I have a pretty grunty NA Pinto in my race car (power output as arbitrary as the numbers people seem to throw around as "limits" of an English so I won't include them here, but it has big capacity and is race fuel only). It has an English axle and has not broken yet, and it didn't break for the previous owner either. I have done a lot of sifting through forums and see a lot of opinions like those reflected in this thread. Which are, an English is weak and must be replaced.
It has seemed to me that for every 7 people that are replacing their English axle only has actually had any first hand failure with one, and the discussion or exercise of thought surrounding everyone elses response doesn't tend to include consideration for the variables of circumstance and driving style, i.e big slicks and dumping clutches. not to mention people often have unrealistic ideas of how much power their car has thereby lowering even further the true expectation of the English for their application.
There are also numerous anecdotes of people doing plenty of burnouts and hard hill climb starts with English axles that haven't broken yet, but these are not as relevant when the tendency to want to naturally improve and make stronger is prevalent anyway.
 
So by no means is my point to say an English is for everyone, if you are a bogan who cannot go for a drive without doing a burnout in your clapped out 30yr old diff or you have any sort of forced induction, you need not apply. I'm only on this bandwagon because I have reached the conclusion that many people choose to add 40kgs to their car due to misconceptions and fear.
 
So I would like to ask the question here, as it is a good opportunity to do so. Has anyone here broken a English diff first hand? and can you say that it was in good nick as well?
And that's not a rhetorical question, please jump in everyone. I'm just as keen to be proven wrong as keep believing all I wrote above, but simply trying to stimulate the discussion out of interest.
 

Great post wayovermyhead, i was looking at the hilux option because i had heard of the english diffs breaking, but when i thought about it i realised it was always a friend of a friend or "the hilux has thicker axles" so i guess i was working on the rumor principle. I only know of one english breaking first hand and that was behind a wild turbo`d commodore v6 doing a burnout in a comp
 

Ive busted 3 or 4 English diffs in escorts and seen a LOT of others that my mates have had go bang. Twenty years ago in NZ replacements where pretty easy and cheap to come by.Doesn't matter how much power you put through them its more about how you treat it,in my opinion. Even Xflows Can bust diffs

Really, haven't broken an English first hand???I have personally broken 12 between 2 escorts both stockish pintos with around 60-75rear wheel kw(so very mild). Mostly broken when launching the car, 2 or 3 broken on a 1-2 gear change.
 
cheers 

double post
- I always wondered how people manage these double posts, now I know   lol

OK so maybe i will go with the hilux/hi-ace diff then, i`m looking at doing rally and hillclimb as well as a bit of a driver. Dont want to blow diffs so bulletproof jap item it is

Its usually the spider gears that shatter, I'm sure there are plenty of people who have smashed the spiders and welded them up as a quick fix, this makes English diffs pretty strong, although it just transfers the stress to the axles, not to mention the fact that they are a little dangerous in the wet on public roads.

I have twisted a number of axles with hard launches and semi sticky tyres in an english.
I found the hilux a much cheaper option for strength than ugrading the english to similar power capability.
 
JP

no i never never weighed it before and after as im not that fussed.
The diff is just bullet proof, as a few forum members that have been in the car will testify, 
funny though i did weigh the car today and it came in 980 kg with 3/4 of a tank of juice. 
The diff is definitely heavier, but so is the turbo and all the manifold and plumbing. 
 

Had BW78 in my rally car since the late 90's after I broke a couple of axles on the original English.
Basically indestructible in an Escort I reckon.