Excellent point Sean, hadn't even considered the snow effect. Tough enough traveling on 69 up to Angola with the wide open spaces and snow blowing like the devil <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/evil.gif" alt="" />. I like challenges and all but not with semis all around me. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shiner.gif" alt="" />

I almost went the welded route with my past Amigo when we had the welder on hand for my jeep project, then I remembered last winter......(remembering).....and decided not dieing in a ball of flames on the side of a snowy road was the better route to go. So instead I think we just fixed my rear bumper <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

I hate to hijack, but I would love to see a picture of your Amigo, your sig intrigues me.

Man I want my Amigo back....wonder if the kid would tade me <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Good Luck with whatever direction you go.


Nick <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

Scorpion,
It seems like its pretty difficult to post a picture so I'll send you one as a pm.

John

Crap, can't do that either. I'll get it figured out this evening.

Sounds good, you want you can email it to me.

ndurost[AT]adelphia.net


Nick

OK, here's my two cents on the matter... If road conditions are bad enough that a welded rear diff would make driving hazardous, I would think that a person would be driving in four wheel drive anyway. With the front pulling(as well as the rear)... I see that as doing basically the same thing as the "anchor" action that Sean spoke of. Have you ever tried "cutting donuts" while in 4WD?? It's just about impossible. My rear diff has been welded for several years and I have driven to work(40+ miles) several times in slick conditions. I had absolutely NO problems. Well other than being late for work after stopping to pull several people out of the ditch. In my experience, I did not(and do not) see the welded diff to be a problem. YMMV.

I have to agree...I don't think that road driving with a locked or welded rear diff in the snow is all that different than driving with a limited-slip rear diff, which I have done many, many times. In fact my Tahoe has a LSD. You have to be aware that the rear will kick out easily in 2WD, but in 4WD it isn't an issue at all.

IMHO... go ARB. You will love it, and the 'migo will too <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> We've had a few snowy winters here, nothing like you guys get, but still, the ARB performed nicely on both the snow and ice covered roads. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/evil.gif" alt="" /> (we have to pull all the Jeeps out, He He!) <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

Yah I didn't think it was too bad in the snow, even in 2wd. It will drift around corners, but its pretty predictable. The biggest problem I had was my lockright would lock up when I braked hard and try to wiggle the rear end around. But it was controllable.

If money were no object...YADA YADA YADA.

Thanks everyone for weighing in, interesting points all and definetely appreciated, the bottom line though is a viable alternative to the $800 arb with the need for an additional $100 compressor. I have experienced the "fun" of my limited slip in my SS locking up on slick roads and trying to pass my front end (serious pucker factor) I can see how having the front end locked in and in 4wd would negate that effect, although with a large amount of highway driving the majority of the time it isn't really the snow that gets you it is driving along at 5 in the am along the highway and going over the overpass and hitting black ice, with a welded rear end and a short wheel base like an Amigo it seems like it would be a heck of a spin. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" />

John