what is a spool? how do they work? should one have them on theyer daily driver with frequent off road use? i think a lock is what locks an axle together as if it were solid and can be (turned off and on) as th situation needs. am i wrong? how do they work? what about air lockers how do they work? im not stupid just un educated on the serious off road hardware. thanks

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 03-Jan-02 AT 07:37 AM (EST)]Unless you have the cash for a selectable locker like an ARB or OX locker I'd go w/ a spool. The difference between the two is that a spool will never unlock. You'll hear alot of horror stories about spools but I'm here to tell you that they are way over exaggerated. I have a spool in my truck right now and have been driving on it for about a year now. I live in town ad this truck is my daily driver. I love my spool and would never trade it for a locker. Lockers tend to be un predictable at times and can sometimes make the whole vehicle change lanes as it lockes and unlocks. A spool is 100% predictable and reliable not to mention cheaper in most cases.
I guess I didn't answer your question real well did I? A locker is a device that will lock the two axle shafts together but can still un-lock them to help in tight, low speed corners. There are two basic types of lockers out there: automatic (Detroit,LockRight,...) and selectable (ARB,OxTrack,...). The automatic locker tend to get squirmish as they lock and un-lock but they do aid in tight corners. A selectable locker will act like a convential open differential when dis-engaged so they will be very smooth on the street but when you engage them they lock the axles together until you turn it off. An arb uses air pressure to engage and dis-engage the unit and an Ox locker uses a cable. Detroit is supposed to be developing an electrically operated selectable locker but they aren't out yet. A spool is a very simple device that connects the two axle shafts together, permanantly. The spool is my traction aid of choice for the rear. they are simple, strong, predictable, and cheap:7

 

In an off-road situation I have seen both the Detroit, powertrax, and the ARB fail to lock especially if the vehicle is in a tight spot and at a stop if the axle is bound they will not lock and I also saw a guy snap an axle with a detroit cuz it failed to lock so he gave her some gas and spun the tire with no traction and all of a sudden you heard a loud bang it locked all right and just snapped the axle. Not a good thing. As I see it with a spool NO WORRIES. That is why I am installing a spool in the front of my truck since snow and ice are not an issue in Phoenix Arizona

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 03-Jan-02 AT 10:22 PM (EST)]You'll notice '72 was talking about a spool in the BACK of his truck. Let us know a month down the road what you think of that spool your putting up front.
:-staun