locker or spool?

[toyodaaddict]

im trying to decide on a locker for the rear of my 79 toy it will only be driven 125 miles or so to the trail.i bought an aussie but now im leaning toward a spool instead. i hear that auto lockers make noise,jerk the truck around and are unpredictable,i dont like the sound of that.i know a spool will increase tire wear but at 200 miles(street) a month how bad could it be. anyways just wanted some opinions. thanks

[skyscraper]

All lockers act like spools when they are under load. The only time it unlocks is when you are coasting and you arent on the gears.  So if it were me I'd spool it.  Or weld it if you are cheap.  I have aussies front and rear right now, and drove 3000 miles on the street with them.  (My truck used to be my DD).  They do make some noise, and unload unpredictably, but its not that bad.  What kind of driving is it to the trail?  highway? or surface streets with lots of turns?

[royota85r]

I daily drove my runner with a spool for three years (a commute of 15 miles). I noticed a slight drop in fuel economy and a little more tire wear but the ONLY time I didn't like it was towing.

[NoPower]

Yeah I'm kinda in the same boat trying to decide on a spool or a detroit locker for the rear of my 87 4cyl 4runner

[Dingman.]

I threw a lock right in the back of mine, been going strong for over two years now. I wish i would have gone with a spool though, so i wouldn't have to worry about sheering pins or anything.

[toyodaaddict]

All lockers act like spools when they are under load. The only time it unlocks is when you are coasting and you arent on the gears.  So if it were me I'd spool it.  Or weld it if you are cheap.  I have aussies front and rear right now, and drove 3000 miles on the street with them.  (My truck used to be my DD).  They do make some noise, and unload unpredictably, but its not that bad.  What kind of driving is it to the trail?  highway? or surface streets with lots of turns?

mountain highways and backroads lots of winding roads

[NoPower]

Who makes a good spool for a 4runner 4 cyl rear diff?

[basser530]

I've ran a Detroit for a couple of years now and I like it. Every once in a while it will unload and make a loud noise and you can feel it, but it's not like it makes you lose control of the vehicle. I never have to listen to screeching on corners and I don't get abnormal tire wear and most of all it has never let me down. It always locks when it's supposed to. I have on the other hand heard differant things about cheaper lockers like lock rights. Your choice on what you decide to go with just giving you my   .

[toyodaaddict]

Who makes a good spool for a 4runner 4 cyl rear diff?

MARLIN.

[bigarms23]

ive run my detroit locker since 2002 and like it its really predictable and fun in snow and i get even tire wear so how much money do you have to spend on a locker?

[skyscraper]

Put it this way...everyone I know that runs a lockrite or aussie, including me, wishes they woulda just gone spool or welded.  But by far the best setup is a selectable locker.  If you can afford it.

[Sparkplug]

I have an aussie, it was in my truck till I blew the pinion bearings in that rear end. I swapped a new third in, and was too lazy to swap the locker so I just welded it. I have to say I like it welded a lot better. 100% predictable. I beat the snot out of it, and havent broke the wleds yet. Just my opinion. O yeh, the aussie just sits in my toolbox now, waiting to be traded or sold....

[royota85r]

Who makes a good spool for a 4runner 4 cyl rear diff?

I got mine through Randy's ring and Pinion. It was before I knew about Marlin. they both sell the exact same part. I just don't know which is cheaper. FYI I put a V-6 spool in my 4 cyl housing with special bearings. the bearings cost me $50 each. hope it helps.

[royota85r]

Put it this way...everyone I know that runs a lockrite or aussie, including me, wishes they woulda just gone spool or welded.  But by far the best setup is a selectable locker.  If you can afford it.

I agree with you. the next thing I'm doing to mine is the high pinion toyota e-locker in the front. it's going to take a while to get up the $1300.00 though. I actually had a full carrier detroit in the rear of my runner when I bought it and with the dual case setup I have I was really annoyed when I was at idle with both cases engaged because the two detroits would lock and unlock making my runner surge. thats when I put the V-6 housing and spool in the rear. again hope it helps.

[toyodaaddict]

thanks for all the input i think im gonna buy a spool for the rear and save the aussie for the front

[donutman126]

my 85 toyota is my dd and it is welded in the rear. I hardly notice increase in tire wear cus of how light the rear end is. Love it in the rain haha

[skyscraper]

Haha the rain is fun with a locker.  And toyodaaddict, I think your making the right decision

[Broke_Okie_Ty]

my 85 toyota is my dd and it is welded in the rear. I hardly notice increase in tire wear cus of how light the rear end is. Love it in the rain haha

I have to say I like it welded a lot better. 100% predictable. I beat the snot out of it, and havent broke the wleds yet. Just my opinion.

same here, i ran a welded in my dd (lots of miles) for 5 years or so and never broke a weld. weld or spool either way is 100% predictable........ i say buy a spool for the rear and put the aussie up front, defiantly dont weld the front tho

[royota85r]

you can get the spool for less than $200, I ran a welded also but I like the security of knowing it has no moving parts and I'm not relying on crystalized gears that are welded. Just my 2 cents. I build all my own diff's so I'm only out the cost of parts I don't have to pay for instalation. I've seen many welded diff break welds and every time the welder made a mistake. so again just my two cents.

[94KRAWLER]

i think i'm goin with a spool on my truck too.  i only drive it to college like five miles round trip with 35 in krawlers.  does anyone know how the spool will wear down my tires?  i'm not on the gas around turns right now and all the trails are like a mile away from my house.

[b0x]

Going with a spool seems like the consensus on this thread. Questions about the spool. Trails can be a far drive from home base. What are the cons to having to drive it to trails around where you live? [within 3-15 hour drive time] Or how about running stock axles with spools?

[axled89]

spools in the rear are bad a$$

[royota85r]

Going with a spool seems like the consensus on this thread. Questions about the spool. Trails can be a far drive from home base. What are the cons to having to drive it to trails around where you live? [within 3-15 hour drive time] Or how about running stock axles with spools?

I still have stock rear axleshaft in my runner and have only broken one shaft in 6 years. I plan on leaving the stock shafts in until I get the money together for Sky's full floater kit. BTW I'm running 38.5 X 11 X 15 swamper boggers. the rear axle had 196,000 miles on it when I broke the shaft.  the only "flaw" I have with the spool is I lost 2 miles to the gallon on the highway. I've noticed no real difference in tire wear or anything even when I still had the 400 lb camper shell still on.

[Dingman.]

Remember..  With a spool  your tires are always scrubbing around turns.  At least with autolockers they unlock through turns..  After just hving problems with my lockright im gonna run a spool or weld out back..  Arb would be sick but i dont have 800

[axled89]

spools are the way to go on strictly off road vehicles.  just my 

[89sastoyo]

If you arent driving your truck daily or atleast threw a million corners around town a spool or welded diff is the cheapest strongest way. You can buy a detriot or an arb or e locker The detriot will engage in the rain and stuff if you romp around corners but arbs and e lockers are selectable so you can disengage them if you wanna drive around on the street there the best for a DD but they are spendy. Lockrights in my opinion break, They are cheap but once you beat on them a little the pins will break so they wont engage.

As far as durability in your axle with a locker or a spool its still harder on parts then an open carrier. Rear toy axles take a beating stock but I have chromo shafts and have beat on them hard on 38s with 4 pounds of air and im welded.

[toyodaaddict]

 i think im set on a spool for the rear but what about the front? i dont do extream rock crawling and im not even sure ill need a front locker? i have no experience how bad will a auto locker (aussie) effect my steering? pros/cons?

[Dingman.]

A locked front makes turning more of an effort, but its not too bad..
I think most people recommend against spools up front.  but i know a lot of people running auto lockers up front. 

[Snowtoy]

i think im set on a spool for the rear but what about the front? i dont do extream rock crawling and im not even sure ill need a front locker? i have no experience how bad will a auto locker (aussie) effect my steering? pros/cons?

Chances are you wont ever use the front locker that much.  I know most of my buddies w/dual selectable lockers rarely use both, even on the hardest of trails.  After wheeling for 10yrs w/open diffs and now running ARB's, Ii wouldn't want to wheel all the time w/a spool/welded, or lunchbox locker for that matter(I have one in teh front and usually leave one hub disengaged). 

I would say save up a few $100 more or keep an eye out on craigslist/the 4x4forums and wait for a use ARB or e-locker, you can usually get them for under $500, often w/gears.

[caCrawlin]

i was welded in my old toy, never had a problem, but then again i didnt care if i had a problem in that thing or not haha, looks like you made the right choice for the rear. auss in front, jsut my