Hello all, in my bronco build-up I definately need more traction. In slippery spots (mud / ice) I have all sorts of problems spinning with 33x12.50 TSL's and a moderatly built 351M. So how is it gonna handle when I get a built to the hilt 400 in it? Guessing I am gonna need to fix my open diffs.

As a daily driver in the city, I am probably going to go with a posi rear, unless I won the lotto then I might get the ox locker or something like that (do they have a cable locker for the 9"?). I do often drive in icy conditions too wich I have heard detroits might not do to well.

Next is my front end (dana 44). I have lockouts on the front and only lock em when I am off road. Sp why would I spend big bucks on a locker. Couldnt I just use a spool? A spool would have no effect on a dialy driver with the hubs unlocked right? But when you need to lock em in then you got the traction when u need it. And if steering is a big problem could you just lock one side?
OR
Instead of spool get a cheap powertrax or lockright thingy. I have heard they have problems with daily driver on the street because they down always unlock right. But like I said, if the hubs are unlocked than it doesnt matter right?

Like I said b4, if I had the money I would get cable selected lockers likes the OX-Locker, but with all the other upgrades I have to do money is exceedingly tight so I am trying to get the best bang for the buck (atleast for my first big truck project lol). Thanks!

 

I think the spool or cheapo mini would do fine, especially only locking one front (3WD) on ice.

 

I have a lock-right in the front end of my truck, and it's not too bad. IMO, it's more convenient than using a spool although it's hard to steer when you're on the gas. A bonus is you can install it in a few hours without having to set up your gears.

 

i'd say a spool in the front end of a half ton is a bad idea. those ujoints and axles aren't beefy enough to take that abuse. not sure about a spool and unlocking one side, that would be like having an open diff anyway. Warn makes a "hub fuse" that is designed to break before a 286 ujoint, so you could almost try a mini spool and these hub fuses, but need premium lockouts for this. but either way you'd risk exploding the carrier with a spool. i had a quik-lok in the front of my bronco with 38 and i hated it. i've learned that doing it right the first time is best. every time i've tried to be cheap it's cost me way more money in the long run. i broke down and put a ($500) detroit in the front of my ttb 44. good luck!

 

I have 96 bronco with a 351. I am running 36 inch swamper radials with 456 gears. I dont rock crawl, unless I have to, but i do see alot mud and clay. I want to install a locker, but I dont want to pay for a air locker. I know quick lok and e-z locker or inexpensive. Has anyone used these lockers with any succes? I was going to use the quick lok, what do you guys think? I dont compete in offroad competitions or anything like that. I hit the sand to go atv riding and hunt in the mountains quite a bit. but I have run into times that my open diff front and factory limited slip have let me down. One last question I do tow a small trailer with my atvs, and sometimes travel 300 miles to the coast, will a locker make it horrible to drive long distance? thanks

 

Thanks for all the responses guys. As for yomamaha, I had a couple more things to point out. I do completely agree with you on doing it right the first time. But what is right? As far as a spool being to much for a dana 44 (even though I have used the front axle only 3 times since i bought the truck) whats the difference with a detroit and a spool? Most of the time you break things when you are under power yes? When you are under power a detroit is the same thing as a spool - positively locked axles. Its only when you are cruiseing or decelerating that it unlocks. Sure, undoubtedly, the spool will wear things faster. But when you use it only a couple times a year, when you get stuck in mud or going across the field to pick up your deer, is the difference really worth it? I might regret it in the long run, but hopefully by then I would have a job and could pay the differenmce (I am currently unemployed lol). As for locking only one side (if I had a spool) yeah its like open except that in a open diff the side with the least traction always slips. And the only time I would do that would be on ice, and if I had to do a lot of turning.

Mr. Man, ok i see you have the lock-rite. You say its easy to set up... thats cool, that was my main choice. But I thought that a mini spool didnt need to 'set up your gears'. Although I have found that spools are often hard to find in dana44, does the front diff take a different type of spool than a rear diff or all dana 44 spools the same (or mini spool I guess is what I would rather have). The same with the lock-rites?

 

i personally don't know anyone that has spooled the front of a 4x4, so i would be very interested in a report on the results of such and effort. you can find mini-spools for like $50 on ebay and i've heard good things about them, but they are used primarily in the rear. end. that sounds bad. i think that replacing all the axle ujoints, upgrading to premium hubs and mini-spool running 33's would be interesting combo, but i would definitely say investing in the Warn hub fuses is a good idea. i don't remember the numbers exactly, but the shear breakage force for the hub fuses is like 33% less than that of 297x ujoints, so the fuses (outer splined ring of the lockout) should break before a ujoint and take 10 minutes to replace. they are around $22 per pair, just bring a couple pair along. they are NOT recommended for use with any limited slip or locker device however. try it, i'd like to know if i spent way too much $ on my lockers!! i definitely wish i spooled the rear instead of a detroit, but my bronco doesn't see the highway, either.