Spools

[lay80n]

Just after some info on mini-spools for sierras. Searched and found a bit, but was wondering who runs them (anyone), whats everyones opinion of them. Have found a few places in the US that stock them, anyone know of anyone in australia??? Any other info would be cool too.
Thanks
Layto....

[xtreem]

just been looking at that myself. havnt seen any here. under $100 in the states

[Gwagensteve]

can't see the point in a mini spool for a sierra - the centre is not worth very much and welds so easily. Either way you need to pull the whole diff apart and strip the ring gear off.

Now if someone made a full spool for sierra's, then we'd be talking.

[stumped]

centres can still be a PITA to find, and not always cheap - wreckers in newy want $350 for one. other thing is when ya get them, they're not always in good nick

does less damage to the axles apparently, and ya can always take it out n sell if u don't like it. welding u gotta replace the centre don't ya? and run the risk of the welds breaking

what we're wondering tho, does anyone run them and have an opinion (not just based on 85th hand information), and if anyone knows of any specific problems with them (can be 84th hand in this case )

[Liam]

We do spools for race cars. Much tougher, lighter and more reliable than welding up a centre. Would not recomend it in a offroader, definetely would not recomend it in a car that sees many road miles.

[sierrajim]

So if one could not justify the $1000+ for an air locker $700+ for an auto locker which way would be prefered welded or spool?

Does anyone know the advantages/disadvantages for both?

[stumped]

We do spools for race cars. Much tougher, lighter and more reliable than welding up a centre. Would not recomend it in a offroader, definetely would not recomend it in a car that sees many road miles.

so if it's tougher... etc.. than a welded centre, and ppl weld diffs for offroad, why wouldn't u recommend it for offroad use??

do u make em or just fit em?

[Liam]

Because it's 100% locked all the time. Racecars don't have to drive round sharp corners, do a lot of miles, wet roundabouts, drive on concrete etc They can run heaps of camber on the rear end.
With a spool or a welded centre there's no differential action from side to side at all...definetly not good in a road registered rear end and pretty hard to turn in the front.

[stumped]

Because it's 100% locked all the time. Racecars don't have to drive round sharp corners, do a lot of miles, wet roundabouts, drive on concrete etc They can run heaps of camber on the rear end.
With a spool or a welded centre there's no differential action from side to side at all...definetly not good in a road registered rear end and pretty hard to turn in the front.

still better than welding it tho...

are u able to make em for a zook, or do ya know someone that could help us out?

[Gwagensteve]

Other than reduced weight (largely ireelevant with big heavy tyres etc) I cannot see any real advantage to a spool over a welded diff.

A spool will be just as hard on axles as a welded diff, or any from of locker, depending on how it is used.

We have a number of cars in our club that do plenty of road miles with a welded diff.

If you weld them well, they will not break. The one I welded in critta lived with a 1.6 efi, dual tranfers and 36" swampers, eventually it broke an axle. The centre is fine.

I don't think that there are many other diffs that welds as well as sierra rears, and can't really see the money in a spool for our application.

Thewy are pretty bling though, shame were not running dana diffs 'cos then we could buy clear diff covers to show off the spool.

[N*A*M]

i had david weld my rear diff and it was the best mod to my zook ever. guaranteed positive forward traction all the time. don't bother about getting a spool, just weld it up.

[xtreem]

Yeah i'm currently trying to decide whether to weld my rear "until I can afford a air locker" or buy a lock right from the states and forget the air locker.. I have a air locker for the front. Not sure what to do.

[sierrajim]

Just weld or spool it until you can get an air locker. Auto lockers have a reputation of being a little unpredictable.

[Liam]

Most spools are about a hundred bucks....why would you bother sourcing and welding a centre?

[-Mick-]

http://www.izook.com/spy/roadlessgear/roadlessgear.htm

<$50US I can see these being pretty popular

Liam makes a good point too

[xtreem]

Just weld or spool it until you can get an air locker. Auto lockers have a reputation of being a little unpredictable.

Yeah so everybody says but I had a detroit in the back of my lj80 and didnt even know it was there except the clicking when doing U turns. It worked very smoothly, No jarring or loud noises at all.

[-Mick-]

http://www.roadlessgear.com/Merchant2/m ... code=TT832

[lay80n]

Thanks for the replys guys, keep em coming. I was lookin at the spool cause it is cheaper than new centre up here, and i can fit it myself. I have a had a bit of experience with cars with locked diffs and mini spools, and i dont mind the way they drive, i can deal for the effect on offroad performance. Does anybody run them, or know of people that run them. If we are goin to import some, would people be interested in a group buy if the price ends up better. Are there any places in Aust. that stock or can obtain a Mini spool. The links that were posted up were pretty much what i was lookin at.
Cheers
Layto....,

[DeWsE]

PM sent.

A group order would be good

[-Mick-]

I'd be in on that also Beats trying to find a rear centre to weld

Pm sent also

[RB zook]

yeah would be interested

[DeWsE]

People keen for a group order:


DeWsE
lay80n
Stumped
MJ
RB zook ????

Add your name to the list if your keen

[nicbeer]

Price pending but me in...

People keen for a group order:


DeWsE
lay80n
Stumped
MJ
RB zook ????
nicbeer

Add your name to the list if your keen

[RB zook]

People keen for a group order:


DeWsE
lay80n
Stumped
MJ
RB zook (if price is rite)

Add your name to the list if your keen

[xtreem]

Yeah I would be interested but i'm kind of in a big hurry, so i'm either going to weld mine or order something straight away. If you guys were doing it in the next few days I would be in, but it will probably take a while to organise?

[SiKiD_01]

in most of those links, they say that the mini spool will fit the sierra (sammy) AND vitara (sidekick) centres. is this true?

i have a vitara, and everyone else has a sierra, or is welded.

anyway, i've been looking for a locker for a while now, and the next best thing to a mini spool is welding.

i dont think i trust anyone to weld my centre up here, as the ones i've seen welded have broken. (mainly onroad cars) and also will cost me minimum $150. although that might sound pretty good, a new centre will cost $450 landed up here. so the sums dont work.

so i'm left with only the choice of a spool, or a cheap locker, s/h.

so if the mini spool will fit my vitara, and you guys are getting a group order together, and the price is right, then count me in.

i need to show those hilux and cruiser bandits that suzi can play too!

i dont think people should worry about how their 4b will handle with a permanant locked rear, as with a spool, you can always take it out, and if u do take it out, just look at how many people want one.

[Dozoor]

[christover1]

both mine are welded, but if I could afford it, I would spool the back, and lock rite the front. but living on a pension = $10 for some diff oil, and a good mate with a welder was only choice. air lox are best, but not all have that sort of dough...but remember also, that a business can't recommend illegal or dangerous mods in this sue happy world, you need to make your own informed choices, and take ya own risks...small light cars like zooks arent too bad on road, mines a dd, but I think larger cars would wear tyres and break stuff...just my opinion, tho, christover

[stumped]

in most of those links, they say that the mini spool will fit the sierra (sammy) AND vitara (sidekick) centres. is this true?

i have a vitara, and everyone else has a sierra, or is welded.

anyway, i've been looking for a locker for a while now, and the next best thing to a mini spool is welding.

i dont think i trust anyone to weld my centre up here, as the ones i've seen welded have broken. (mainly onroad cars) and also will cost me minimum $150. although that might sound pretty good, a new centre will cost $450 landed up here. so the sums dont work.

so i'm left with only the choice of a spool, or a cheap locker, s/h.

so if the mini spool will fit my vitara, and you guys are getting a group order together, and the price is right, then count me in.

i need to show those hilux and cruiser bandits that suzi can play too!

i dont think people should worry about how their 4b will handle with a permanant locked rear, as with a spool, you can always take it out, and if u do take it out, just look at how many people want one.

dude, if the price is ok (i think we're looking at under $300 landed, but not 100% sure yet), i can ship it up to you thru work....




i'm not a definate, i'm still trying to get this locker sorted out. if i can get it fixed, i'll keep it, if not i'll go a minispool

[brocky]

hi guys im new today but if you want somthing that is drivable, dont weld it gets very annoying after a while. im driving a sj51 ute with double airlockers, rockcrawlers and a 20v conversion, if i did it again, i would have not put in a front locker, with the rock gears i have only ever used the front maybe twice now, with the rear locker and gears, a good suspension lift, and running 30inch tyres i have driven alot of places that others in larger vehicle would not contiplate.but with that said, when i pull out of the bush the lockers go off and noone knows whats been done. the vehicle drives as it should everyday of the week. thankyou for allowing me to be a part of this. i like that we all have same intrests.