FACTORY ETK/NTK BALL DIFF MODS...

An excellent cheap and quick option that can be done on all the stock TK/BK ball diffs because they are so big is that they can be "PEGGED" using perferably the AE slipper clutch pegs or even the cheap Traxxas slipper clutch pegs by removing the balls and replacing them with the pegs, this will convert the diff to more of a posi/spool type diff, and still have some "give" and "shock absorbsion" making it easyer on drive line parts making it BETTER! than ANY fully locked spool you can buy for any kit because it breaks less parts than fully locked spools. This mod works excellent if your just using your kit for bashing and fun. It also helps lower the diff maintainance for guys that don't like to do it because all ball diffs are high maintainance.

I have noticed something interesting with the NTK diffs when they start to wear in, the balls cut a wear grove into the side plates which seems to make the diff work better. the reason for this is that there is more contact area made by the groves so the diff balls gain more bite. I have thought that an interesting test I wanted to try would be to use a large nail/punch and punch 12 dimples into the side plates, one for each ball on both sides so the balls would have a bit of a hole to sit in and then experiment with the diff spring pressures to get the right "ratchet" effect.

In the pics below you will see that the center of the factory diff gear in the NTK can be over heated by running the ball diff to loose which will melt out the center over time. Also some guys have had problems with ther diffs coming loose, this happens on some diffs when the spring is tightend all the way and some springs cause the bolt and assembly to bend and make contact with the inside of the diff housing which will/can make the bolt/diff come loose. I have also noticed that some of the washers on top of the spring bolt are way to large also and also help make contact with the inside of the housing.