Welded diff - legal for road use?

[broken biscuit]

Bit of a debate - is fitting a welded diff to a road car legal? Car passed MOT with the welded diff fitted (advisory given for having a welded diff) and the diff is also down on the modifications list with the insurer specifically noted as 'welded diff'.

If this is not legal, what offence would you be committing? Google sheds no light...

[Slidingpillar]

No idea as to legality, but the last car I know of that was made with no differential was the chain gang Frazer Nash of the 30s.

[TooMany2cvs]

Can't see a C&U offence, but every urban roundabout might raise sufficient eyebrows for either a s59, careless driving, or even dangerous.

[broken biscuit]

I've been advised that it could constitute 'using a vehicle in a dangerous condition' but can't find any references to prosecutions involving welded diffs under any offence

[LouD86]

The police had no issues with welded diffs fitted to any of my old cars. Nothing illegal about a locked diff, only if you are drifting, or driving without due care etc etc on public highways.

The actual driving isn't an issue, just how you behave with it. Otherwise lorries using difflocks on steep hills etc, surely that would make them illegal?

[DrDoofenshmirtz]

Some Road legal Quads don't have diffs at all - just a straight axle driving both wheels.
Not sure why you'd want a car that didn't go round corners though?

[JustinP1]

broken biscuit said:

what offence would you be committing?

Land Rover Discovery ownership perchance?

[Robb F]

DrDoofenshmirtz said:

Not sure why you'd want a car that didn't go round corners though?

TooMany2cvs said:

Can't see a C&U offence, but every urban roundabout might raise sufficient eyebrows for either a s59, careless driving, or even dangerous.

They don't do anything different during 'normal driving'. They just skip the inside wheel during very tight turns, such as parking or U-turns.

[Bigends]

Shouldnt be an issue - doesnt make the car dangerous - will make a few odd noises on roundabouts though

[OllieC]

I see no issue

[Nigel_O]

OllieC said:

I see no issue

????? - somebody has to say it....

That's surely a cocked-up home-brewed attempt at diff-welding?

EDIT - yup - total screw-up....

Edited by Nigel_O on Tuesday 16th December 20:08

[paintman]

OllieC said:

I see no issue

[motco]

Slidingpillar said:

No idea as to legality, but the last car I know of that was made with no differential was the chain gang Frazer Nash of the 30s.

I believe the Daf Daffodil had a solid axle (no diff). If one of the drive belts broke it was possible to drive on one.

[Slidingpillar]

motco said:

I believe the Daf Daffodil had a solid axle (no diff). If one of the drive belts broke it was possible to drive on one.

Think you are sort of wrong. There was no differential in a Daf, but neither is the back axle solid either. The two rear wheels are each driven by a separate belt and pulleys. Quite delightful really but very confusing to watch one accelerate with a floored throttle.

You are right however in saying you can drive home on one belt - with one wheel drive!

Edited by Slidingpillar on Tuesday 16th December 22:43

[fangio]

Wouldn't like your tyre bill.....

[Schtum]

Slidingpillar said:

No idea as to legality, but the last car I know of that was made with no differential was the chain gang Frazer Nash of the 30s.

Nash and Godfrey hated cogs
made a car with chains and dogs
it worked but I wonder would it if
they have made it with a diff?


I thang ewe.......

[SMcP114]

fangio said:

Wouldn't like your tyre bill.....

Strange thing to say considering the reason it was welded in the first place.

[Spangles]

Robb F said:

DrDoofenshmirtz said:

Not sure why you'd want a car that didn't go round corners though?

TooMany2cvs said:

Can't see a C&U offence, but every urban roundabout might raise sufficient eyebrows for either a s59, careless driving, or even dangerous.

They don't do anything different during 'normal driving'. They just skip the inside wheel during very tight turns, such as parking or U-turns.

One of the wheels has to skip on every turn regardless of its tightness.

[Robb F]

Spangles said:

Robb F said:

DrDoofenshmirtz said:

Not sure why you'd want a car that didn't go round corners though?

TooMany2cvs said:

Can't see a C&U offence, but every urban roundabout might raise sufficient eyebrows for either a s59, careless driving, or even dangerous.

They don't do anything different during 'normal driving'. They just skip the inside wheel during very tight turns, such as parking or U-turns.

One of the wheels has to skip on every turn regardless of its tightness.

The difference certainly has to be made up somewhere, but it is definitely wrong to say a wheel skips on every turn. I can link to a video proving this if you don't believe me

[motco]

Slidingpillar said:

motco said:

I believe the Daf Daffodil had a solid axle (no diff). If one of the drive belts broke it was possible to drive on one.

Think you are sort of wrong. There was no differential in a Daf, but neither is the back axle solid either. The two rear wheels are each driven by a separate belt and pulleys. Quite delightful really but very confusing to watch one accelerate with a floored throttle.

You are right however in saying you can drive home on one belt - with one wheel drive!

Edited by Slidingpillar on Tuesday 16th December 22:43

Thanks SP, I was not certain as the wording "I believe..." implied. I had a monoped work colleague with a Daf and was always amused to see his rear wheels fighting with each other as he reversed into a parking bay. He told me there was no diff and I may have extrapolated the assumption from there. He had multiple engineering/physics degrees so I didn't question the information. He was one of those people with a heap of knowledge but only a modicum of intelligence, if you get my drift. The relevance of his absent limb was that the Daf was a cheap auto enabling him to drive a standard (if Daf was ever that) car - albeit using his left and only leg! I wonder where he is now...