Why is it mini spools or spools for the rear isn't good for a DD...I was under the impression that today's AWD like on the Subaru have all 4 turning at all times...unless I'm not understanding today's AWD technology

Thanks!

I suspect you're misunderstanding the technology - today's AWD technology will have three differentials - fromt, rear & centre - and are really "one wheel drive" - go ahead, jack up any one wheel, and see if it will move.

The front & rear diffs will, in most cases, be an open differential, the center differential will vary with the vehicle - some are open, some are selectable and some are electronically controlled and do not engage until there is some slip of the drive wheels.

Any how you twist & turn it - in the default "on-road" mode, when in a turn the inner wheels are allowed to rotate at a different speed to the outer wheels (inner & outer relative to the turn) as are the front & rear wheels - with your mini spool, you prevent the differential action required for the inner/outer wheels to rotate at different speeds and will end up with a number of issues such as increased tire wear, larger turning circle and to some extent a loss of stability depending on the road surface.

For the sake of "correctness" - some AWDs will not have a center differential at all, but will have a "viscous" coupling that allows the slip required for the front & rear wheels to rotate at different sppeds.

That's makes much better sense.  I've googled the topic and read various sites but then Subaru has an interactive program that shows what their AWD does and it really is misleading if you don't have anyone's knowledge to fall back on.

Thanks for your input and help!

I have run spooled rear and to be honest with you as long as you get it out in a parking lot and get used to it before taking off out on the roads you will be fine. The biggest thing to remember is if you get snow at all and you are locked, that thing will come around faster then a ticked off woman.

True, but even a loc-rite will do that, in fact it will come around in the snow/ice if you just think about it 

Wild

True, but even a loc-rite will do that, in fact it will come around in the snow/ice if you just think about it 

Wild

LMAO Good point, my buddy convinced his mother that a little Tracker was a great idea for a winter vehicle. First snow fall and highway speed and she was facing the wrong way on the highway. That was the end of that.

In a previous post, I had mentioned that "Locked Front Axle" with a "Open Rear" is the Idea of Choice here in "Snow Country"

A "Locked Rear" will create a "Whole Lot of Push"...... and the rest is a whole lot of Jesus SOMETHINGS !!!

Dat Displaced Yooper, CAPT

hummm this thread has got me thinking about putting a mini spool in the front of my tracker and leaving the back open has anyone ran this combo before primary use is a hunting vehicle but does see some snow  and does see some road driving  any input thx

It's going to be near imposable to steer 

Better hit up the "shake weight" and do some forearm curls and some grip exercises...

A locked front still needs to be driven with respect in the snow and ice as it will shoot straight through and intended turn as opposed to tracking like an open diff would. Ask me how I know  ? All I can say is thank God for 38's and lots of gearing.

Even a loc-right up front wants to plow in the dirt, unless you have a twin stick
so you can stop driving the front axle, and that is even more difficult to steer
than an open front.

I don't think I would go with any spool in the front, for snow use I would first
go ARB, then Limited Slip, then locker and last, and I would not do it, spool

I know the mini spools are attractive because of low cost but for that savings
you might pay a much bigger price in damage to your rig

My $.02
Wild

spools are fine for the front if you never need to steer your vehicle.  (sarcasm). spools and welded fronts even in a "off road only" rig make for a terrible wheeling/driving experience. it will quickly take the fun out of the experience. save the money and get a selectable locker or maybe a winch.  

Sorry,

Running on the frozen Lakes, and the like, a True LOCKED front is OK,
Yes in rocks, hard terrain, it will need a little MANLINESS to turn,

Also, A limited Slip would be a better choice, as mentioned

      But then also, I usually don't throw it into 4X4 until the roads turn to
                           Real S#*T and I greatly reduce my ground speed to boot!
We still get them..... 2 ft ..."Flurries" here.

CAPT

sorry for what?

every body has a opinion right?

 what is true locked? a mechanical locker? that's a world apart from a spool or welded. like I said if your wheeling consists of straight line only stuff (hard to call it wheeling) a welded/spool could work. the ones I have had/drove sucked ass. when under throttle the steering wheel tries to straighten its self back out. (not all that fun IMO) and damn hard to manage your rig when it has a mind of its own on where it wants to go.