Who's the diff daddy??

[Pops]

Can someone give me some tips on building a diff that lasts more than one event without becoming coarse and notchy? How often do you guys rebuild? Which diff balls are best..I use the std carbide ones, sand diff rings on a flat granite bed with 1000 grade wet/dry using a spot of wd40.When first assembled the diff is really smooth and i get that oooh feeling when i turn it!!! After a qualifier or 2 its slightly course and after finals it feels nasty so i do it all again(2 x6's and a b44!) Heeelp please
Thanks, Dave

[MiCk B.]

Hey,

Do you clean the WD40 off the rings?

MiCk B. :-)

[sosidge]

Don't forget to give the thrust bearing equally good attention! Round balls, flat plates, thoroughly cleaned, then well lubed with black grease.

[Pops]

Yeah i clean every thing before i use assiciated diff lube on rings and balls and black grease on thrust balls.. when i strip down the diff rings have a groove in them but its not worn smooth, its like the groove is lumpy!! and thats what gives the notchy feel

[sosidge]

If the rings are wearing unevenly, that suggests that something is not running true in the diff. Are you saying it is happening in all of your diffs? If so I wonder whether something about your tools or technique for sanding the rings is making them come out wrong.

Personally I have never sanded a diff ring in my life - even some of the superficially ropy ones - and I have always had long-lasting, satisfactorily smooth diffs. Whatever surface prep you do to the diff plate is worn away once the diff beds in after those first couple of runs.

[YoungChazz]

There have been some problems with AE diffs of late. It cost Ellis the win at the last race.

Check that the two diff bearings fit properly into the outdrive and gear. It should "float" easily into the outdrive, not "pop." And it should press smoothly and easily into the gear, again with no "pop." If you must apply any pressure at all to get the bearings in, relieve the hole where they go. Don't let either one become sloppy -- it's a bearing and it must fit properly -- but these are small bearings and it doesn't take much to deform the outer race. Premature and uneven wear can easily be the result.