There are two different parts you can weld to achieve 2WD. The VCU or the planetary gear assembly. The planetary gears are a stronger way to go but a welded VCU can work too. I have seen the welded VCUs crack along the welds, even with a good welder it can happen on higher HP cars. I do not know the exact limit for a welded VCU but a welded planetary assembly has to yet to even crack on T4's 995 AWHP. The VCUs would crack when T2 was putting down 600 FWHP.
I personally welded the planetaries when I switched to RWD and have had no issues with it. But either way you go you don't have to remove the silicon from it. The silicon goo leaks past the seals when the VCU over heats from being over worked. When you weld either the planetaries or the VCU the VCU can not work so it is not a problem. The main problem is making sure that your welder is good.
If you switch to FWD I do recommend that you remove the output shaft and get one of the plugs for the hole. Those plugs are a lot less likely to leak than the output shaft seals. Plus you get ride of a few pound of dead spinning weight.
The thing you need to worry about as far as VCU types is weather you have an 18 spline tranny or a 25 spline tranny. You can not go by the year any more because so many of these cars have had a tranny swap and god know what was put into it. I have even seen cars that should be 25 spline and instead they are 18.
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No I'm unique to this situation because I took an AWD Getrag and converted it to FWD by Welding Solid My VCU and removing the Output Shaft that goes to the Rear end.
Other FWD cars that buy a AWD getrag need to remoe their VCU and weld it up. I would trade them straight up for their good VCU. I'd be giving them a Properly welded FWD VCU. They would not need to worry about all the work that is involved with removing the Scilicon via blow torch and then welding all the spider gears. Its alot of work that people dont have the tools to do.
I have 91 awd vcu welded & 92 awd vcu welded. They are different with the space between the teeth. Both have been tested in FWD 350hp cars.
I was wrong about my 92 VCU it was a 93 and after further inspection they appear to be the same.
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Re: Don't weld the AWD VCU
