Help me understand
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 2,507
Likes: 9
The problem is wheel hop, the cast case is prone to CRACKING with excessive wheel hop. The brace spreads the load out to try to keep the case from tearing itself apart. Better tires are probably a better use of your $$$ to try to avoid the wheel hop to begin with.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 2,127
Likes: 33
From: Easley/Anderson South Carolina
From what I gather it helps is keeping the trans/diff from distorting when under load, causing it to break. I bought one, will be installind during this coming round of mods.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 2,507
Likes: 9
Never had any wheel hop with the Hoosier DR's.. I have been easy on the car off the line for fear of breaking stuff... if the brace is only protecting in the event of wheel hop then its not a problem for me and I can forget the brace... I would only assume that it provides more protection that what your suggesting but again I have no idea how its works.. So maybe I can put the money elsewhere 
More replies/thoughts appreciated
More replies/thoughts appreciated
Team Owner
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 23,480
Likes: 9
From: East Meadow NY
St. Jude Donor '12
I thought it was because under conditions like wheel hop, the differential and the trans will twist/move independently. If they move independently with enough force, bad things happen.
There may be issues if you have a dead hook. A dead hook is when you get almost no movement at all on the tires and the drive line takes a massive shock. Dead hook type conditions are what kill a lot of output shafts for stick shift cars on drag radials. There is no give and the output shafts snap from the shock.
You may not be experiencing wheel hop now, but it can still happen to you. If you mess up your burn out, you could cause wheel hop. If the track is not prepped properly you could have wheel hop.
There have been times where I did my burn out and then had a delayed start which may cause the drivers to have to redo the burn out or have to launch without being able to redo the burn out.
It is up to you to decide on the cost vs risk.
Last edited by chaase; Feb 13, 2013 at 03:08 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 2,507
Likes: 9
I will probably go ahead and put it on for "cheap insurance".. I was just trying to better understand the principal behind the idea.. It sounds like its primary function is to combat the negative effects of wheel hop if/when you experience it.. I would rather spend the money now on this part than buy a differential later on.. Certainly not trying to start an argument of any sorts 
I agree that wheel can and probably will happen at some point.. just trying to figure out if that is the only situation in which the brace becomes necessary...
Looking at how its made I was just trying to figure out if/how it helps with 5-6k rpm clutch dumps
I agree that wheel can and probably will happen at some point.. just trying to figure out if that is the only situation in which the brace becomes necessary...Looking at how its made I was just trying to figure out if/how it helps with 5-6k rpm clutch dumps
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,150
Likes: 890
From: South Western Ontario
You understand that the torque in the wheels/output shafts translates into a differential torque which tries to rotate the drivetrain around the diff output shafts, lifting up the motor? Well, as the diff rotates and tries to lift the rest of the drivetrain, the diff case and the diff to trans connection flexes and distorts which can cause damage if it flexes enough. The diff brace ties the diff to the front of the trans to help stabilize the whole diff/trans assembly.
