Effects of front/rear gear diff adjustments

[jeffp83]

Found this bit of info on another forum, thought it might help out to have it here.


ADJUSTING FRONT AND REAR GEAR DIFFERENTIALS


Gear differential action is adjusted by filling the gear differential with differential oil of a specific viscosity.


Differential oil is rated with a “viscosity” number that indicates the thickness of the oil, which determines how much the oil resists flowing. Differential oil with a higher viscosity (for example, 100,000 oil) is thicker than differential oil with a lower viscosity (for example, 40,000 oil).


• To make a gear differential LIGHTER, fill it with thinner oil.


• To make a gear differential HEAVIER, fill it with thicker oil.


EFFECTS OF FRONT GEAR DIFFERENTIAL ADJUSTMENT


Lighter Front Differential (thinner oil)


• Decreases understeer


• Decreases stability under braking and acceleration


• Increases chance of traction roll


Heavier Front Differential(thicker oil)


• Increases understeer


• Increases stability under braking and acceleration


• Reduces chance of traction roll


EFFECTS OF REAR GEAR DIFFERENTIAL ADJUSTMENTLighter Rear Differential (thinner oil)


• Decreases on-throttle steering


• Less acceleration if the grip is there


• Less predictable car (cars with very “loose” diffs have a tendency to understeer heavily under throttle and turn-in oversteer as soon as you lift)


• Less on-throttle oversteer (snap-oversteer)


• Less turn-in understeer


• Less stable under braking


Heavier Rear Differential (thicker oil)


• Increases on-throttle steering


• Better acceleration if the grip is there


• More predictable car (cars with very “loose” diffs have a tendency to understeer heavily under throttle and turn-in oversteer as soon as you lift)


• More on-throttle oversteer (snap-oversteer)


• More turn-in understeer


• More stable under braking

 

[DustyR3825]

So what does people suggest using for just normal bashing and screwing around on a XB.

 

[DemonRC1]

3k-5k I'd figure would be about normal. I've played around with everything from 1k to 10k. 10k is fun if you like to power through corners. Lately I've been going very light. I've been using 1k in the front and rear. I've lost alot of steering on power but where I run we have alot of holes and spun out baja's in the turns. I need the ability to let off the power and yank my car sideways alot of times. With 1k my XB has so much off power steering that I can run on 1/8 tracks if they'd let me. Lately, I've been powering though the turns because we got somebody to boxblade our oval. I'll be moving back to 7k for this weekend.

 

[ImminentFailure]

My XT has 3K in the front, 10K in the rear. This could be a god aweful combo from a therortical stand point, but I love the way it drives.

 

[DemonRC1]

My XT has 3K in the front, 10K in the rear. This could be a god aweful combo from a therortical stand point, but I love the way it drives.

Actually that'd be a very fun to drive. I'm in the mood for changing my setup. I'm gonna defintely try it.