22 Ball Diff Thrust Race Washer Smashed
 

Hi

I was wondering if anyone could help on the following

I put a new ball diff in before I went to southport last week and ran my car, 4 round in my car was getting no drive

Took the diff out and found the one of the thrust washers had completely eroded down and broke into little bits.

I Rebuild The Diff Again And the Same thing happened after 4 rounds and a final (got through the meet but only just)

Has anyone experienced this before?

Was this because the diff was too tight? I can't find out why?

I've built the diff from a few videos I'd seen using the correct materials and grease

Any help would be grateful

Many thanks

Hi matey,

Did you compress the spring a few times in pliers to 'soften' when building from new?

Sounds like you are tightening diff up too much, or maybe too much too soon before it's bedded in.

The thrust washers do wear with use and don't last forever but will see you through a fair few meetings before needing replacing if the diff is maintained and set up well.

Breaking any ball diff in after rebuild is crucial to it performing well and lasting well... i would never build a diff, tighten it up and then try and race on it, always set it so it's just nipped up or slightly slipping, do a short low speed run on a section of track between heats if possible at a meeting, maybe a couple of figure 8's and then it's bound to be settled in so can be tightened up to a race setting.

The tighter you run a ball diff the shorter it's life will be because of the pressure on components, increased heat and generally more friction... i run my diffs tight but they get rebuilt/regreased regular (every couple of meetings) and plates maintained or replaced when they are worn.

Hi mate

Cheers for you help

I have just built up a new one and broken it in ( hold a wheel and giving it throttle and swapping every 20 secs)

Then I tighten it up bit by bit.

I have set it now where when you spin one wheel, the other wheel spins in the opposite direction.

Previous both wheels span in the same direction and was moving the pinion gear

Maybe 3rd time lucky eh lol....

Build it back up and seems to be fine so far