Do not take this as a slap in the face as far as your knowledge on differentials, etc, but HowStuffWorks.com has a good article on differentials that explains this concept quite well - How Differentials Work
#12
10-09-2008, 11:18 AM
RE: front diff
Minor note...iron front diffs were only in the 5spd blazers and zr2 s10s. Also it had to be with the push button tcase (not autotrac nor manual shift).
You pretty much can't lock the front diff unless its aluminum. When your wheels bind, the ring gear cant move, so the pinion actually climbs the ring gear...splitting the diff housing [:'(]
A spool/welding would cause the same effect, but you probably wont run into that serious of a bind on the road. If you're trying to offroad...you'll probably be looking for another new diff. You might want to look at a junkyard for used iron front diff though...most had 3.73 gears, but some had 3.42s. Look for 96+ ZR2s (pickups or blazers) with the 5 speed tranny and the 2HI, 4Hi, 4Lo tcase.
You pretty much can't lock the front diff unless its aluminum. When your wheels bind, the ring gear cant move, so the pinion actually climbs the ring gear...splitting the diff housing [:'(]
A spool/welding would cause the same effect, but you probably wont run into that serious of a bind on the road. If you're trying to offroad...you'll probably be looking for another new diff. You might want to look at a junkyard for used iron front diff though...most had 3.73 gears, but some had 3.42s. Look for 96+ ZR2s (pickups or blazers) with the 5 speed tranny and the 2HI, 4Hi, 4Lo tcase.
#13
10-09-2008, 11:34 AM
RE: front diff
Yes Jason, you are absolutely right on the iron diff. I forgot the no auto4wd or manual t-case requirement.
It is not that the ring gear cannot move, but when the wheels are locked solid to each other, you will either slip a wheel on the driving surface or bust something in the axle / diff center section. The busted loose parts are what typically will blow out a diff housing as everything moves around.
If you are in 2wd with a spool (or welded spiders) up front, you have the same risks and in that case, the ring gear is free to move where ever it wants with no input from the pinion gear. A spool would be much stronger than welded spiders, but both would be horrible for anything but a dedicated trail rig.
It is not that the ring gear cannot move, but when the wheels are locked solid to each other, you will either slip a wheel on the driving surface or bust something in the axle / diff center section. The busted loose parts are what typically will blow out a diff housing as everything moves around.
If you are in 2wd with a spool (or welded spiders) up front, you have the same risks and in that case, the ring gear is free to move where ever it wants with no input from the pinion gear. A spool would be much stronger than welded spiders, but both would be horrible for anything but a dedicated trail rig.
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