Diff/Spool/1-way: Too many options!

[glypo]

Hi All.

I have been on a big search and it certainly answered most my questions. Basically I'm new to 4wd tenth and picked up a Lazer second hand. I'm a little confused as to what I should use in the front for my first race.

It came with the one-way already installed, and by searching forum I read this will work well on the carpet surface, I'll be racing on carpet. However how will the one-way cope with jumping? I obviously can increase nose using accelerator, but the front end wouldn't brake.... so how do you get nose down?

Basically I'm racing on a track with some big jumps, and would like to know if my jumping performance would be affected using the current one-way. Thanks in advance for any help

[Scouser]

Applying the brake will bring the nose down but just not quite as fast as with all wheels braking. A front one-way is a great tuning aid but not necessarily to everyones tastes. It sort of depends on your driving style. If you like to jam the brakes on mid corner and swing the back round 'handbrake' style, then the one-way will suit you fine, same if you do your braking on the straight and get the power back on early. It wont suit you if you do your braking whilst cornering and like the back end to stay in line with the front, that is best done with a diff fitted.
All this of course, is in my (limited) experience.

[PaulRotheram]

You need to jump the car differently with a one way.. you need to let the nose drop on its own, and then apply throttle to level the car out. I much prefer full 4wd to jump with, and I use this option quite alot when there are big/alot of jumps involved.

The oneway helps through the corners, however i personally dislike how cars jump with them in. The best thing to do is use the options (besides the spool) and see which you prefer as it is all very personal.

[glypo]

Wow big thanks to both of you.

I'm used to rallycross so going to try a diff first, as learning a new style of jumping sounds difficult when I'm learning a new class of car at the same time. Lazer looks nice and easy to access the diffs as well so I'll swap around during the meeting and see how I get on.

Thank you once again for clearing this up for me.

[RogerM]

Firstly take the spool parts and put one of them in a cupboard at home and leave it there ..... that way you'll not be tempted to run it!

That leaves you with 3 options;

permentant 4wd
front diff shaft one-way
front one-way in diff

Permenant 4wd

As Paul says it's a little easier to be able to get the car to jump how you want it too and will be the most consistent option. The downside is that the car will tend towards understeer more than the other options and the transission from on to off power is a little more agressive than with a one-way resulting in a very marked change of line.

Shaft one-way

This gives the one-way effect that allows the stability and turn in under braking. You have a little less control of the nose in the are but the up side is the most progressive change in handling on/off the throttle.
This normally is my prefered option but it needs a very stable chassis to make it work well as you don't have the snap drive of a front one-way or the softness of permenant. If you can have some drag in the assembly (so you get the one-way effect under normal driving conditions but it doesn't run freely ... if that makes sense).

One way diff / front one-way

This has a very positive drive out of the corner and gives the car a "drive from front" characteristic that is either love or hate ... a real marmite option!
The rear of the car will feel like it is just flapping about somewhere behind the front axle from the drivers stand and you'll find that you get the most twitchy characteristics from the car. If you can drive it you will be going very fast but also I personally find it is the option most likely to get away from you and the rest of your set-up and your lines have to be spot on!! I try to avoid it if possible.

Hope that helps.

[RogerM]

I assume that the event in question is the MK GP .... if so, start with full time 4wd and go from there.

[JCJC]

When we ran a one way in the front diff, (we still had the one way on the shaft - lazy) we managed to tear off one of the front wishbones, the outdrive spun off into the grass and was lost, quickly went back to the diff in the front & left the one way on the shaft.

[glypo]

Originally Posted by RogerM

I assume that the event in question is the MK GP .... if so, start with full time 4wd and go from there.

Thank you SO much for your help. You have really cleared it up a lot. I will try a diff in the front first, hopefully this will be the easiest to control as well, easing me into tenth

[RogerM]

Glypo, pop over and see me at MKGP if you want any more help .... stumpy round bloke with long hair and a DC racing shirt on .......... I'm hard to miss!!!

[glypo]

Yeah I'll come over to say hello and thanks if nothing else. I'll be the tall geeky looking person with camera in one had and broken cars in the other