Wavetrac Differential For Ford Fiesta ST180 (MK7) 1.6t EcoBoost
Wavetrac Differential For Ford Fiesta ST180 (MK7) 1.6t EcoBoost
Simply put - Wavetrac is the only gear diff on the market that does not lose all drive when one axle is unloaded. Axles become unloaded in aggressive driving, track cornering, extremely slick surfaces, etc. It happens more than most people realise.
We won’t go into torque bias ratios or the concept of how torque biasing diffs work at this point. Let’s get to how the Wavetrac affects performance:
For example, you have a conventional gear diff (OEM, Quaife, MF, OBX, Truetrac, Torsen, etc.), you're on a race track for a track day and during cornering your inside wheel bumps over the curbing. This is normal for track driving. The issue is that for the brief moments your inside tire becomes unloaded when bouncing over curbs, your other wheel is not getting drive - is not putting power down. Gear diffs need load on both axles in order to function. The result on a track (or during aggressive driving) is that there are many times when a normal gear diff supplies only intermittent power to the gripping wheel.
Now, same track with Wavetrac: the patented cam device in the Wavetrac prevents loss of drive when that inside wheel is unloaded. The device is able to generate a load inside the diff (to replace the lost load as it happens) that can then be biased to the gripping wheel - in the end making more consistent power delivery through a corner. That makes the car more predictable, and faster overall.
Other benefits:
- Patented Carbon Fibre Bias Plate for the pinions. All other gear type LSDs run the pinions on the housing, meaning the friction from 0 miles is different to 100 miles, thus effectiveness is reduced over the life of the diff. With the Wavetrac performance is consistent with the Carbon Fibre bias plates!
- Patented Wave Profile eliminates the effect of a near to and zero load condition drive ability issues found in all other gear type ATB LSDs.
- ARP Bolts used throughout for superior faster reliability.
- 9310 steel gears run in billet or forged steel bodies.
- Manufactured & Designed in the USA
1. Audible Clicking / Clunking Under Load
Many owners across different vehicles fitted with Wavetrac LSDs report a distinct click or clunk noise under certain conditions (e.g., during medium throttle acceleration or light decel), especially when torque is first applied or released. Some describe it as a single audible click or snap from the driven axle side.
This isn’t necessarily a mechanical failure, but it’s frequently reported and a common cause of concern.
2. Perceived Tightness / Engagement Noise
On other forums (even on vehicles like Porsches), owners notice that the diff can feel “tight” at low speeds, with noises on deceleration or when starting from standstill.
This can feel like a mechanical clunk or grind, but most chatter suggests it’s due to preload and backlash settings or the way the Wavetrac locks up when torque changes.
3. Install-Related Fitment / Adjustment Issues
While not a fault of the diff itself, installation challenges come up in community discussions:
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Some forums mention difficulty achieving correct gear backlash and preload settings, which if off can lead to uneven wear or noise.
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Other posts on different vehicles describe occasional axle/fitment issues with Wavetrac units (e.g., axle stub fit problems).
4. Rare / Isolated Component Failures (Anecdotal)
Some threads unrelated to Fiestas mention broken stub axles under wrench (e.g., in other cars), though it’s unclear if that was caused by the diff itself or other drivetrain stresses.