spool...full float

i will be running a warn full float axle with hub locks in my d44 and if i were to unlock one hub in the rear would i be able to run a spool or should i just go for the detroit?

 

Can be done but not recommended. You now have all that torque now going to one axle and one locking hub. This equals breakage. I'd go for the detroit. Nickmil.

 

ive heard that a detroit in a short wheelbase makes for a hard drive and that it engages at wrong times.(ie.. when changing from lane to lane on highway, it will through you to the lane your turning in. and a spool will be a constant and you can get a feel for it.)

 

Never much cared for spools (unless drag racing). Ever tried sidehilling and turning uphill against the traction and direction a spooled axle wants you to go? Never had such a lane change or other such bad experience with lockers. Though most I've driven have been gm posi traction units. ('69 El Camino, 396, Muncie) Gawd that was a fun truck/car!

 

sounds like a good way to ruin a good axle shaft. would go power-loc or if $$$$ no object e-locker or arb.

 

Say no to a spool.
Very harsh to drive on rd. Slick roads = spinouts.
Save some $ and throw in a Loc Right.

 

Goober: I've run a Detroit in mine since I've had it. It is a bit wierd, but manageable. Can be REAL tricky on slick streets though.

 

thanx everybody i think ima go with the detroit.

 

weld it, worked for me, jason.

 

Spool works fine for 95% of the offroad situations you are likely to encounter as long as you don't drive it on the road much -- you will put unnecessary torq stress on the shafts and your tires will wear out big time. Other than that, it is a cheap and reliable way for major traction off road.

I've had the spool on the -5 for a year and a half with great results -- but only drive it a mile or so on the road to:

1) Feel cool
2) Fill it up with gas

The rest of the time it is on the trail.

 

sorry to bring this back up but the more i thought about it,using the full floats and spool and leaving one hub locked in in the rear and the other unlocked on pavement, wouldn't that act like an open diff.

 

sounds like a good way to ruin an axle shaft and locking hub. FORGET the spool. buy a locker. it will NOT work like you think.

 

I disagree, sort of. Goober - you're right - it will, indeed, act like an open diff if you leave one side unlocked. I had spools front and rear in the flattie. If I needed to make a tight turn, I'd unlock one of the front hubs.

That said - the real debate is over the use of a spool in any vehicle. Asking for someone else's opinion on the matter is about like asking if you should buy a Ford or a Chevy. You're going to get everyone's opinion.

My opinion - if you're not going to drive it on the road too much, go for it. They worked fine for me in the flattie. But realize that a spool is only a few dollars cheaper than a Lockrite. I used the spools b/c I was going to a 5.38 gear, and it was much cheaper to buy the spool than to buy a carrier *and* a lockrite. If you have carriers already - I'd advise the Lockrite.

 

Yes and no. Yes it will as you will have the wheels turning independently of each other, but depending on which hub you have unlocked and which direction you are turning it can cause understeer or oversteer issues. To reiterate what I said before, you will also have ALL the torque multiplication of the engine, trans, and transfer case all going through one axle shaft and one locking hub or drive flange. That's a recipe for breakage. That works ok on the front when you are dividing the torque between the front and rear axle, but not a good idea in just the rear, especially on hard surfaces like pavement. Nickmil.

 

the thing is i have both a spool and a detroit, which ever one i dont use i will be selling, one way i go i can leave both hubs locked but i have heard detroits blowing up the whole rear and then you have to rebuild the entire thing, and the other way i go would be to unlock one hub only on the pave which the longest i would drive it is 5 miles, and risk destroying an axle shaft. for the longer trips it'll either be flat towed or trailered.

 

Several friends of mine have ditched lockers in the rear in favor of spools and welded rears instead of lockers because they say in a short wheelbase they are more predictable. this is coming from guys with samurai's at 80" of wheel base. I don't know for sure but the full floater I am building right now is getting a spool in it.