Front axle spool

[Back_to_Texas]

In order to get better traction, I am considering spooling the front axle. According to my logic (which could be wrong) as long as 4 wheel drive is not engaged and my hubs are on auto, the truck should drive like normal. Then when I engage 4wheel drive and lock the front hubs i should have full spooled traction. I think this will work. let me know.

Any of you drivetrain guys please chime in.

btw,
2001 f350 7.3 auto 4x4 srw

[dereku]

that was my thought i want to do that to my 96 the only downside is that when you are in 4 wheel I hear you loose alot of steering ability, But I think you could just kick it in and out of 4 wheel if you have a manual transfercase if its auto it could be bad to go back and forth

[pf350]

well since your truck is already quite long, it would kill you if you like to run trails that have any tight turns. Unlocking the hubs to make turns is a pain. If you are a mud or sand guy then i dont see why that wouldn't be a good alternative for you.

[MidwestOffroad]

spooling is pretty hard on the front...and driving on the street could be dangerous...better off spending the coin for a a selectable locker like a ARB of posi

[GreenF350]

With the hubs unlocked it would act the same with or without a spool. That is the beauty of locking hubs instead of the stupid axle disconnects like the Chevy's. It won't change anything with them unlocked. If they are locked though.....all the usual warnings for having it posi in the front apply.
-Aaron

[MrJohnWayne]

Originally Posted by MidwestOffroad

spooling is pretty hard on the front...and driving on the street could be dangerous...better off spending the coin for a a selectable locker like a ARB of posi

Originally Posted by GreenF350

With the hubs unlocked it would act the same with or without a spool. That is the beauty of locking hubs instead of the stupid axle disconnects like the Chevy's. It won't change anything with them unlocked. If they are locked though.....all the usual warnings for having it posi in the front apply.
-Aaron

This is true but what if the hubs were to stick which alot of these trucks do at times..

[sgleshot]

On my big truck I welded the front, which is basically a cheap spool, and back when it was street legal I would only lock one side in on the street, when I needed it in the winter, it worked out pretty decent. ya just gotta be aware of whats happenin, these oil burners have more torque than my built to the hilt 472.

[GreenF350]

I fail to see how a spool would be any harder on a front end than an ARB. Both will be locked when you are in a difficult situation really putting the torque to the front. Lots of people have a spool or a detroit locker in the front and do exactly as mentioned above, only lock one side if you are on tight trails or looking for more traction in the winter on the road.

As for the hubs sticking...Well, If one hub sticks it won't be too big of a deal. Just get it fixed. If you leave it like that and then both hhubs stick, that just seems like poor planning. I used to have a Jeep that was welded in the front and one of the hubs got stuck on it...I was younger and didn't have the money and I drove it like that for a month.

An ARB would be ideal, that way you wouldn't have to get in and out if you were doing some good trail riding that you needed to turn AND needed the traction, but $200 for a spool vs $600+ for an ARB? That can make for a tough decision.

-Aaron

[pipelayerjdh]

I would advise against spooling the front. Just like lift blocks on the front, it has potential to be dangerous, if not deadly. But of course, so does everything.

[Sam Burton]

i wouldn't do it. i'm not sure how good the auto hubs are on the SDs but i don't think its worth taking a chance with a street truck, if they stayed locked in it could get scary.