JeffT

iTrader: (22)

run it til it breaks and then put a spool in it. if you don't want to worry about it, put the spool in now. if you want unpredictable lock up/torque steer and clicking noises put the locker in it.

For all those that brag about how strong a locker is and the driveability isn't such an issue, etc...think about it like this, a spool will be stronger, doesn't ever unlock, they weight 5-10#'s depending on what you're willing to spend and are far cheaper.

Bitemark46

Very true on your points. However, try to take an exit/on ramp in the ran with a spool or turn into traffic in the rain with a spool. In tight turns a spool adds extra stress to the inside axle. If its a street car, I atleast want a diff that will allow the tires to spin at different speeds. -Mark

TS6

iTrader: (41)

Anyone care to chime in about my axle bearing question?

JL ws-6

iTrader: (50)

I have never heard of the axle bearings getting beat up from a spool

TT632

iTrader: (3)

+1 An aftermarket 12 bolt or 9 inch with a spool is pretty tough. I have a Spooled Moser 12 bolt in my 3rd gen thats ok on the street and no breakage issues with trans brake launches at 75% of peak power. I don't drive in the rain, but we don't have much of that here. If it's a week end car or your hard core I would say, put the spool in. If you can't live with it switch to a locker.

Like most, I do have to tighten the TA bolts on the 12 bolt every so often.

02NBMWS6

iTrader: (22)

My TrueTrac has been primo for me so far with a full weight 6speed and low 1.5x high 1.4x 60's with 600+rwtq. It hasnt been anything close to "junk" in my opinion.

Its every bit as comfortable as a posi, except it spins both tires everytime, whereas my Eaton posi was a hit or miss kind of thing, even after replacing it once.

JL ws-6

iTrader: (50)

I've seen a 330 hp bolton car break a trutrac....... that falls in the junk catagory IMO

02NBMWS6

iTrader: (22)

dont know what to say about that, my car is pushing way more power and is surely just as heavy and I beat the crap out of mine and its golden. sorry about your friends luck.

was it in a 12 bolt or a 9in?

Jonathan@Tick

iTrader: (5)

LOL!, maybe I've been under a rock but we've got a car running a truetrac 9" that has cut 1.4x sixtys in a 3700 lb. full weight f-body with a six speed. Its making just shy of 600 rwhp with nothing other than a cam, boltons, and spray. Another LT1 car we're running cuts 1.5 sixtys with a truetrac in a 12 bolt, also a 6 speed.

My car cuts 1.2x sixtys with the eaton posi in a 12 bolt with an A3. The car weighs 3350 lbs. The same posi survived two years of clutch drops from 6500-7000 rpms in a 3500 lb car cutting 1.4 sixtys. Its still working good today.

Actually, the "Trac Loc" is what comes standard in the moser 9" rears. It is nothing like the detroit truetrac.

The only reason I would consider a spool is simply the weight savings. I will never run another detroit locker, especially in a manual tranny car.

02NBMWS6

iTrader: (22)

damn, exactly the same as my car

CHRISPY

I ran a spool on the street for years in my 12 bolt but I'd go with a locker and 9 inch if I were to do it again...

Spools are a bit of a pain in the **** on the street but can be manageable.

JL ws-6

iTrader: (50)

12 bolt. I mean his car is probably 4000 lbs with him in it, but still.. if you put a 12 bolt in a bolton car (planning ahead) with a steel driveshaft... there should be nothing that can break. He fragged that thing to hell coming out of the burnout box with a set of et radials...... I was there when it happened. After seeing that once, I would never tell anyone to buy one of those things. Oh, and they did not warrenty anything either, he had to eat it. And, another little known fact, the axles hae to get cut for that thign a little different, so once you have one, the only way to get rid of it is to buy new axles too...... another reason I would never tell anyone to buy one of those. It's soemthing about a bevel or something to insert the axles into the unit, that's what moser told him, I dunno personally, but I don't doubt it. Those things also can't be rebuilt either, unlike an eaton, it's a sealed unit. All that, makes it junk IMO

JeffT

iTrader: (22)

I run a spool in my 9" so I know first hand what the draw backs are. A locker is locked 100% if you're on the gas, so how is that different from a spool when turning into traffic?

I dislike lockers for the reasons I mentioned earlier and I'd rather deal with tire chatter from the spool than the unpredictableness of the locker locking/unlocking when getting on/off the gas.

Bitemark46

The way I drive I give it gas in the corner but ever so gently. It doesn't lock until I'm straight then I apply more gas and it does the sudden surge to one side as it locks. I know it sounds crazy but I guess it depends on how tight of a turn. I wish I could take you for a spin. You hardly notice it. It took me a few months to get the hang of it. But to each his own. I'll take the locking/unlocking over added stress to the inside axle and tire wear. -Mark

camarokid94

iTrader: (2)

i HATE my detroit locker on the street. i will be going to a spool. and i will DD it. when the locker locks and unlocks its a scary feeling going around a corner

1BADAIR

iTrader: (1)

with an auto I think a 12 will be fine. Ltlhomer went 8's(I think) with a 12.
I broke my moser 12 bolt 33spline eaton once. That was due to colapsing the crush sleeve. It broke a pinion bearing/ Now with a solid piece it seems to be working fine.

WHITE DEVIL

iTrader: (1)

i helped with a car that 1.38 60' off the trans brake on the rear wheels with a 33 spline 12 bolt and HD eaton i wouldnt worry about it

calongo_SS

iTrader: (7)

I really think a spool is no problem for a weekend / good weather car. That's what I'm running and my only complaints are: It EATS tires, and it's kinda scary getting stuck in the rain. I can't imagine MT radials would be fun in the rain with a posi either though.