welded rear

[4x4junkie]

e
(shops who do this as a profession, competition crawlers)

You're asking the wrong crowd. Comp guys are usually loaded with $$$ compared to the average joe wheeler (and every tiny detail has to count for them), so of course they're gonna be all over ARBs, Detroits, Spools, etc.

Shops on the other hand I would think would be less biased against them (unless its the same shops those comp guys are using), but I couldn't say for sure, maybe they make more commission on full-carrier lockers.

Sasquatch is right though, many of these lockers ARE junk (perhaps these are giving the others a bad name?). ONLY the Powertrax units, and the Aussie Locker seem to be worth anything. Like Todd said, if you don't have a couple money trees growing in your backyard (as is often the case when you're not quite 17), these lockers are certainly worth considering. A limited slip is not gonna perform well if you get into any frame-twisting situations while offroad.
It should be noted however ANY of these lockers are only as strong as the stock carrier, so I wouldn't get too crazy on the tire size.

 

[canyoncritter]

at almost 17, I bet his stero is cranked full blast enuff that he wouldnt notice the clanking of the locker.


nothing wrong with a lunch box locker.IF you use it in its limits.And they are cheap and easy to install.I dont know why pep boys dont sale them.

mini spools are F ing junk. time bomb in your diff. only good for demo derby cars if you ask me.

full case spools,lockers,and LSD's are great if your doing a gear change at the same time.or putting a 9inch in or something, but a ranger 28 spline 8.8 or 7.5 just not really worth the money of a full case locker in my eyes.

 

[Dishtowel]

hey
i have a 2wd truck that i go mudding with.but its also my daily driver.i am 16 years old will be 17 soon.i was wondering if it is a bad idea to weld the diff or not.what would it do if i did.also does anyone have anypictures to show where actually to weld .
thanks
ryan

One picture coming up.
My pal welded the spiders together for me, when I weld my upcoming 8.8 I will be taking the spider assembly out and turning it into a molten ball of weld. Things can be made incredibly strong by welding the spiders TO the carrier. I didn't register this when we were in my 7.5.

PS: I cut out and shaped a little piece of tin to shield the ring gear while welding and stuffed the rest of the diff full of rags to protect components from weld slag and whatnot. I spritz the rags with water to keep them from lighting up. AND I changed diff oil 1-2 weeks after, and I'm glad I did, it was groedy. Remember to do both sides of the spiders, lol.

 

[Evan]

nothing wrong with a lunch box locker.IF you use it in its limits.

I just listed two things that are wrong with a lunchbox locker: excessive backlash, and they can lock unexpectedly.

I'm not saying they are worthless. They can be a good option for some people. But they are not nearly as good as an ARB. An ARB costs more, but I think it pays for itself in the long run, especially if you drive on and offroad. Like I said looking back I really wish I had gone with an ARB when I put together my rear end, but I wanted to save some money and you always hear people say how great Lockrites and Aussies are. Well, as I found out, lunchbox lockers are not perfect.

 

[mhughes165]

well, for the price i dont think everyone should expect perfect, but for what they are they kick ass,

cnote

those same guys that were luaghin at u for wantin a lunchbox are prolly dieing now that u put a LS in the rear end if u EVER wanna take it offroad

 

[c_note]

mhughes

when i take my truck out, i dont baby it. just cuz it looks good dont mean i pamper it. i blew a torsen in it, ive melted clutch lines, and im sure im gonna ruin this trac-loc. idk what you mean by " if you EVER wanna take it offroad" but ive put every truck ive ever owned through hell. btw a lockright and a LS are pretty much the same concept.

 

[Hahnsb2]

btw a lockright and a LS are pretty much the same concept.

Yeah, no...

I'm running Todd's old lock-right, it's still holding up. I never hear it unless the windows are down in a very sharp parking lot type turn.
Yes it has some backlash but I can live with that, my aussie in front is quiet too.

 

[small ranger]

here is my 2 cents.

I loved my lunch box lockers.

I also love my welded rear end.

All you people crying about the noise a locker makes and then weld your rearend are on crack cause the chirping of the tires on a locked rearend is just as annoying.

One thing no one addressed about limmited slip/spools/ARBs is the cost of gear setup. yea, you may save $70 on the hardware, but any idiot (myself included) can install a lunch box locker, but when an idiot installs the gears very bad things will happen.

If you are 17 and this is your daily driver, don't weld the rear you may want to sell the truck and return it to stock. I wouldn't have bought a limmited slip cause in month or so you will realize once you get zero traction with one wheel (its in the air) you have no traction with the other wheel!! Although a lunch box locker(Powertrax or Aussie are the best) is not the be all and end all in traction aids it is the most bang for the buck! And for all the people who dis on luch box lockers I would bewarey of their advice cause they either have forgotten what its like to wheel on a budget or they are so stuck up and have so much money they can't relate to us guys who go to junkyards for spare parts or upgrades.

 

[c_note]

And for all the people who dis on luch box lockers I would bewarey of their advice cause they either have forgotten what its like to wheel on a budget or they are so stuck up and have so much money they can't relate to us guys who go to junkyards for spare parts or upgrades.

i just said that my trac-loc was $75 less than a lockright.


a good point has been brought up. if you dont know how to set up a new carrier or shortage of special tools, a lockright would be the best for you.

thats why i learned to setup my own gears. ha

 

[mhughes165]

mhughes

when i take my truck out, i dont baby it. just cuz it looks good dont mean i pamper it. i blew a torsen in it, ive melted clutch lines, and im sure im gonna ruin this trac-loc. idk what you mean by " if you EVER wanna take it offroad" but ive put every truck ive ever owned through hell. btw a lockright and a LS are pretty much the same concept.

i meant what i said, my thoughts of "offroad" and ur thoughts of "offroad" may be entirely different though.....

a stock truck with a locker and stock size mud tires will go farther then ur truck with a LS rear end....simple as that

 

[BlackBII]

btw a lockright and a LS are pretty much the same concept.

 

[mhughes165]

imagine if he said that on pirate 4x4 LOL

 

[Evan]

imagine if he said that on pirate 4x4 LOL

Well, if you look at it a certain way he wasn't wrong. A Lockrite and LS are "pretty much the same concept" as in they try to "unite" the two axle shafts for better traction. One is just way better than the other and they accomplish their task differently.

And ya, he would have gotten busted on big time on Pirate...LOL.

 

[Hahnsb2]

Moslty valid points. Sure I'd love a selectable in the rear axle, but I'm not shelling out $700 for one right now, I didn't buy a caddy, I don't expect it to drive like a caddy. At the end of the day I have 100% power to all my tires and that's what matters to me. Everything is a compromise, choose the one you feel gives you happieness.

 

[BlackBII]

Well, if you look at it a certain way he wasn't wrong. A Lockrite and LS are "pretty much the same concept" as in they try to "unite" the two axle shafts for better traction. One is just way better than the other and they accomplish their task differently.

And ya, he would have gotten busted on big time on Pirate...LOL.

A lockrite does not 'try' to unite both tires, it does.

The guys on Pirate just use a lot of constructive criticism