spool in the front

Kap10merica

Kap10merica

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 19, 2011
Location
Canton, nc
putting a spool in my front diff is that a good ideal or should i go with some kind of locker?:beer:
 
I'm not a fan of a spool in the front. Makes steering difficult even on the trail. Definitely would not run it on the street. Also, if going for a full spool, it'd require ring and pinion setup. By the time it's said and done, you'd have spent the same amount of money on a lunchbox locker and done twice the work. Mini-spools are an option depending on the axle. Though strength is a concern. I've disintegrated one in my 8.8 already (stock shafts).
 
If you're doing mud drags, I'd say maybe OK, otherwise its generally not a good idea. Especailly if you don't have unlocking hubs up front and want to turn.
 
I'm running a spool in the front. Full hydro steering & 39.5 PBR'S. I wish I would have went the locker, even in 2wd it pushed the front.
 
After my center pin wallowed out in my D30, I had the side :gears welded. As long as its slick/ muddy/ or loose terrain, its good.:poop: Soon as I hit hard pack, or dry surface,= U can not turn it. Most of the time, I run around with 1 hub unlocked, & still hard to turn! BUY a selectable, or at least a locker, that will ractet with throttle, such as a detroit.
 
Without front manual locking hubs it is a extremely bad idea. Even with locking hubs unless you know how to setup gears I can't see how it would be cheaper then a $250 aussie locker. I have run assie style lockers in the front with out issue.
 
If this is for the rig in your signature, another vote for no. You say you have a 12 bolt, but not what front you have, but either way, 10 bolt or 44 you'll hate it.
and you'll break a lot of axles. Save up and go for the lunch box locker, lock rite, Aussie or the like
 
IMO there is no catch all answer. I run spools in the front of my race rig and trail rigs. They all turn great and will turn circles inside most locked trail rigs. My combo of choice is spool front, ARB rear with rear cutting brakes. I run spools in both ends of my race rig for dependability. The A class Cherokee I am building now will be welded in the front D30 with upgraded shafts, ball joints and steering and a rear LS 8.8 with cutting brakes. If the rig is built with a combo of parts to all work together, performance will be good. If you're going to run a spool in front you better have the parts and steering to back it up.
 
spool in the front will suck.
 
My cab truck has the front diff welded, and my Samurai has a lock right. The lock right is MUCH better. With my cab truck, I need to unlock one of the hubs in order to be able to drive it on some tight trails. It just pushes the front end causing the vehicle to have a very large turning radius.
 
crawlin85cj said:
IMO there is no catch all answer. I run spools in the front of my race rig and trail rigs. They all turn great and will turn circles inside most locked trail rigs. My combo of choice is spool front, ARB rear with rear cutting brakes. I run spools in both ends of my race rig for dependability. The A class Cherokee I am building now will be welded in the front D30 with upgraded shafts, ball joints and steering and a rear LS 8.8 with cutting brakes. If the rig is built with a combo of parts to all work together, performance will be good. If you're going to run a spool in front you better have the parts and steering to back it up.
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if it turns great then you better check you'r frount end because something is broke.
 
witchdoctor said:
if it turns great then you better check you'r frount end because something is broke.
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He said he has cutting brakes, every tractor or backhoe I've driven that has those can literally about turn in place. I think if the axles could handle it and the weight dist was right it could work well. Just spitballin though, never seen that setup or tried it myself.
 
I doubt some people commenting actually have had a spool in the front. I will for a street driven truck no. For a trail only with either hydro assist or full hydro then yes.

A suspension will load and unload. What we've found at crozet through testing with ARB's (can simulate a spool) on the same rig with the front locked like a spool and the rear unlocked for a portion of the way we can get higher on the rti ramp with all tires touching vs keeping the rear locked. So use that for what it's worth.
 
I do have a 44 in the front but after reading all these comments i"ll be buying a locker.Thanks for the help
 
I have never had a Front spool, or a welded front, but I have had an ARB locker, and when it's locked, as said it is like a spool, and I had to unlock it very often to be able to turn
This was with hydro assist. The issue was not being able to turn the tires, the issue was getting them to go the way I pointed them. It just pushed then straight, even though they were turned.
 
dirtysanchez said:
I do have a 44 in the front but after reading all these comments i"ll be buying a locker.Thanks for the help
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I would never put a spool in a D44 front and certainly never in a rig that sees any street driving.

Spools work for me, my car and pretty much every Jimmy's ULTRA4 race car. It's all about the system not the components. I've had about every locker/axle combo out there at one point and I like spools the best. Can't break em, the $1k saved over Detroits can be tossed into making the axle turn 45+ degrees and they are predictable in performance.

My car and Cherokee will be in Auburn next month, come drive em and you will agree it flat out works well. I'll even supply a few cold pepsis and some cough syrup.
 
If this is your daily driver and the axles are what's in your sig - NO

I'm spooled in the front but run 1 lockout hub so I can street drive it to. Off road I don't lock the hub unless I think I want make it - mud playing only, I ain't no rock crawler though I like to watch it. So basically off road with the case in 4wd it's locked in 3 wheel drive untill I lock the hub for all. I'm spooled in the rear also, I think it drives straighter than when it was a locker, but tire wear is greater and you get that chirping on tight turns. Plus you got'ta stay on your toes if it's raining.

I think spools are good for D60's, GM14 and up. Maybe something really light could get away with it on smaller axles, but kind'a doubt it for long.
 
crawlin85cj said:
I would never put a spool in a D44 front and certainly never in a rig that sees any street driving.

Spools work for me, my car and pretty much every Jimmy's ULTRA4 race car. It's all about the system not the components. I've had about every locker/axle combo out there at one point and I like spools the best. Can't break em, the $1k saved over Detroits can be tossed into making the axle turn 45+ degrees and they are predictable in performance.

My car and Cherokee will be in Auburn next month, come drive em and you will agree it flat out works well. I'll even supply a few cold pepsis and some cough syrup.
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am i the only one that is not understanding this? not trying to be a smart a$$,just confussed.
 
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