spool on the street

[446jeff]

the reason i went with a spool was that i destroyed two sure grips.my car only gets about 150-200 street miles a year at the most.

[fasttcars]

The reason I mentioned the cost was because when this debate usually comes up there will be more than one guy wanting to use a spool on the street because they are cheaper than a sure grip, and they want to save some dough, I have no idea how much money they have in the rest of the car. For the record the Duster I had one in had 14x32's on it, and on low speed turns acted like it was welded to the pavement. If you have a high horsepower motor then you have little choice but to run a spool I understand that, but are all the guys running them in daily drivers putting out 1000hp?. I have skinny tires on the front and have to drive accordingly but I won't run a spool on the street again 'cos I hated it. If someone that has never run one before asks for advice then surely it's only fair to give them the complete picture so they can make up thier own mind rather than going "yea that'll be alright".....

I respect that.....

[GON_RACIN]

i went with a detriot true-trac, its supposed to be the best of both worlds.  Its basically a limited slip that uses gears instead of clutches or cones, so its supposed to last longer.  They are a little pricey but i've heard they stand up well to abuse. I dont exactly know how much abuse but the fella on the phone at DTS told me that several 8 and 9 second cars have run them without any issues.  Then again, he was trying to make a sell so he might have been BS'ing me.  Anyway,  just another option you might think about 

[NYrr496]

i went with a detriot true-trac, its supposed to be the best of both worlds.  Its basically a limited slip that uses gears instead of clutches or cones, so its supposed to last longer.  They are a little pricey but i've heard they stand up well to abuse. I dont exactly know how much abuse but the fella on the phone at DTS told me that several 8 and 9 second cars have run them without any issues.  Then again, he was trying to make a sell so he might have been BS'ing me.  Anyway,  just another option you might think about 

http://www.detroitlocker.com/DT.htm

Those things look real nice.

[speedymopars]

Doesn't look like 8.75 is an option though....Lots of Dana's / Fords and GM's, no Mopar...

[FastmOp]

DUDE,, KB block, bulldogs and nitrous =  over that 8$3/4.
And I run one , it's went 1.31 in sixty with the wheels knee hi, your at a whole new track with that combo over mine.

Just trying to save you some $$, if you need ides on getting it to live just ask but it's going to cost more then a dana I think.

[NYrr496]

Yeah, I thought you were talking about a Dana too.

[urchinhead]

I'm not sure how many applications there are for the "True-Trac," but my buddy put one in the 8.8" of his Explorer, and it held up pretty well on road and off. Personally I'll stick with the Detriot.

[speedymopars]

DUDE,, KB block, bulldogs and nitrous =  over that 8$3/4.
 And I run one , it's went 1.31 in sixty with the wheels knee hi, your at a whole new track with that combo over mine.

Just trying to save you some $$, if you need ides on getting it to live just ask but it's going to cost more then a dana I think.
 

Yea, it's probably right on the edge in spite of having big spline moser axles, strange gears and all the other good stuff. Right now I've resigned myself to no NOS in first. I figure a nine inch is probably my next step , though I guess a Dana 60 could be the ticket too.

[dart_451]

I have a 9inch,NEVER had a problem.but i have a strange jug and spool.

[GON_RACIN]

Doesn't look like 8.75 is an option though....Lots of Dana's / Fords and GM's, no Mopar...

they offer them for both 8 3/4's and Dana's.  I got one for my 8 3/4 from DriveTrain Specialties (DTS), they keep them in stock.

[speedymopars]

Hey, Check this out -

http://www.4wheeloffroad.com/howto/3325/

Here is the text further making me see that the taller the sidewall, the less of an issue it is, and why a locker may grab one tire harder on lauches....They talk about how the LOCKER causes all those problems we were saying the spool did...Interesting to say the least!


Foolproof Traction That's Stronger and Simpler Than Any
By John Cappa

Maybe we've gone insane, or maybe we were never sane to begin with. The popping and clicking of automatic lockers and the complexity of selectable lockers has pushed us further over the edge.

Simplicity, that's what we want. Something so simple that there is no way for it to fail, and no way for it to clunk since it has no moving parts. We're talking about a spool. This wonderful but feared component replaces the carrier with one solid piece that holds the axleshafts together...no matter what. Many have said that spools shouldn't be used on the street because of adverse handling, and some believe that a spool will make it difficult to turn. We found otherwise. Our Jeep with a Detroited Dana 60 rear axle proved to be a handful on the road. Shifting the manual transmission also meant involuntarily shifting lanes at times.

Automatic lockers have up to a one-quarter turn of slop at the pinion built into them. This is needed for them to function properly. It causes a clunk when you hit the gas from a coast and another clunk when you let off. A lurch to one side or the other usually accompanies the clunking. Predicting which way the vehicle will jerk becomes a difficult and tiresome game, especially in a lightweight short-wheelbase vehicle.

The Detroit also causes the tires to chirp in tight quarters (U-turns, and parking lots) under throttle. Don't get us wrong, the Detroit has worked flawlessly, but we were ready to try something else.

We called Summit Racing to get a spool, a complete installation kit and a cool aluminum diff cover that pre-loads the bearing caps. We had all our parts installed at a local 4 Wheel Parts Performance Center. Spools are normally sold to the racing crowd for their strength, durability, and reliability. We wanted one for the same reasons, plus less clunking and few lane changes. We traveled more than 2,000 miles with the spool in the Jeep and we found that it handles much better on the highway and in traffic (no automatic lane changes).

However, driving through the neighborhood with a spool will get you more than a few sneers. When making tight turns the tires squeal since a spool allows no differentiation. This can be kept to a minimum by the use of aggressive mud-type tires. Off-road the spool performed no different than the Detroit.

Some believe a Detroit will let the vehicle turn sharper since it can release. But if you are on the throttle, the Detroit will stay locked--just like a spool. Spools are available for Ford 9-inch and 8.8, GM 10-bolt and 12-bolt, Chrysler 8-3/4, and Dana 60 axles. They are much cheaper than limited slips and lockers and stronger than welded diff gears. So is a spool the ultimate locker? That depends on if you’re willing to put up with the slight acceleration in tire wear and chirping. For us, the answer is yes.

***

[74' DART]

I know its not in the same league but a friend of mine ran a rear with welded spider gears in his malibu it was his daily driver and street racer. It was a healthy small block i know its not the same as a 1000HP car but he put alot of hard miles on this car and had no problems. He just took it easy around corners. It made me nervous though. Just saying it can be done u just have to know your car which im sure you do. My two cents J.R.

[speedymopars]

Here is what I'm gonna do - In my van I have some 3.23's with a tight suregrip. In the Duster, I will do the 3.23's with a spool. If the Duster can't handle it , then the spool goes into the van with some off road 32's on it, and the SG goes into the duster.

[speedymopars]

Thanks! It seems strange to me to pull the 4.30's out that I have been running for years, and putting in a "non performance" gear ratio so I can go faster and quicker - but hey that is what strokers are for (more power, less rpm)!

Just out of curiousity, what is a tight space? With the fenderwells I lose about the last 1/2 to 3/4 turn of the wheel - does that mean I won't notice? I'm both excited and a little worried about doing this.

[uwee440]

I can't believe this thread.If you want a spool go get one ,If your driving a big block a body,you know how they handle,a spool is not unsafe on the street if your driving it safely to begin with.some people here would sneer at how my car is set up-fenderwell headers,skinny front tires, s/6 tortion bars,a  dana with a spool,31 " tall rears,a 528 c.i. motor,.Try driving that around without being noticed.

[illfish]

9 inch, 35 spline axles, Lenco locker.  No spool.

[thecarfarmer]

This has to be quote of the week:

...Understeer is when you hit the wall with the front fender; Oversteer is when your rear quarter panel hits it instead :-)

Best explanation I've heard.

On the subject of skinny tires... I suppose my older cars that were built with 4 or 4.5" wide front tires are 'hazardous', too.  Somebody, PLEASE call Ralph Nader!

I've never run a spool before, but I'm seriously considering one for my pickup.  The way I see it, rear tires are going to be on a regular replacement schedule anyway...  and I'd kinda' like to be able to upgrade from the stock spline count on the axle if I'm going to spend on axles.

.02 plus a rant for free!

-bill

[speedymopars]

Thanks to PUREGTS, I am one step closer to running the spool on the street.

Any thoughts / guesses how a 3.23 spool behind a juiced 528 is gonna react? What will break first?

What I need is a large 10 spline 742 yoke if anyone has one they would like to part ways with.  I am going to have a big garage sale soon, I have way to much stuff and no where to put it. I have so much, I don't even know what I have. For example, I found a new set of solid roller lifters while unsuccessfully hunting for a yoke. This is in addition to the other set I found a few weeks ago. Boxes and boxes of carbs, pullies, alternators, engine blocks, pistons, rods, I am shocked at the stuff I forgot I had.

I am also pissed at myself and can't seem to let go of the fact that when I moved 6.5 yrs ago, I had 5 pigs that were destroyed from the duster. All Sure grips, some early, some late, all big yoke. I had 742's and 489 cases. The gears were trashed, but because I bought all of them at swap meets for $75, they weren't worth anything.

I say "had" 'cause I threw them all away. Now I realize what I did. The sure grips were still good. The yokes were still good. The cases were still good. I have been kicking myself (hard) for chucking the stuff. I don't care they were heavy and I just couldn't carry anything more. I did carry over a bunch of junk that wasn't worth anything. I also chucked an A body 8.75 'cause it leaked and I didn't want to spend the few minutes to figure out what was wrong...

Those are the things I won't do again that's for sure...

[440WIP]

If you have the option, wouldn't using a 489 be better? I drive my Duster on the street all the time 440, 4200 stall A/T, 489 case with 456 gears. I don't think any high speed manuevers in the rain would be a life enhancing move, but I personally don't have any issues driving with it on the street otherwise.
Daryl

[speedymopars]

If you have the option, wouldn't using a 489 be better? I drive my Duster on the street all the time 440, 4200 stall A/T, 489 case with 456 gears. I don't think any high speed manuevers in the rain would be a life enhancing move, but I personally don't have any issues driving with it on the street otherwise.
Daryl

The 742 doesn't crush under high HP like the 489, but it's a moot point, its the only case I have (and it's already set up). I just need a large yoke for it. Nothing wrong with  either 489 or 742, but I give the slight edge to the 742.

[FastmOp]

The 489 is stronger

[Yellow]

No likey de spool!

[75Dart440]

Part of the reason why a spool works better with the wide soft sidewalled tires such as with tubbed cars, is that the pressure exerted to the pavement by the tire, is considerably lower.  If your standard 26 inch narrow tire is applying 100 lbs per square inch (just an example) over it's entire contact patch, then doubling the tire width of the tire would effectively reduce this pressure to 50 lbs per square inch, allowing the tire's tread surface to slip/stretch/wrinkle a little easier than the narrow tire.

If I knew for a fact that I wouldn't be caught in the rain, etc, I would probably run a spool, but for now I am going the way of a true-trac locker just for added safety.  I would feel safer when hauling the little tikes in the back, that way!!!