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View Full Version : Spool or not to Spool

1977Waggy
10-13-2006, 08:54 AM
Picking up a big bearing 28 spline Ford 9" this weekend for my CJ. It is going to be a mostly trail vehicle. Right now it has a factory limited slip (trac-lok?) in it that needs to be rebuilt. I was on the internet looking for rebuild kits and started looking at spools. I can get one for around $150 that is quality. What are you alls thoughts on a LS vs. a full steel spool.

Charles
blt2krl
10-13-2006, 09:13 AM
Spool it and call it a day, LS suck *** IMO. A spool will never leave you wondering if it is going to engage or not.
83waggy
10-13-2006, 09:52 AM
full spool all the way, drove a bronco a little bit off road w/spool rear and aussie front on 37s and it was amazing. A LS will never compete with a locker. Have you thought about just welding it? If done right its plenty strong and much cheaper, if you have a welder
1977Waggy
10-13-2006, 10:10 AM
Yeah, I am really leaning in this direction, Spool it and not worry about it. Thanks for the input, anyone else have thoughts?

Charles
HARDCORE pacer
10-13-2006, 10:57 AM
mini spool only about $75 and it goes in like a lunchboxer so no need to reset up the diff.
82j20
10-13-2006, 11:36 AM
does anybody know if theres a mini spool avaliable for a dana 60 ? cant seem to find one listed anywhere:fsj:

Brian
HARDCORE pacer
10-13-2006, 12:01 PM
I have never found one but the guys at randys ring and pinion would know.
scotty
10-14-2006, 06:56 AM
prollem with a mini-spool or a lunchbox locker is that they use the cross shaft to keep the axlesshafts/wheels turning. thats alot of stress on that shaft :eek: a stock shaft will eventually break,and a hardened shaft will eventually wobble out the hole in the carrier. a properly welded open diff is,IMO,stronger than a mini spool,but if you dont like that option then go with a full spool and youll have alot less worries about it.
4x4fEvEr
10-14-2006, 10:16 AM
full spool for sure
83waggy
10-14-2006, 11:14 AM
prollem with a mini-spool or a lunchbox locker is that they use the cross shaft to keep the axlesshafts/wheels turning. thats alot of stress on that shaft :eek: a stock shaft will eventually break,and a hardened shaft will eventually wobble out the hole in the carrier. a properly welded open diff is,IMO,stronger than a mini spool,but if you dont like that option then go with a full spool and youll have alot less worries about it.

i dont want to hijack your thread but where is the best place to get a hardened cross shaft for an amc20, i cant seem to find one anywhere
Poley
10-14-2006, 07:49 PM
weld it!!! and forget it
4x4fEvEr
10-14-2006, 07:57 PM
weld it!!! and forget it

i had the same mentality till i busted a rear shaft and had one hell of a time getting it out. of course the crossshaft was welded too so there couldnt be any play in the spidergears and thus you couldnt take it out to get broken piece of shaft out. i was lucky enuff to have had it break short enough to just remove the carrier grind a flathead screwdriver down thinner to hammer between the crossshaft and sidegears to pop out the busted piece. with a spool you could just slide out the opposite shaft and run a piece of all thread or hell even a broomstick into the tube to bust lose or out the broken piece.

no more lincoln lockers for me.
unclethumbtack
10-14-2006, 08:00 PM
My model 20 has the trac-lok, at first I was dissapointed, and was going to swap in a detroit locker. I changed the differential fluid, and am running 75% lucas oil, and had no problems with it failing, and I wheeled it pretty hard. I'm not saying it is better or even as good but I am pleasantly surprised.
scotty
10-15-2006, 07:22 AM
i dont want to hijack your thread but where is the best place to get a hardened cross shaft for an amc20, i cant seem to find one anywhere

not sure. i was just speeking generally. id think with the popularity of the m20 with the cj crowd that someone would make one.
scotty
10-15-2006, 07:25 AM
i had the same mentality till i busted a rear shaft and had one hell of a time getting it out.

you can get a 5 pound magnetic pick up tool at HF for less than $20,and its very useful for things other than removing broken axlesahft ;)

ive had the same thing happen,and i always weld my diffs up the same way-everything to everything :D
4x4fEvEr
10-15-2006, 09:42 AM
you can get a 5 pound magnetic pick up tool at HF for less than $20,and its very useful for things other than removing broken axlesahft ;)

ive had the same thing happen,and i always weld my diffs up the same way-everything to everything :D

this is true but my shaft at the splines was extremely stuck needed more like a 75lb magnet
scotty
10-15-2006, 01:29 PM
my shaft at the splines was extremely stuck needed more like a 75lb magnet

:eek: