ok im sorry if you all think this a dumb post but my buddy and i were talking about this last night and we couldnt figure it out. (btw he's not a real big offroading guy, but since he's the drag racing type he still knows what he's talking about)

ok so we were trying to figure out what the difference is between a spool and lets say, a detroit locker. i know a spool completely locks the rear end and it eats tires for dinner". and i thought a locker completely locked the rear end as well. i know both affect the on road mannerisms but ive never heard any comments of lockers eating tires like spools. is there some slip in a regular locker? or do people just not complain about the lockers?

and while im on this topic...what is the difference between a spool and a mini spool?

like i said, sorry if you all tihnk this is a dumb post but my friend and i had about a 5 minute conversation about it! thanks for all the help guys!

adam

 

The difference is that a locker will unlock when you turn corners. Actually, to be exact, an automatic locker (what a Detroit or Lockrite is) locks when you apply excess torque (when you slam on the gas or when you are have applying some problem). A spool keeps both axle shafts locked together all the time.

A mini spool replaces the spider gears with a solid piece piece of metal; a full spool replaces the entire carrier with a solid piece.

 

what he said^^^

 

Yeah that explains it, lockers let the outside tire slip so they don't spin out on the road like a spool does, because axle is compleatally locked with a spool and when one tire needs to role more than the other it will, causing the tire wear and wear and tear on your gear.

Mini spools completally lock the axle like a spool, but is much weaker, and when it's put in a bind, it will break.

 

Hey breman242,
Can I have some of that excess torque? I have never had any of that before!
So if you weld your spiders together, you will have a mini spool, if I understand your description.
Thanks!

 

in a sense yes. but it's supposedly weaker than a minispool b/c of the heat created when welding.

there is a difference b/t all axles when talking about spider gears. some have c-clips and others have center pins that just fall out. i have been running welded front and rear for about 2 years now and i have never had a problem. ask kubota, i am not easy on her! i love my sterling and wouldnt trade it for anything (except rockies)

-cutts-

 

ok, that makes a lot of sense. thank you very much. thats what we thought but we werent sure since there are also limited slip. ill just assume that a ls allows alot more slip than a locker. right? ok thanks again!

adam

 

everyone gets l/s's confused with lockers, the majority of l/s's are just an open diff with clutch packs and some sort of spring on the side gears to HELP both tires spin. they suck, especially after you do a one wheel wonder and smoke the clutches.

Lockers are either automatic like a detroit, or selectable like an arb. a detroit is open when your off the gas, when your on the gas, it is locked....jus tlike a spool. So when your going around corners ont he gas with a detroit, its the same as going aorund the corner with a spool. if you let off the gas aorund a corner with a detroit it will ratchet and allow differentiation, unlike a spool. a selectable gives you the bes tof both worlds, spool or open on command...unless of course you have problems with air or wires. for serious offroading, i prefer a spool/welded in the back due to less slack, price and simplicity, alot of times when you break a shaft with a detroit, it strips the teeth on it. Ive driven home with a broken rear axle before in a welded dana 60, i wouldnt reccomend that with an automatic locker. For the front i persoanlly love my welded/spool cause im poor and it works. but i wish i could afford a selectable

i went overboard, but i hope you get what im saying...basically limited slips are not much better than open because they SLIP, lockers do not slip when torque is applied, they LOCK both axles together, hence the term locker

 

Hey Fish how does the welded rear do on pavement?
Chirp, chirp, chirp? or is it ok?

I have the Dana 44 front welded but the back is a ls.

 

yup, pretty much chirp chirp! i get a lot of funny looks at the gas station when i am driving around the pumps. sometimes i circle 2 or 3 times before finally picking one. also when it rains you can do some pretty sweet side driving, just make sure no cops are around!

i HIGHLY recommend it if it is a trail vehicle and it is a one ton. I do NOT recommend welding up a D60 rear! they just aren't quite strong enough. i have seen too many rear 60's break first hand in my own mud hole!

-cutts-

 

cutts i think the funny look are because of no bed, and no doors, i doubt people can hear your tires chirping over the 460

 

lol well NOW it is, but if you remember i have had the rear welded long before i pulled the bed or doors. not to mention since i put exhaust on my truck i can hear a LOT more than i used to

-cutts-

 

thanks to me and my genious idea!!....i wanna hear it..you be aorund this weekend?i may be coming home to do some pressure washing on cascade road

 

i plan to be! please stop by

-cutts-

 

I have ARB air lockers both front and rear once they are locked you can not even turn on the pavement. They are locked solid I guess just like a welded spider. If I put on the rear ones I can turn, but I can fill my rear in jumping and churping.