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Old Sep 27, 2004 | 04:45 PM
  #1  
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From: cordova, tn(near memphis)
Question front axle spool

has anyone put a full or mini spool in the front axle? if so how is trail preformance?
 
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Old Sep 27, 2004 | 04:59 PM
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Traction is awesome. Turning isn't. I prefer a selectable first, followed by a detroit. I think fishy's front end is welded so I'm sure he'll chime in.
 
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Old Sep 27, 2004 | 05:29 PM
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mine is welded as Pro pointed out....which is bascially a mini-spool of sorts. as compared to a locker it beats the socks off of it. i seriously doubt i will ever want to change it. i love it except for the fact that turning is cut back. but i only lock one hub at a time until i really need some umpph then i will lock'em both in. i snapped a sector shaft several weeks ago and finally got that all back together and I am about to embark on a hytdro assist project which will save all future shafts.

-cutts-
 
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Old Sep 27, 2004 | 06:42 PM
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I have been wheeling with a welded front for 2.5 years now. I love them. I will agree with pro tho a ARB is a awsome locker and they are alot easier on the front end parts in the long run.
 
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Old Sep 28, 2004 | 05:23 PM
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Is the welded front hard to turn when your front axle is not engaged? By this I mean both hubs locked but in rear wheel drive. Or do you have to unlock one hub to make it turn easily no matter what?
 
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Old Sep 28, 2004 | 05:37 PM
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Turning will still suck and your tires will still scrub with your hubs engaged, even if your tcase isn't. Think about it...your tires are still locked side to side and they can't "differentiate" during a turn, even though they don't have power to them. Its not like you can't turn or anything, you can of course...it just its noticably suckier.

edit: you're not getting out that front arb that easy sucka
 

Last edited by proeliator; Sep 28, 2004 at 05:40 PM.
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Old Sep 28, 2004 | 05:52 PM
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No, not trying to get out of the ARB, there's a mud bog this weekend and I'm considering welding up my diffs since I'll be replacing them in a few months anyway . . . just don't know if I'll have the time to go play.

Speaking of ARB there's a thread on Pirate about the air switches right now. Check it out . . . total control because you don't have electric to worry about and they're pretty bling looking too. Switches would go great with that red flip up cover.
 
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Old Sep 28, 2004 | 06:18 PM
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Just checked it out. I'm still not a huge fan of running airlines but for an arb setup, thats THE way to go. Pretty sweet. I just wish Ox weren't morons and we had a good cable actuated locker to go with...guess I'm just old fashioned. I like a solid link, my lockers should make a good "clank" when they're engaged, not a "psssssssst"
 
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Old Sep 28, 2004 | 07:18 PM
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Originally Posted by proeliator
Just checked it out. I'm still not a huge fan of running airlines but for an arb setup, thats THE way to go. Pretty sweet. I just wish Ox weren't morons and we had a good cable actuated locker to go with...guess I'm just old fashioned. I like a solid link, my lockers should make a good "clank" when they're engaged, not a "psssssssst"


the pssssst is when you disenguage them.
 
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Old Sep 28, 2004 | 07:24 PM
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Don't argue with Pro Jopey . . . he might get pssssssst off! Sorry, I had to. I think those switched would be awesome and they'd save all the expense and trouble if solenoids. They're $30 a piece which isn't bad and I imagine they'll hold up a good long while. The only thing I'm not a big fan of (not a huge deal here) is running those air lines farther than is needed, i.e. from the air tank up to the dash and then back to the locker.
 
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Old Sep 28, 2004 | 07:44 PM
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who says I am arguing? I am only correcting him.
 
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Old Sep 28, 2004 | 09:06 PM
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ive got my front spooled and off road i dont think there is much of a difference between turning in 4 wheel drive with an open front or with a spooled front. not sur on hard stuff though and dont plan on testing it
 
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Old Sep 28, 2004 | 09:29 PM
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Hey, all I know is that they make a pssst sound, and that its unnatural

For the record, I think I spool is great up front for a dedicated trail rig, especially if you go hydro.
 
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Old Sep 29, 2004 | 01:26 AM
  #14  
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Well I run a spool in the front, with manual steering, and on dirt or mud it turns hard either way (had a locker in the front early on in the year) I realize when I am racing it's straight line but still have to turn around, and manuaver around the pits, and really don't notice it much, only time I have a problem is backing it out of the yard into the street to load it on the trailer, I have solid hubs (fulltime hubs), and no transfer case shifter just locked it into 4lo, and leave it. I do think when I put the big block in I am giong to go back to power steering though
 
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Old Sep 29, 2004 | 07:51 AM
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dang monster, lol, remind me not to pis you off....you've gotta have some big arms. with that kind of setup it would be hard to manuveur cause i struggle with mine and it is power steering! i would highly suggest though that when you do go to p/s, you do hydro assist as well. trust me it will be nice when you can drive through a pit with only a finger on the wheel!

-cutts-
 
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