ZUKIWORLD Online | Suzuki 4x4 Editorial and Forum

ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Suzuki 4x4 Forum => Topic started by: machz on March 12, 2009, 02:28:20 PM

Title: MINI SPOOL QUESTION
Post by: machz on March 12, 2009, 02:28:20 PM
i have a 1998 chevrolet tracker and i'm in the process of buy a mini spool .. and i'm wondering how big is the ring gear is it a 8.5 10 bolt ? or ?  and how many splines are on my axel? thanks .
 what do you guys thinks of a mini spool?
Title: Re: MINI SPOOL QUESTION
Post by: RazBarlow on March 12, 2009, 02:36:53 PM
That is a SWEET looking tracker. Did you repaint that ? It isn't the stock color is it ?
I have the same questions about a locker , but I live in Iowa and I question the functionability in the winter .
Raz
Title: Re: MINI SPOOL QUESTION
Post by: Drone637 on March 12, 2009, 02:37:20 PM
Just pick up the mini-spool from Trail Tough or Low Range.  Works great, easy to install.  Will make your tires chirp a bit when driving around in parking lots.  :)

I wouldn't recommend it for a DD, but nice and cheap way to lock up a trail rig.


Title: Re: MINI SPOOL QUESTION
Post by: Jeremiah on March 12, 2009, 03:27:29 PM
Pick any two: Economical, Predictable, Easy on Tires & Axles
(you don't get all three)

Selectable Locker:
* 100% predictable
* Safest on axles if you know how to use it
* May not work on trail if the air lines, or air pump fails

Auto Locker:
* Cheaper than the selectable locker
* Locks up when you need it
* Usually (key word) unlocks when you don't need it
* Can unlock / lock in slick road conditions causing some level of unpredictability (this is easy for some people to get around, and harder for others)
* Makes rackety snap ping sounds in tight (parking lot) turns
* Get a spare set of shear pins - you might need them on-trail

Spool:
* Works all the time
* You can loose control in slick conditions if you have a lead foot, but it's very predictable, and easy to avoid this behavior. And, easy to power slide if you're into that kind of thing.
* Will eat tires quicker (but still much slower than a full sized truck with open diffs on the same tires. Weight advantage FTW), and passably axles if you have a lead foot
* Will buck & squeal tires in more turns than auto locker
* Solid, and the most reliable (yeah, I said it) of all the lockers
* Cheap


I sure wish Aussie lockers made a locker for Suzuki. I never really notice them in my toy axles (this is a good thing, it means they're locked or unlocked when they're supposed to be, and don't make noises in turns).
Title: Re: MINI SPOOL QUESTION
Post by: machz on March 12, 2009, 04:51:13 PM
thanks.. its the stock color not too many around.. i live in canada and its hard to find tracker parts down here i can have then from usa no prob but the shipping is twice the price of the parts ... so if i could find out the size of my rear end (crown and pinion) and my axel spline i could get one down here!! it sucks being in canada cant get parts .lol
Title: Re: MINI SPOOL QUESTION
Post by: Lindenmooch on March 12, 2009, 06:37:34 PM
Silly canadians.  Nice tracker.  =)



I like the mini spool...it's cute...super cheap...and I love to powerslide.   Gotta have a locked rear for sideways shenanigans.   How do you install a mini spool?  Could be my next upgrade.....hmm....would surely make for some fun 2 wheeling this spring.  No?
Title: Re: MINI SPOOL QUESTION
Post by: Drone637 on March 13, 2009, 01:00:08 PM
http://geckocycles.com/sammy_lock_right_install.htm

Similar to this, only the mini-spool is much easier to install.

I just tossed it in, setup the gears by hand, and everything has worked fine.  :)
Title: Re: MINI SPOOL QUESTION
Post by: Amilla on March 14, 2009, 10:32:22 AM
I would just go with a mini spool over a lock rite, in my opinion a lock rite is one hell of a jumpy ride that is doing just as much damage to tires as a spool.  It seems to me like a much better deal to buy a spool over the lock rite.

I agree with Jeremiah 100%, Aussie lockers kick ass if only they made them for samurais.

Amilla
Title: Re: MINI SPOOL QUESTION
Post by: TrakJD on March 14, 2009, 08:29:15 PM
I have one installed in my samurai, I drive it everyday to work.  Chirps and bucks when you make a sharp turn.  No problems so far. 
Title: Re: MINI SPOOL QUESTION
Post by: zuk4life on March 14, 2009, 11:30:52 PM
ring gears are the same size and spline count is 26 in the rear. spool is good off road, but kinda sucks on the street when turning. I had the trail tough spool on one of my samurai's with hybrid rear end, and recently removed it from my tracker. Tracker did do nice drifts in the rain...Canada cool, customs not cool.
Title: Re: MINI SPOOL QUESTION
Post by: Dimitros on March 15, 2009, 05:02:21 AM
Another maybe stupid question about mini spool. I have both axles run free. In which axle front or rear should I first install mini spool? As my sammi is 75% DD (driving on 2WD onroad) then I gues mini spool should be on front axle, is it?

Added 1 hour later...

Oops! Just read on LowRangeOffRoad that mini spool can be installed only in the rear axle. Unfair. Why can't I put in front?
Title: Re: MINI SPOOL QUESTION
Post by: Lindenmooch on March 15, 2009, 06:32:37 AM
omfg!  I want a mini spool so $#!ing badly!  I can't #%$king stand it!   I hate getting caught with my pants down on off-camber areas, or on a particularly rocky area.....or muddy...ugh!


Sadly...I can't afford one.    :'(
Title: Re: MINI SPOOL QUESTION
Post by: Drone637 on March 15, 2009, 12:01:16 PM
Different carrier up front.  You don't want it there anyway, you have to drive with one hub unlocked in order to turn.  Plus it would probably destroy your aluminum front end.  :)

For the front end you can either spend the money on the Trail Tough front locker with carrier or you have to switch to a steel front diff.

LIndenmooch:  You could try Lincoln Locking it.  If it doesn't work, you can always spend the money on a mini-spool.  :P
Title: Re: MINI SPOOL QUESTION
Post by: Jeremiah on March 15, 2009, 12:33:38 PM
Isn't there a way to fill the carrier with lead too  ??? Supposedly, if you don't like it, you can melt the lead back out...
Title: Re: MINI SPOOL QUESTION
Post by: Lindenmooch on March 15, 2009, 12:35:09 PM
Um...for what a mini spool costs....I'd rather not cut corners or weld anything....

I'll just bitch and moan until I actually buy a mini spool.   :P
Title: Re: MINI SPOOL QUESTION
Post by: Drone637 on March 15, 2009, 11:43:00 PM
Welding this diff is easy, you just need to do it correctly.  :D

(http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/jalopnik/2009/02/Welded-Differential.jpg)
Title: Re: MINI SPOOL QUESTION
Post by: trevorsride on March 16, 2009, 03:16:06 PM
Welding this diff is easy, you just need to do it correctly.  :D

([url]http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/jalopnik/2009/02/Welded-Differential.jpg[/url])


LOL!!!  Thats funny!!
Title: Re: MINI SPOOL QUESTION
Post by: Dimitros on March 16, 2009, 11:06:02 PM
That looks gooooood man!

1000% blocking.
Title: Re: MINI SPOOL QUESTION
Post by: ppltrak on March 21, 2009, 09:38:27 PM
do they make a reg. spooll or only a mini ?

   Kevin
Title: Re: MINI SPOOL QUESTION
Post by: Drone637 on March 22, 2009, 12:12:00 AM
Just the mini. 
Title: Re: MINI SPOOL QUESTION
Post by: djlantis57 on May 10, 2009, 09:26:19 PM
Welding this diff is easy, you just need to do it correctly.  :D

([url]http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/jalopnik/2009/02/Welded-Differential.jpg[/url])


Now I don't know how to make my own spool but i DO know that's NOT where to weld! hahaha