[shakes]

In light of the recent mini spool thread I thought I'd start an argument out here. on the pro's and cons. Don't need airlock v auto v spool cause thats been done to death.

Mini spool is obviously easier to reverse and if you don't have mechanical know how can be done in a shop. Welded is obviously cheaper but more prone to major failure?

What else am I missing? Is it worth spending that extra couple of hunj on a spool or is welding it just as good?

I will buy a cheap centre when one comes up to weld/spool and swap over so I always have one on hand as a spare(to make legal again quickly)

[royce]

If you have the skills and gear to do the weld then its a winner
If not you pay for the spool

Like anything really, you can either make it or buy it

[steve]

shakes wrote:

Don't need airlock v auto v spool cause thats been done to death.

minispool/welded is the same as an airlocker (when on)

I'd rate minispool higher in quality than the welded.

If you are confident at welding different metals then that's ok, ... but it can be easier just to pay for the minispool.

[buzbox]

I was about to have it welded, but for just under $150 for the spool including delivery, well, It's very well priced and the old saying do it once do it right comes to mind.

Of course Air locker would be best because you can choose when it's locked and is better for everyday use, but the price tag on them is way out of my budget at the moment.

Eventually I'd like to get either a lockright or airlocker for the front.

[steve]

PS. with this minspool popularity, i'm predicting some cheap minispools appearing in the for sale section when people realise that'd they're horrible for a road car

[shakes]

steve wrote:

PS. with this minspool popularity, i'm predicting some cheap minispools appearing in the for sale section when people realise that'd they're horrible for a road car

I daily'd a corolla for a couple of years with a locked rear. Admitidly as soon as it broke traction is just slid around the corner I know how bad driving in carparks etc is.

fingers crossed cheap ones show up

[buzbox]

Mine is a daily drive, but I'll see how it go's, doubt it will break traction around an overbout or anything like that, I'll just have to take care in the wet. I think I'll enjoy it but If I can't stand it I'll just put in the spare diff I have.

[31zook]

make your own mini spool

i grinded the edges off the little spider gears so that it would slip in and out of a recipient carrier, so in effect just like a mini spool only free for me


all the cross pins are used


this shot shows how the last side gear can be put back in.

you will notice that the carrier in the pic's has a large chunk ground out this is because when i was making it i stuck the side gear down, placed the spider gears in, and one big pin, tacked it together then spun it to the slots and pulled it out. Because suzuki made the spider gears out of cast, cast can crack when welded, but if you have an oxy, preheat and post heat nthem so they have the best chance of survival. mine has never been in my car so i can't tell you how well it works but im pretty keen to try it out

[steve]

31zook wrote:

Because suzuki made the spider gears out of cast, cast can crack when welded, but if you have an oxy, preheat and post heat nthem so they have the best chance of survival.

yer, i welded one and it cracked when cooling to fast, so i had to do another. Was a nice big crack sound, and then you go "bugger"

[want33s]

I have a mini spool here... Been fitted to a diff but never been in a car so I'd still call it brand new... $130

[11_evl]

mini spool has the chance of breaking the cross shafts where as welding will not.

[whincup]

want33s wrote:

I have a mini spool here... Been fitted to a diff but never been in a car so I'd still call it brand new... $130

that in a diff or just the spool itself?

[want33s]

whincup wrote:

want33s wrote:

I have a mini spool here... Been fitted to a diff but never been in a car so I'd still call it brand new... $130

that in a diff or just the spool itself?

Just the mini spool... I can fit it to either NT or WT diff for extra...

[roughzook]

one thing i have noticed on this site is that people often put lockers in the front and welded/mini spool in the back.

May i ask why?

to me welding the front and locker in the back makes more sense as your diif only engages when you lock up the hubs and put in 4wd. So with a manual locking hubs i see no disadvantage to welding a front diff? or am i missing something?

Where having owned many cars with welded rear diffs i see the disadvantage in day to day driving, tire wear, understeer etc

am i missing something?

[want33s]

Ever tried going around a corner with a locked front diff?




It doesn't happen.....

[roughzook]

want33s wrote:

Ever tried going around a corner with a locked front diff?




It doesn't happen.....

yeah for sure, massive understeer. but i imagine if you are locking the front hubs, you are going to be on a surface that allows enough slip

[Chop]

roughzook wrote:

want33s wrote:

Ever tried going around a corner with a locked front diff?




It doesn't happen.....

yeah for sure, massive understeer. but i imagine if you are locking the front hubs, you are going to be on a surface that allows enough slip

Yes and no, locked with no power steering going slow even on dirt can be a bitch and turning a corner slowly over rocks well thats just farked
Even in a comp a few years ago, unless you has some pace it was a swine to turn.

[SiKiD_01]

i have a mini spool in my vit lwb with 32"s as a daily.

i never go to town with it, it always goes the other way... out bush.

forget about shopping centres and carparks, and even think twice at servos.

yes you get wierd looks, and yes, its mega strain on all the drivetrain and steering components not to mention wheel bearings.

tyres will wear and chip/round off the square lugs, ATs and HTs make too much squeely noises, and wheel bearings, tie rod ends and the idler in the vit will go with in a year of Daily driving.

don't even think abour driving it on road with less than 20psi in the tyres. i run about 36-40psi during the daily drive to work and home, as this wears the centres of the tyres, provides less grip than being at 25psi, and reduces chirping in carparks and smooth bitumen.

100% locked in rear as a full on daily is crap imho, but i don't care, i live in darwin.

[roughzook]

Chop wrote:

roughzook wrote:

want33s wrote:

Ever tried going around a corner with a locked front diff?




It doesn't happen.....

yeah for sure, massive understeer. but i imagine if you are locking the front hubs, you are going to be on a surface that allows enough slip

Yes and no, locked with no power steering going slow even on dirt can be a bitch and turning a corner slowly over rocks well thats just farked
Even in a comp a few years ago, unless you has some pace it was a swine to turn.

no different to an air locker though. you pretty much going to have it engaged for this kind of stuff right?

[Ben_Sierra]

roughzook wrote:

Chop wrote:

roughzook wrote:

want33s wrote:

Ever tried going around a corner with a locked front diff?




It doesn't happen.....

yeah for sure, massive understeer. but i imagine if you are locking the front hubs, you are going to be on a surface that allows enough slip

Yes and no, locked with no power steering going slow even on dirt can be a bitch and turning a corner slowly over rocks well thats just farked
Even in a comp a few years ago, unless you has some pace it was a swine to turn.

no different to an air locker though. you pretty much going to have it engaged for this kind of stuff right?

You can disengage it to turn though...

[roughzook]

Ben_Sierra wrote:

roughzook wrote:

Chop wrote:

roughzook wrote:

want33s wrote:

Ever tried going around a corner with a locked front diff?




It doesn't happen.....

yeah for sure, massive understeer. but i imagine if you are locking the front hubs, you are going to be on a surface that allows enough slip

Yes and no, locked with no power steering going slow even on dirt can be a bitch and turning a corner slowly over rocks well thats just farked
Even in a comp a few years ago, unless you has some pace it was a swine to turn.

no different to an air locker though. you pretty much going to have it engaged for this kind of stuff right?

You can disengage it to turn though...

yeah i guess and then only engage ones you start open wheeling. I have also noticed that people run air locker rear and lockrite front (maybe for this reason) I imaging a lockrite engaging and disengaging from the front mid corner would be quite off putting.

The reason i am curious is because i am considering welding up my centers. I have 1ltr narrow track diffs, and although lockrites can be had, dont know if i am going to stay on these diffs forever (eventually want wt with cromos), so dont know if its worth the investment. Where welding cost me nothing