Locker / Spool

[greenXpress]

I made my decision on switching to a Ford 9" for my old 83 c-10 boat anchor. I am planning on spraying sometime in the future. I have talked to Strange and found out 35 spline axles are the same price as 31, but with 35 I will go with a spool. Question is, would I be better going 31 spline with a locker or 35 with a spool. The truck gets driven 5000+ miles a year, 2000 was on Drag Week last year (there and during). It is 4700# with driver 496bbc, TH400, 8" ATI tree master and will have 4:33 gears with 29.5" Hoosers for track and 33" Wild Country's for the highway.

Would love to hear from some that have street spool driving experience. (all weather conditions)
I am an old guy that knows how to "stay out of it" when needed. (mostly)

[SuperBuickGuy]

I had a loc-rite in my Skylark that would act like a spool about 50% of the time. I can't speak to track, but on the street it actually worked best when you were more of a lead foot to break the inner tire loose on corners - but pushing it in the shop, or getting into a parking space when the locker wouldn't release was a veritable pita

[squirrel]

I've put a LOT of miles on my 9" with 31 spline locker in my 55, it runs low 11s.

Sorry I don't have any spool experience....I guess they work, they just make it more interesting when parking, etc.

[Chad's Dad]

I have had a spool in my Camaro for 30 years ( the same one!). I have been on 6 Dragweeks and have not had a problem. I have puked a few ring and pinions but never have hurt the Summers Bros spool and 35 spline axles. The housing is the original 12 bolt. You have to get used to parking and sharp turns.

[anotheridiot]

all driving conditions in a truck being driven on the street. I would stay away from the spool. That rear end probably whips around enough now on slick roads.

[yellomalibu]

I don't recommend driving a spool on the street if it will be done regularly.
I drove the Chevelle for a while with a spool on the street. "On the street" it was fine - take it easy while cornering and don't drive in the rain. No problem...
The problem was turning from stop signs, maneuvering in parking lots, and other low speed/ high turn rate times. It was harder to steer and it felt like I was going to rip the new bushings out of the rear suspension- or perhaps crack the metal on the frame where they mount -the way it would bind up and "chirp chirp chirp" as I turned... now that I think about it, it had developed an occasional "clunk". I was starting to oval a mounting hole. This would be even harder on components with large and/or sticky tires. I had 33 spline axles in the 12 bolt with the spool with 275/60 BFG T/A radials.

There are a few different 12 bolt 33 spline posi/ locker options for sale or you can convert an eaton style posi unit with a new set of 33 spline gears. I found them on Tom's differentials' website. (I imagine there are similar 33 or perhaps even 35 spline lockers or posi's for 9" available.) http://www.tomsdifferentials.com/

Their website is rather simple, but I called them a while back ... I think I had to leave a message, but I got a call back from a knowledgeable person with advice on rebuilding my Brute Strength for street use.

[quick 52]

Been running a 9" with a Eaton truetrac for 6 years. Have been 10.54 with 1.48 60' plus its a truck also... Not as heavy as yours i'm little brother at 3870. The green machine is a heavy weight for sure

[oj]

I believe the 35spline is a race only axle and can break on the street. They also requie the 3.25 bearing case which costs more.
I've driven an aggressive locker on the street and it'll pucker your ass up esp when doing the ramp onto a freeway and theres' sand on it. Its in a chevelle, 9" rear with a 632, 31 spline axles. Nothing has ever broken back there.

[BlueCuda340]

Jesse I would prefer a locker with as much as you drive it. However, I am not sure about the torque of a nitrous big block in a heavy truck and what it would do to a 31 spline axle.

I have 35 spline axles and a spool in my Barracuda and have had for a very long time. No negative effects but I don't know that I would do it again if it was a daily driver.

The thing with a spool is this, it will always act the same way, no guesswork. I have lockers in the front and rear axles of my Jeep and it doesn't always act the same every time which on rare occasions can be interesting lol. Its goofy enough I wouldn't feel good tossing the keys to just anyone if the roads were wet.

[yellomalibu]

I just looked on Tom's website, and they do have a couple of lockers for 9" with 35 spline axles (requires 3.250 bore on 3rd member) , but surprisingly, they don't have any for 33 spline axles - which I guess is fine, since I'm the only one to mention them :-/ .

So there you have it. The big axles and no spool. Win/ win ?

[greenXpress]

I'm totally new to Ford 9" and am hearing that 33 splined are not readily available. I am going with a new carrier so the bearing size is not a problem. I plan on driving to drag week with the stock center section (3:50 gear posi) and changing over to the 4:33 for the week. I am just not finding any 35 spline lockers out there. (in my price range)

I will leave the 4:33 set up in most of the time since my daily commute is only a couple of miles.

[Scott Liggett]

I had a loc-rite in my Skylark that would act like a spool about 50% of the time. I can't speak to track, but on the street it actually worked best when you were more of a lead foot to break the inner tire loose on corners - but pushing it in the shop, or getting into a parking space when the locker wouldn't release was a veritable pita

Mine does the same thing. Especially with how much low end torque my BBC has. I've seen a spool in an old pro street '57 Chevy with the Mickey Thompson tires. It got driven a lot and the inside tread was getting ground off both tires from being dragged around corners. That could have been made worse by the big tires and shortened rear end.

[oj]

Lenco makes a nice locker, it could be a coffee table centerpiece.

[Supersport350]

I switched from a 12 bolt to a Moser M9 last year with 35 splines and a Detroit Locker. I can honestly say that I've never heard the "click-click-click" while rounding a corner, likely thanks to my loud exhause with turn downs. I also haven't found ANY issues on the road and have found that it drives just as well as my 12 bolt posi did. I just bolted up some Mickey Thompson ET Street Radials a few months ago and won't hit the street until spring/summer, at which time I also finally hope to make it to the track. From what I found researching prior to my decision, the Detroit Locker seems to be an extremely durable unit allowing the best of both world. I too was pondering a spool, but ultimately decided against it. While I never plan on driving in the rain, I get caught in it plenty often, and the spool seems to be a big no-no on wet roads.

[CDMBill]

The Detroit Locker 35 spline, now marketed by Eaton is really good piece, I have run the same one at Drag Week and everything else since '06. If you can swing it it would be far and away the better choice. Strange makes streetable 35 spline axles, I run those too, again no issues. With the spray in your future 35 spline are good insurance, but still slightly over kill.

I don't notice the locker at all when driving any more. I've done the street spool deal and while it can be done, I sure prefer not to.