Weld in Differential Housing Bracing

Luke · Postby **Luke** » Fri Dec 20, 2019 9:27 am

Hi Guys

Has anyone her had their differential housing braced at the break point on the right hand side?

There seems to be 2 solutions, bolts in(K-miata) or weld in.
Now as the diff will be out for a diff shop to be worked on, I would 100% prefer a weld in option as it will always be stiffer than a bolt in option.

The only off the shelf solution I found was from Miatacage.
https://www.miatacage.com/differential-braces

The problem is they don't do international shipping. They told me to try 5xracing or Gomiata as they sell their products.
Only 5xRacing got back to me saying it would take themselves 2 weeks to order it in and then ship it out which I told them, to go ahead with. I have not heard anything back since even with a reminder email or 2.

Does anyone know of another off the shelf ready to weld in solution?

ManiacLachy · Postby **ManiacLachy** » Fri Dec 20, 2019 9:35 am

It's just a bit of steel plate covering a section of the arm, right? Couldn't you use a little CAD and then have a piece cut to shape and welded? Shouldn't be a big job.

plohl · Postby **plohl** » Fri Dec 20, 2019 9:52 am

kmiata have an options too. You can get it from 949 or kmiata.

https://supermiata.com/Kmiata-differential-gussets.aspx
https://kmiata.com/collections/transmission-upgrades/products/differential-arm-reinforcement-plates

Mr Morlock · Postby **Mr Morlock** » Fri Dec 20, 2019 11:47 am

I would be getting the cnc alu products - these will fit and trying to make one would not be easy. Welding also really needs to be done by someone competent.

Lokiel · Postby **Lokiel** » Fri Dec 20, 2019 11:57 am

plohl wrote:kmiata have an options too. You can get it from 949 or kmiata.

https://supermiata.com/Kmiata-differential-gussets.aspx
https://kmiata.com/collections/transmission-upgrades/products/differential-arm-reinforcement-plates

There's a guy on MT.net who welded these onto his diff rather than bolting them on (don't remember the thread off the top of my head).

MX5NBpsi · Postby **MX5NBpsi** » Fri Dec 20, 2019 2:09 pm

I welded 5 mm plates in to the holes in the arms i also braced the PPF just for safe measure

i will try and find more photos it was so long ago

80-image_4267b738aae1490beef7d597b5de312ddd0c248c.jpg

MX5NBpsi · Postby **MX5NBpsi** » Fri Dec 20, 2019 2:59 pm

Mine looks very similar to this on both arms

F138314414.jpg

Luke · Postby **Luke** » Sun Dec 22, 2019 12:29 pm

Hmm just realised that I should have posted this in the Engines, Transmission & Final Drive section.

ManiacLachy wrote:It's just a bit of steel plate covering a section of the arm, right? Couldn't you use a little CAD and then have a piece cut to shape and welded? Shouldn't be a big job.

Aluminium.
A little CAD, nope, I can only spell it.

plohl wrote:kmiata have an options too. You can get it from 949 or kmiata.

https://supermiata.com/Kmiata-differential-gussets.aspx
https://kmiata.com/collections/transmission-upgrades/products/differential-arm-reinforcement-plates

Yep, know of it. But it is bolt in. I have thought of getting them and having them welded instead, which I am keeping as my 2nd option. Mania sells them as well, and it works out at much the same price once you factor in shipping and currency conversion.

Mr Morlock wrote:I would be getting the cnc alu products - these will fit and trying to make one would not be easy. Welding also really needs to be done by someone competent.

Where is the like button. Exactly. Shape needs to be cut right and welding will be done by a fabricator which the diff shop has access to.

MX5NBpsi wrote:I welded 5 mm plates in to the holes in the arms i also braced the PPF just for safe measure

i will try and find more photos it was so long ago

80-image_4267b738aae1490beef7d597b5de312ddd0c248c.jpg

Have thought about it, but that would also mean spending a lot of time stuffing around cutting and measuring slowly.
If I were to do it, it would make sense to do both sides front and rear, so 4 pieces all up.

It has now been 3 weeks since my last email response from 5xracing.
I just wish 5xracing had a number you could call. Their website has none and they state they do business via email. According do google they have a number which I may try on Tuesday morning.
I will give them until the 2nd week of January to send a response back.
Otherwise I will be visiting Mania and buying the Kmiata option.

93_Clubman · Postby **93_Clubman** » Mon Dec 23, 2019 10:57 am

Luke, to possibly save you time & frustration, just checked the 5xracing website as I recall they didn't ship OS - unless things have changed & they haven't updated their policy page, or you're using a freight forwarder, the 5xracing policy appears unchanged:
'We do not offer International shipping due to the inconsistencies and shortcoming with our United States Postal Service (USPS) International shipping'.
https://5xracing.com/p-423-5xracingship ... ation.html

Luke · Postby **Luke** » Mon Dec 23, 2019 1:56 pm

93_Clubman wrote:Luke, to possibly save you time & frustration, just checked the 5xracing website as I recall they didn't ship OS - unless things have changed & they haven't updated their policy page, or you're using a freight forwarder, the 5xracing policy appears unchanged:
'We do not offer International shipping due to the inconsistencies and shortcoming with our United States Postal Service (USPS) International shipping'.
https://5xracing.com/p-423-5xracingship ... ation.html

Arghh!!!

I did tell them I was in Australia and that miatacage did not do international shipping hence out reaching to others.
And they did reply with that it will be 2 weeks for them to get the part.
I now wonder if they even read the Australia part.
Hopefully they do answer the phone number listed on google. Not expecting much this week, but worth a shot.

It is starting to look like more and more, I will be visiting Mania to get the KMiata ones next year.
Will just add it to the list of the other bits and bobs I will be getting from them.

plohl · Postby **plohl** » Mon Dec 23, 2019 2:57 pm

Depending on the alloy, no reason a good fabricator couldn't well the kmiata plates on.

A good fabricator could fab up the plates required to close it in as well, probably make it all in house.

bruce · Postby **bruce** » Mon Dec 23, 2019 7:13 pm

5xracing probably just saw the Australia location and decided not to reply (a lot of people just won't reply as they incorrectly think it's better than saying No).

KevGoat · Postby **KevGoat** » Mon Dec 23, 2019 9:25 pm

Close to the truth there Bruce. I've had communications with 5 different parts suppliers in the US this year (nit just MX-5 btw) and 4 of those have refused to commence or continue communications due to my location - and reasons given were mostly due to past issues they've had caused by Australia Post!

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