Welded a kick 3rd and have some before & after pics.  





The space between each gear was filled from the bottom up.  THe ideia was to get lots of heat and molten metal to burn into and form around the gears.  As you fill each of the 4 pools they will adventually come up to the level at which the other side gear will set in place.  Best to leave a little room so the gear will go back in snug.  I need to file a few beads on this one as once the side gears is back in place I am .015" to high.  

Sort-of a strange feeling driving IFS with a welded front.  A Sammy will push the front in slow corners / parking lots, where as the IFS will try to stand up on the A-arm, in an attempt to fold the wheel under the front end.  Really weird & gives ya the riding on a Pogo stick feeling.  

congratulations, you're insane

how so? People have been doing this forever. That is the first locker that was ever made. They work very well and cost almost nothing.

Great Job Mike!!

How would a welded IFS front work out?

weldings the way to go in my point of view

congratulations, you're insane

Insane    

The insane part is it is selectable.  I just install the open diff If I want to drive around town.  And install the welded one if I'm going to a trail ride event.

 Best part is the Kick axle doesnt incorperate the backing plate (no brake bleeding), Bad part is that the 3rd does incorperate the upper link mount.

Welded front, would be a bad ideia on my kick (major breakage).  + My auto hubs wouldn't be very happy.    

I might need to back up and go selectable or locker.  The spool/welded rear and the IFS is hairy driving around the yard / drive way.  We will see here in a  few days if it proves out.

I know a guy who had welded diffs, had nothing but problems.  works great on rocks but crappy driving around in snow, didn't like it too much in mud.  Me being in Canada, I like not having the rear come loose every time I try to take a corner

I do not argue the obvious advantage of havin power to all four drive wheels, would have saved me from a couple stucks.  I'm saving up for a locker.  

I would honestly prefer a heavy-duty posi front and rear if it was availible.  .

I love my ARB's.  Push of a button and their on or off.

Also whats fun is you can turn them off on a laim trail and make it a little more fun!

I love my ARB's.  Push of a button and their on or off.

Also whats fun is you can turn them off on a laim trail and make it a little more fun!

Here
Here

I agree, I'd love to have the ARB.  BUT the welded diff was free leaving me able to spend $$$ on the 4.25:1

May look into an ARB once I go DOT legal...

I have the front of my kick welded for the last 10 months now and 4x4 every 2 weeks or so and have not broke any front end parts to date. Mind ya i also have locking hubs so i only lock the front when needed.
I also 4x4 pritty hard with it and still goin strong.
I think you'll love it. Good luck.

The real reason I went with the ARB's was that my wife likes to ride and drive the truck.  And anything that would make it drive funny is bad.

I was afraid what a normal locker would be like.

Drive funny...    All my stuff drive funny    My rule around teh house is if you can start it you can drive it.   my wife doesn't try to drive my Track Kick stuff.

Keep the wife happy and the tracker buget is happy!  

Back in January I ordered a new Anvil and a rear bumper.  Had the money in the bank.

Well come Augest after a new car, motorhome and house it was gone!

Calimini finally called (Augest 20 - 8 month later) and asked if I still wanted my parts.  I told them to cancle the bumper.

My wife was all "If you need it get it"  I got the Anvil (That was something I needed!).  I just couldn't go for the additional $500.