Updated front diff options

[M K]

I am after all your input with regards updated front diff options,

I am hoping to run approx 450bhp with a good load of torque, for the rear of the car I have bought a new gripper 7.5" diff which is being built up with new bearings and a shot peened and super finished crown wheel and pinion, I also have a diff cooler set up that will be run. Hopefully that will cope ok.

The problem I face now is sorting the front diff out. I have been looking at the 7" R&D which cost around 2k second hand and are meant to be the best option other than a ffd diff. But these diffs are second hand and have been well abused I'm sure and you don't know what your buying,

Then the other option i have thought about is a new gripper front diff, new quaife thick wall casing and shot peened and super finished cw&p, but will that hold up for long? Especially if I up the power down the line to over 500,

What do all you big power guys run? What have you destroyed in the past and what did your diffs cost you?

All info appreciated

Thanks
Marc

[turbomook]

I run a Quaife front diff with Reyland strengthing plate, and a Quaife rear diff with a 3.92 CW&P. Have both been spot on.. they were both brand new and have maybe only done 4000 miles tops, but i ran at Santa Pod and Shakespear Raceway with no problems.. well over 500 bhp and ran a 11.6 1/4 mile @ 121 MPH. With 1.7-1.9 60 Fts, so i was launching the car from the line.

I was on standard diffs but they lasted about 5 mins before i shattered the front casing and destoryed the CW&P in the rear

[ksa-cossie]

As above,I run quaiffe atb's with roughly 450 bhp

[Adamski]

500+ hp and im on std diffs fuck paying 3k for diffs for them to break! look at jacko he's just screwed a expensive one.... IMO pay £30 for a front diff put a strength plate in and be done with it....

i have seen so many people break expensive front diffs that ''shouldnt break'' me i'll pay another £30 if mine breaks and let everyone else keep paying stupid money for them!

[Davecos 4x4]

as Adam said lol, i would rather have the standard diff and not launch it or abuse it that much but that depends on what you want to do in the car when its complete.

[turbomook]

as Adam said lol, i would rather have the standard diff and not launch it or abuse it that much but that depends on what you want to do in the car when its complete.

Quaife diffs = better handling.. As said, it all depends what its being used for..

[Adamski]

dave i do give mine some beans, i have NEVER had diff problems, i do run a 2wd diff tho but i'm sure marc is running the same!?

in a ideal world id love a` 9'' but thats way too much £££

i will get a quaife rear at some point when a cheap one pops up until then std is fine but front i point blank refuse to upgrade after seeing at least 10 'uprated' ones go bang

may aswell just throw the money in a bin or give it me

[cossyking]

dave i do give mine some beans, i have NEVER had diff problems, i do run a 2wd diff tho but i'm sure marc is running the same!?

in a ideal world id love a` 9'' but thats way too much £££

i will get a quaife rear at some point when a cheap one pops up until then std is fine but front i point blank refuse to upgrade after seeing at least 10 'uprated' ones go bang

may aswell just throw the money in a bin or give it me

i got a thick wall quaife in the front and a 7.5 atb quaife in the rear and been spot on

[M K]

Anyone used a gripper front diff as characteristics would match the rear diff I'm using then

[neil a]

I had a gripper in a thick wall case in my white car, you would need to check ramp angles as they can change the way the car drives.

[M K]

The rear diff I have ordered is going full race ramps so would probably have the front set up the same,

What power etc was you running in the white car Neil? Did you have any problems?

Thanks
Marc

[neil a]

It was over 480 bhp never did get a copy of the last rolling road graph. I never had any problems with it and as far as I know the guy I sold it to is still using in his 450 escort.
I was running a gripper 71/2 rear aswell I have blown plenty of gearboxes but have never done a diff, always just ran them on good oil and fitted a brace plate to the front.

[M K]

Sounds like it could be a good way to go for under £1500

[escosgaz]

just got R&D front for mine with group A joints, but still sooooo temted to go rwd so unsure wot will be my plans over winter.

[cosmagedon]

Stick with 4x4 Gaz, rwd will be undrivable with the weather we get imo. Plus theres nothing like a propper 4x4 drift

Ive gone r&d for mine. Didnt AG run one in the front of his focus for years and it never let up, and mikes is still going strong