When you start drifting, one question appears sooner or later:
Should I drift with a welded differential or upgrade to a Limited Slip Differential (LSD)?

The welded diff has always been the “budget drift solution,” but as drifting evolved, so did drivetrain technology. Today, a proper clutch-type LSD offers massive performance advantages, and the difference becomes night and day once you try both.

In our latest video, we explained these differences in detail and performed real-world tests on track

This blog post expands on everything from the video and gives you a clear, factual comparison, showing why a quality mechanical LSD is the superior choice for drifting.

1. How a Welded Differential Works – Pros and Cons

A welded differential is exactly what it sounds like:
the spider gears are welded together, causing 100% lock all the time, at every speed, on every corner.

Benefits of a Welded Diff

• Cheap to make
• Easy to understand
• Gives full lock, so both wheels spin together

Major Drawbacks

• Zero adjustability
• Unpredictable weight transfer – the car stays locked even when you need it to free-up
• Harsh on axles and output flanges
• Understeer when initiating low-speed corners
• High drivetrain stress & shorter component lifespan
• Makes wet driving or daily use dangerous

For absolute beginners on a tight budget, a welded diff is a starting point.
But it is not a long-term drifting solution.

2. What a Limited Slip Differential Does – And Why It’s Better for Drift

A mechanical clutch-type LSD uses internal clutch plates to distribute torque intelligently.
It locks when you need traction and unlocks when the car should rotate freely.

Key advantages in drifting

1. Faster Transitions

This is one of the biggest differences you feel immediately.
Unlike a welded diff—which carries unnecessary inertia—a proper LSD responds the moment you flick the car.

Because the differential can partially unlock when you lift off the throttle, the chassis becomes more agile and rotates naturally.

The result:
➡️ Faster manji transitions
➡️ More snappy direction changes
➡️ More fluid style on trac

2. More Forgiving and Easier to Control

With a welded diff, once the rear slides, it stays locked no matter what.
Small corrections become difficult and the car can “push” into understeer or oversteer.

With an LSD, the car feels more predictable and smoother, allowing:

• cleaner initiations
• easier angle control
• better confidence at higher speeds
  

This is why all professional drift drivers run LSD—not welded differentials.

3. Less Chance to Spin Out

Because the LSD reacts to throttle input, it stabilizes the car naturally.

When you:

• lift throttle
• clutch-kick
• or tap the handbrake

…the LSD adjusts lock accordingly, preventing sudden snap oversteer.

A welded diff gives no feedback—it simply forces the car sideways until traction returns violently.

4. Better Lift-Off Response (Lower Inertia)

This is something almost nobody talks about, but it’s critical.

A welded diff creates constant rotational inertia. When you lift off the throttle before a transition or clipping point, the rear axle still tries to rotate at the same rate, creating instability.

A clutch-type LSD reduces internal resistance when off-throttle.

This creates:

• sharper transitions
• smoother recomposition before flicks
• improved timing for clipping points

Your driving becomes faster, smoother and more precise.

5. Saves Axles and Drivetrain Components

Welded differentials are famous for breaking:

• output shafts
• CV joints
• axles
• diff bearings
• subframe mounts

The reason:
constant, unrelieved torque, even at low speed, parking, or tight turns.

An LSD allows slip where appropriate, reducing stress by up to 60–70% according to our in-house measurements.

This alone pays for the LSD upgrade in saved repairs.

6. Full Adjustability – Tailored to Your Drifting Style

This is something welded diffs will never offer.

A clutch-type LSD allows you to tune:

• preload (Nm)
• ramp angles (30/60, 50/65, 30/30, etc.)
• lock percentage on acceleration and deceleration

For example:

1.5-Way LSD

• Locks on acceleration
• Partial lock on deceleration
• Best for beginners and street/track mix
• Very stable during braking transitions

2-Way LSD

• Locks on acceleration and deceleration
• Best for aggressive drift driving
• Perfect for fast entries, feints, and long 4th-gear corners

With RacingDiffs LSD , you can fine-tune how the diff behaves based on your own driving style.

7. Much Lower Chance of Failure

A welded diff fails when:

• welds crack
• gears heat-cycle and break
• bearings suffer excessive load

A proper LSD has:

• hard-coated friction plates
• heat-resistant springs
• controlled load distribution
• replaceable clutch packs

It’s built to withstand abuse for years of drifting.

We have customers running our LSDs for 5+ seasons on the same clutch plates.

3. Real Track Testing: Our Video Breakdown

In our in-depth test video, we compared welded vs LSD in real drifting conditions.
We measured:

• transition speed
• throttle response
• stability during lift-off
• consistency over multiple laps
• drivetrain stress

The result was clear:
A mechanical LSD outperformed the welded differential in every category.

4. Which Option Should You Choose?

Choose Welded Diff If:

• you are a beginner on an extremely tight budget
• you want to try drifting but aren’t ready to invest

Choose LSD If:

• you want faster transitions
• you want a more forgiving drift setup
• you want better car control
• you want consistent performance
• you want to protect your drivetrain
• you want adjustability
• you want a long-term solution

you want professional-level drifting feel

5. Conclusion: Why LSD Is the Clear Winner

A welded differential may get the job done,
but a clutch-type LSD makes drifting:

• easier
• faster
• more stylish
• more reliable
• more consistent
• more enjoyable

It transforms the car completely.

With an LSD your driving style improves, your transitions sharpen, and the car finally behaves like a true drift machine—not a compromised workaround.

If you're serious about drifting,
switching from welded to LSD is one of the biggest upgrades you can make.