Welded spider gears?
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Freshman User
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Welded spider gears?
I was reading in a magazine about a 93 150 Flareside that was lifted with custom 14 inch atlas springs and f350 axles front and rear..the rear axle was a sterling and it said something about having welded spider gears. Is this some type of poor man's limited slip? How does this work?
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Rhode Island
It is a poor mans spool. A spool is basically just a ring gear, and the axle shafts fit into it. No spider gears or anything. It does not allow for any differential action at all. Welding the spider gears achieves a similar effect, but if your not real good at welding, when your off roading they are prone to breaking, and if you snap an axle shaft, its going to be a helluva time getting them out.
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Freshman User
Joined: Jul 2006
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Ah, I get it now, id say if its like a spool then its pretty dang hard on the street. I was just wondering about it after I read that, come to think of it that sounds exactly like what they used to call the old Lincoln Lockers. I just wasnt sure if it was a 4x4 thing only.
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,621
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From: Sweetwater Texas
Its the same thing as a Lincoln Locker. One of my buddies did this to his truck but he just turns one of his hubs off so the tire can slip, but when he gets offroad he turns the hubs back on for full traction.
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: shelocta, pa
we do it to our derby cars. we weld the axes to the gears, pins and in between the gears. then spin the axl and do the other side. we have lost and axle do to a clip coming loose yet. one axle shaft has been snapped from an impact while the car was against the wall though, still could one leg aroung though.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2008
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From: Rusty, Maine
I have a funny story about Lincoln lockers. When I worked at VIP this kid that worked there with me came in on his night off and thought he would weld his spider gears together. He put his S-10 up on the lift rolled one of those oil drain dollies under his rear diff and drained the fluid into it, washed the diff out with about three cans of carb clean and proceeded to weld the spiders when all of a sudden a spark from the welder fell into the oil drain dollie, lit the carb cleaner a blew oil eberywhere. What a meathead.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 4,990
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From: Florida
For anyone who ever thought of welding their spider gears,never do it on a street driven vehicle.It's best for somethin that gets trailered.I've seen it alot on derby cars,as aforementioned,and on roundy round racecars.I've seen the welds break,and it doesn't look fun.My dad has a 76 Cutlass that he welded the spider gears in.He's building the car for a roundy round track,so it's okay.But when it breaks,it's not somethin you want to happen on the street.Most people have enough sense to know this,but I had a buddy who thought'd he'd do it to his truck and be cool.He didn't look too cool callin a friend in the middle of the night to come tow his truck home.
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