I have a 82 f150 4x4 and was considering putting a mini spool in the front the truck is a daily driver and i take it out wheelin lmost every weekend i was hoping that putting it in the front would be better for the street than in the rear will this make my tires weear any faster or anything i should no

thanks
justin

 

i just did it a few weeks ago and its wonderful. if you nkow anything about a 4wd you know that when you dont have it in 4wd then the front doesnt even spin anything up front, and then you dont have the hubs locked in, then nothing has any power to it. there is a thread on here on the second page..or third about eveything you need to know how to do it, and what not. hoxii was very helpful.

Here is everything you will need to know about doing this, there are even some really really great tips in here if you area DIYer.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...hreadid=201631

ummm, never lock the hubs in on pavement...or icy pavement....any kinda of pavement. even if the truck is not in 4wd and you lock the hubs in then you will have turing problems. if you need to turn sharp, then come to a complete stop and turn the wheel all the way and then go again, this will help a lot with turing sharp. you will only want to have the hubs locked if you are in dirt/gravel/grass/andything loose really, that way there is not as much torque on the axles because the tires are about to slip some. you will be very impressed with the performance, and even more impressed that there really is no drawback to doing this and its cheap. the first time you drive it llocked it will feel really really REALLY weird, but dont be afraid nothing is wrong with it, thats just how it feels, you get used to it really fast. if you need anything else feel free to ask.

Idiomaticman

 

Idiomaticman

have you tried running your front with one hub locked and the transfercase in 2wd. i would love to spool my front but i need the 4x4 to get around in the winter and i hate having to get out and lock and unlock my hubs. so if i could just lock one i would have the same traction as before but i could still put it back in 2wd and then both wheels could rotate at different speeds and i could drive on dry roads. Then when i get stuck or get ready to hit the mud i could lock them both and give it hell.

Fordman300

 

I wouldn't recommend spooling the front end if you have automatic hubs. They can't take the pounding the spool applies. If you have auto's you can covert to manuals for about $70-120 depending on the hubs you buy. The other issue with the auto hubs is that you can't always be sure that they are unlocked when you need them to be. with manuals you KNOW if they're locked or not.

Justin

 

i have manuals thats what i was saying i could manualy lock one hub and then the other if i need it

 

I saw your reference to manuals, but 82F150 didn't hint either way, and seeing as how he's he one that originally asked the question. . .

Justin

 

i live in virginia, where it snows some, i was thinkin of a mini spool, but would that be dangerous, hard on your stuff in slick weather like a couple inches of snow?

 

i have manual locking hubs they are warn premiums

 

then do exactly what i did, and you will not have problems. no extra wear because it wont lock the wheel except when you have the hubs locked in. just get it and follow the directions that hoxii gave me in that one thread and never look back. youll love it for the money, or if you are feeling really ambitious, get a full spool, but theres mo to that.....actually stick with the mini. it will do you just fine.

Idio

 

how long did it actually take to install the mini spool,
Whats the difference between mini and full?
Is it Real hard to do?
Thanks

 

took me about 6 hours by myself, but it would have taken half the time if i would have had a machine press.

difference, the full spool take the place of the carrier and everything. with the full you bolt the ring gear to it and scrap everything else in there, you also have ot have backlash readjusted afterwards too. the mini just take place of the spider gears, you keep the carrier and everything, and you dont have to have backlash readjusted when youre done either.

as for difficult.....no not really, if you have and kinda of maechanal inclanation you wil be just fine.

Idiomaticman

 

So your saying if i put a mini spool in the front and only lock one of the hubs in, only that one will spin

 

yes. only that tire will have power. it will have 100% power, so turning will be a slight problem. it will not act like on open diff. but yes, only the wheel that is locked in will have power. its kind of hard to explain exactly how it works without showing you in person. just keep asking questions until you get it. its all good

Idio

 

I think i know what you are saying that if just one is locked in then it gets all the power instead of an open which kind of switches and lefts you turn.

 

yup, thats it. turning is a bitch with even one locked in let along both locked in. its a good way to go if you dont have the money for a locker. i am very pleased with mine and will never go back.

Idiomaticman