Hi all just wondering what u guys think about locking my diff, 1200 coupe ca18det approx 150kw at the wheels i have a shortened bluebird diff currently in it but i cant get a hold of an LSD centre so i have pretty much no traction till 3rd gear, dont think i have any options left but to weld the centre, what are the downfalls of locking the diff??

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It's illegal haha... You might chew through tyres a bit quicker and you may snap the odd axle. PLus driving in the rain might be a bit more exciting as well.

It's only illegal for a street car. If yours is a dedicated drag racer, do it.

reversing is a bit of a pain, but not to hard to get used to. Going around tight corners the ass end can tend to skip a little but that can also be gotten used to.

Its not a bad idea but it's nothing like have a LSD.

Your car will be much more predictable, thats if your not scared of the back stepping out, with a welded diff.

If your one of those guys who gets a tank slapper on, then it will only compound the problem once you lift off because you'll compression lock and be in all sorts of trouble.

Do it... just don't tell anyone.

Also the wear on axle bearings and centre bearings increases, chances of snapping an axle increases, you'll do this trying to park the bloody thing, which is something else, the inside wheel just doesn't want to turn at low speed, I just spin the car around if I need to turn real sharp (that is off the road obviously) much less stress on everything that way.

Is it a H165 or H190 bluebird diff?

do it i had weld'd locker in my daily driver for 6 months was so much fun imo safer to drive with locker has you know your gonna have 2 wheels every time

I quite enjoy my locker, makes the ute a real 'drivers' car. If you haven't driven with one before though it takes time to get used to (I had some hair raising experiences).

If you do it listen to what everyone has said about what breaks and stock up on spares. Personally, I always have a spare gearbox ready to slap in.

i only get a tiny tiny bit more understeer in my ute.. but thats the worst of it.

I have a locker on the rally car and love it.

I would never have it on a street car, for all the reasons above, they are a bugger to drive in and around other cars, parking etc.

Do not underestimate the handling difference in the wet. Come in hot, back off and its drifto time. Fun, but not entirely sensible.

Cheers
Damien
ps. under steer will be more pronounced in the wet and on dirt, but can be overcome to a degree with camber and caster etc.

I'm the no column: For a drag car, running around the Indianoplis Speedway, or Rally a locked rear end is fine but for a road course or the street they're a compromise.......and not an especially great one. If you can drive a locker and a car with a proper LSD. Get a second job, sell yer gran or whatever else and get the limited slip diff.
Here in Vegas we used to call them the Las Vegas Locker, some friends raced RX3's and 7's and would weld them up.......then one of the gang got a limited slip diff and the rest converted they're cars fairly quickly. I've driven both back to back ad there is a big difference.
Even in Rally cars I prefer the LSD, the Finn who built my old Volvo Rally car would refuse to weld up the diff......his attitude was buy the proper part. I tend to agree.
Now of course this is an opinion and I'm sure some folks have no problems........matter of preference,

Did I mention I don't like locked diffs :)

Tom