Learn me some limited slip...

[CRallo]

that answer will depend a bit on the tracks that you run but... at that power level I'd think it would not by you much. That said, how much do you spin your tires? That is a good indicator...

[JLawton]

As Chris said it depends on the track. Fast sweepers? Not so important. Tight turns, you're leaving time on the table.

I would weld it........ like right NOW before the next race. LOL You WILL feel a difference. It does take a different driving style but it's not that different. You just need to stay on the power. If you don't, it will push like a mother.

Of course, welded does suck when trying to drive around the paddock

[Knestis]

What Jeff said. I let the siren call of clutches, gears, and other doo-dads distract me when i came back to the game a few years ago. Cameron Conover built me a gearbox with a spool (over the counter welded diff, essentially - very old school muscle car) last year and i LOVE IT.

K

[joeg]

Ryan--Think turn 13 at Nelson for wheel slippage.

Talk to Carl and Jim in the Renaults about welded diffs--they work well but they are an acquired taste.

I prefer the Quaife over the clutch type, but that is more about reliability--Quaife' don't wear out.

Lots of choices, but the bottom line is you should have something--even a Phantom Grip is better than nothing.

An open is only good for braking on a wet track (and obviously, the welded can be diabolical in such a situatuion).

[Knestis]

Ryan--Think turn 13 at Nelson for wheel slippage.

Talk to Carl and Jim in the Renaults about welded diffs--they work well but they are an acquired taste.

I prefer the Quaife over the clutch type, but that is more about reliability--Quaife' don't wear out.

Lots of choices, but the bottom line is you should have something--even a Phantom Grip is better than nothing.

An open is only good for braking on a wet track (and obviously, the welded can be diabolical in such a situatuion).

Quaife also doesn't actually work if one tire is in the air or on grass. And the spool rocked the rain at Summit two weeks ago. The only diabolical aspect of that is if you are at speed and hit a puddle with one wheel, at which point the car will move laterally. Just let it go and it will keep going straight once it gets the physics figured out.

But to be clear - you CANNOT pussy-foot a welded diff in a FWD car. Like Jeff said, you have to stay on the throttle and not let it boss you around.

K

[shwah]

+1 on welding it.

Quiaffe and Wavetrack stuff is not ideal for road racing. If you want a "real" diff, spend real money on a clutch based, tuneable unit. We have not tested those for budget reasons, but have found a spool faster than the others.

I would say you are looking at 1-2 seconds per lap gains.

[callard]

I go back and forth between a rear engine RWD welded dif Porsche, a front engine RWD welded dif Benz and a FWD Quaif dif Acura. I also had a couple front engine RWD BMWs with a welded dif and a Quaif. I love the Quaif in the Acura but didn't like it in the BMW. I love the welded difs in the Porsche, BMW and Benz. In spite of what others say, they work well in the rain. And I love the price.
Chuck