locker or spool in front
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Joined: Jun 2001
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From: Conyers
locker or spool in front
Why do they say you shouldn't have a locker or spool in the front. On the road, I don't think it would matter if you have a good set of hubs thyat compleatly unlock the axle. Please help 
Freshman User
Joined: Jul 2001
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locker or spool in front
When you are turning your tires, each one is rotating at a different speed, so you need to have a low traction condition to let one tire slip, or something has to give. If the hubs are completely unlocked, there is no problem. You just need to make sure you have slipping conditions when locking the hubs.
I have a Powertrax in my front diff., and beside from some steering effort, it works real well.
I have a Powertrax in my front diff., and beside from some steering effort, it works real well.
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 8,238
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From: Oregon
locker or spool in front
True, you can have a locker up front but as long as your hubs are unlocked it doesn't really matter. There is a but though. A front locker is the antithesis of what you want in ice or snow, whereas an open diff is the best...so if you lock up your front you either lose 4x4 ability in ice/snow or lock in your hubs and have crappy handeling characteristics. This is why oxs and arbs are a hot ticket. Hope that made sense.
If your knuckles ain't bleeding you did something wrong.
'72 F-250 "Hi-Boy" 4x4, Dana 60/HD44, FE428 @ 400+ ponies , 4-speed, custom suspension w lift, mud on black.
If your knuckles ain't bleeding you did something wrong.
'72 F-250 "Hi-Boy" 4x4, Dana 60/HD44, FE428 @ 400+ ponies , 4-speed, custom suspension w lift, mud on black.
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 396
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locker or spool in front
I've heard that it can hurt your front hubs if you only lock in one side. Is this true?
88 F-150 4X4 XLT Lariat w/5.0 EFI 5 spd (DAILY DRIVER)
86 Ranger 2WD w/2.3L EFI 5 spd to be 351W 4bbl C4 (NEW TOY- DETAILS WHEN FINISHED)
85 Old Cutlass Supreme 350/TH350 Holley 4160,Edelbrock Performer intake, el-cheapo headers, General Kinetics 270H series cam, 15.588 best 1/4 mile with original 10 bolt 2.41 gears (OLD TOY)
88 F-150 4X4 XLT Lariat w/5.0 EFI 5 spd (DAILY DRIVER)
86 Ranger 2WD w/2.3L EFI 5 spd to be 351W 4bbl C4 (NEW TOY- DETAILS WHEN FINISHED)
85 Old Cutlass Supreme 350/TH350 Holley 4160,Edelbrock Performer intake, el-cheapo headers, General Kinetics 270H series cam, 15.588 best 1/4 mile with original 10 bolt 2.41 gears (OLD TOY)
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 661
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From: Villa Ridge, MO
locker or spool in front
[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 19-Aug-01 AT 02:07 AM (EST)[/font][p]Have done lots of research on this topic...and finaly got the chance to see what a locked up front would do. My friend and i had to redo the seal on his TTB D44 so we thought we just take it to the local welder and have em make it a spooled front to see how it would work. At first it was not looking good. He locked em in on the pavment and had no turning radius at all....enned up in a guys lawn....BUT once off road it wasnt as bad. Steering felt lil heavy but very manageable. Was nothing we couldnt handle in tight weaving in the trees of south Texas...made some 3 point turns but not as much as i though. BUT MAN would that sucker climb! I drove it around and it wasnt that bad...just felt heavy (lots of feedback). Even found me a 2 ft tree stump that i idled up on in low!!!! Never found any mud but he just found some and said that it was not a problem at all (feedback)...he even jumped out of some ruts! Try that with open difs! Hindsight--weld it, lock it, spool it.....it does fine. (scuse the spelling...its late!) AND as stated above....we only get like 2 to 3 days of ice/year here in Dallas, Texas....thought to ponder.....would make a mess on ice....
Dan "Mudinford" MacDonald
Rather be pushing a Ford than driving a Chevy.
Like A Rock......In Water!
Dan "Mudinford" MacDonald
Rather be pushing a Ford than driving a Chevy.
Like A Rock......In Water!
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Elder User
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 692
Likes: 1
From: Coon Rapids, MN
locker or spool in front
I assume your talking about not being good to have a front lock in the snow and ice around town? I would think it would help a bunch if your bustin snow drifts though.
'90 1/2 ton 4x4 XLT Lariat
RC LB w/5.0 EFI M50D 3.73gear
true duals w/glasspacks
'90 1/2 ton 4x4 XLT Lariat
RC LB w/5.0 EFI M50D 3.73gear
true duals w/glasspacks
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Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 8,238
Likes: 3
From: Oregon
locker or spool in front
Well, it would kick booty for busting through snowdrifts, its turning corners in town thats get problematic. I've known more than one guy who ended up off the road and in a field because it didn't make the turn. But yes, spools cannot be beat OFF-ROAD.
If your knuckles ain't bleeding you did something wrong.
'72 F-250 "Hi-Boy" 4x4, Dana 60/HD44, FE428 @ 400+ ponies , 4-speed, custom suspension w lift, mud on black.
If your knuckles ain't bleeding you did something wrong.
'72 F-250 "Hi-Boy" 4x4, Dana 60/HD44, FE428 @ 400+ ponies , 4-speed, custom suspension w lift, mud on black.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 661
Likes: 1
From: Villa Ridge, MO
locker or spool in front
Even in 2 wheel drive it pulls like your alignment is way off due to the drag that the drive train has on that wheel (like 1/3 of a turn). You have to think...even with one wheel locked in...its still turning the other axle shaft, the ring and pinion, and the T-case. That is alot of drag. Its by far not something that would keep you from driving the truck in normal conditions...but on ice....i wouldnt even think about it. you would have to adjust too much to a non-typical driving style. Just one more thing to think about when you are focusing on not going in that ditch. Again....we dont see much snow here in TX....just dang ice....and not much of that as well. I am still for locking the front....the pos's far out weigh the neg's....my two coppers.....
Dan "Mudinford" MacDonald
Rather be pushing a Ford than driving a Chevy.
Like A Rock......In Water!
Dan "Mudinford" MacDonald
Rather be pushing a Ford than driving a Chevy.
Like A Rock......In Water!
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 194
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From: Needham US of A
locker or spool in front
I ran a Lincoln-Locker in the Dana 44 front in my 78 Bronco with 44s for about 3 years, when I went off road I just locked one hub, get in the knarly stuff lock the other hub. I drove it to work on the average of 2 or 3 times a week never had a problem and loved the way it would pull when the locker in the rear and both hubs were engaged. Whit
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 8,238
Likes: 3
From: Oregon
locker or spool in front
Thats actually a very good question. I try not to point these things out myself anymore because they started some fights in the past.
If your knuckles ain't bleeding you did something wrong.
'72 F-250 "Hi-Boy" 4x4, Dana 60/HD44, FE428 @ 400+ ponies , NP435 4-speed, custom suspension w lift, mud on black.
If your knuckles ain't bleeding you did something wrong.
'72 F-250 "Hi-Boy" 4x4, Dana 60/HD44, FE428 @ 400+ ponies , NP435 4-speed, custom suspension w lift, mud on black.
