Ive got a dana 60 in the rear of my yj and i found out its got 30 spline axles after i broke the driversside in moab. I want to upgrade to 35 spline shafts. I cant decide on what carrier to get. Im on a tight budget and a spool would be the cheapest, but i drive on the street a lot, as well as rockcrawl a lot too and am worried about tire wear. Some personal opinions and experiences with spools would be very helpful.
Im also told that lockright makes a 35 spline locker. I run a lockright now and have no complaints. But im told that you shouldnt run a lockright with taller than 32 in tires, and im running 35s now and soon to go to 37s/38s.
I dont know if i want a detroit because im told they are quite violent and i might as well run a spool. Plus theyre more money than i can spend now. Let me know what you think.

Ryan

I went from a lockright to a detroit. IMO the detroit is way more street friendly than a lockright. I've heard of lotsa worn out street driven lockrights but no detroits. Also, I have no experience with them but have read at least once that a spool with very large tires is tolerable on the road.

I could spout off about how I wouldn't run a lock-rite in my landmower if they paid me to with porno videos, but it sounds like you're happy with yours, so good for you. I love the spool in my YJ, in a light vehicle it is hardly noticeable, and yes, tire wear is accelerated, but if you're planning 38's, you'll be changing out broken Dana 44 shafts often enough to work that into you tire rotation schedule.

ive got a detroit in my TJ and i dont think it is violent. it pops every now and then, but its not as bad as i was told it would be when i put it in. i have also heard that with a spool, taller tires arent as bad as short tires. but i have no personal experience with spools so.

Well, I have two out of three that you mentioned..My rear 14 bolt is welded and I have a Lockright in the front 60. I am currently on worn out 36's.

The welded/pseudo-spool rear isn't too bad but expect tire wear..and lot's of noise...It does tend to push the front around a lot more than a locker or posi does though...

Lockright in the front: IMO, it kinda sux...they are huge so I'm not worried about breaking it..but it never "Unlocks" or allows the tires to ratchet during turns...It is a real problem trying to steer with it...I only bought it because I didn't have enough $$$ to go full detroit...I will sell in this winter and put a Detroit in though!

Originally posted by Scout Dude

Lockright in the front: IMO, it kinda sux...they are huge so I'm not worried about breaking it..but it never "Unlocks" or allows the tires to ratchet during turns...It is a real problem trying to steer with it...I only bought it because I didn't have enough $$$ to go full detroit...I will sell in this winter and put a Detroit in though!

I wouldn't expect the detroit to ratchet in turns either. I assumed you meant in 4wd and under power.

Since its a YJ I'd go with a full spool Predictable in any situation. But then there is the Tire wear issue. Oh well. :D

Originally posted by rkcrawl


I wouldn't expect the detroit to ratchet in turns either. I assumed you meant in 4wd and under power.

Maybe it was a bad choice of words...I don't know how to explain it..but my old D44 front have a Lock right and it would sorta release when turning...the D60 one does not very often...A friend of mine went from a D44 with a lockright to a D60 with a Detroit and he was/is able to turn a whole lot easier than me...even more so since he went hydro-assist.

Yes, I meant in 4wd..but not always under power...it doesn't matter...sometimes, it just won't let me turn the wheel...and before you start thinking it's something else...When I put it into RWD 4 lo only, it is easy to steer...it's only when the front is in drive too...

Originally posted by Scout Dude


Maybe it was a bad choice of words...I don't know how to explain it..but my old D44 front have a Lock right and it would sorta release when turning...the D60 one does not very often...A friend of mine went from a D44 with a lockright to a D60 with a Detroit and he was/is able to turn a whole lot easier than me...even more so since he went hydro-assist.

Yes, I meant in 4wd..but not always under power...it doesn't matter...sometimes, it just won't let me turn the wheel...and before you start thinking it's something else...When I put it into RWD 4 lo only, it is easy to steer...it's only when the front is in drive too...

I understand. I used to have a lockright in a D30 and it seemed to be NO problem to turn... but the full detroit in my front 9" with 36s seems to be a real bear to turn in 4wd.

As much as spools suck in parking lots the sound of the tires chirping loudly while driving two miles an hour and turning to get into a fuel pump is kinda funny. Ya it eats tires a little faster but people looking at you like WTF is worth it. Plus no more worrying, the carrier is strong and its always locked. Cheap is good, cheap is your friend pet it love it kiss it put it in:flipoff2:

I'd go spool.
I drive my Cj-7 sometimes 3+ hours to the trail
I am currently running a welded 44 rear and KNOW the tires are getting a bit chewed but I don't care. It works FKA off road and once you get used to turning on pavement it is OK.
The looks on peoples faces when they hear/see a big CJ bark, bark, barking around a turn at a stoplight is priceless.
An added plus is the NOT having the (sometimes) violent lane change issue that I have had with the detroited 44 in my other Jeep.
Yes it wants to push the Jeep strait all the time but it really is not that bad at all.
When I rebuild the rearend I will be going spool.

One of the reasons i wanted to go lockright is because i dont have to mess around with the gears much to install it, but with the spool or detroit, dont i have to bolt the ring gear to it, and re shim and do all that nonsense? I have no idea how to do that, and have never done it before. Not saying im object to learning how to do it, its just more money that i dont have. Please tell me if im wrong.

Ryan

Have you considerred a mini-spool for now

If you are going from 30 to 35 spline, won't you have to get a new carrier anyway? I am not positive on a 60, but I think you would. If so, I would say full spool or Detroit.

-Bart

I dont know much about a mini spool. What is it? Apparently i dont necessarily have to change my carrier if i were to put a lockright in. But a spool and detriot are themselves new carriers. But like i was saying earlier, i would be willing to learn to re install the ring gear if someone told me how to do it. Maybe there are some pirates here in denver CO that might be willing to help with the install??? Beer provided...


Ryan

Originally posted by bart
If you are going from 30 to 35 spline, won't you have to get a new carrier anyway? I am not positive on a 60, but I think you would. If so, I would say full spool or Detroit.

-Bart once again I failed to remember all of the post damn I'm tired I got some tonight. Anyhow a minispool replaces the spiders that not what your looking for. Go for the full spool I think the lock-right work ok for the average guy sounds like your starting to get it awn so time to step up.

Well guys after reading all of these posts all I have to say is, are you sure you can swap to 35 spline axles? not all 60's have the big bore spindles, so with the cost of machine work (if needed) custom shafts and new carrier (I'd go full spool) the expense may be more then you expect. One more thing....What in the hell were you doing wrong to break a 30 spline 60 shaft before the Lockright, or the driveshaft, or shitty aluminum t-case you got with 35" tires and a 6 cyl. I have friends with 38's and 42's on 30 spline rear 60's that break 1350 yokes before they get to the shaft!

My 60 is a semi floater, and i believe the spindles youre talking about are on the full floaters, so it shouldnt be an issue to bore the tubes out.
I broke on the dump bump in moab. About half way up heard the pop and came back down. Interestingly enough, my friend in a similar setup YJ tried later that night, got a bit farther than me up the bump started coming down backwards and flipped end over end and landed on his cage. Luckily he wasnt hurt. We certainly gave the hummer tours a show, as they were watching us from hells revenge.
No colorado pirates interested in helping me instal the spool???


Ryan

Originally posted by Ruckus
My 60 is a semi floater,


Same size shafts as a D44 and a Super 35:flipoff2:

Originally posted by Jayrockn7
Well guys after reading all of these posts all I have to say is, are you sure you can swap to 35 spline axles? not all 60's have the big bore spindles, so with the cost of machine work (if needed) custom shafts and new carrier (I'd go full spool) the expense may be more then you expect. One more thing....What in the hell were you doing wrong to break a 30 spline 60 shaft before the Lockright, or the driveshaft, or shitty aluminum t-case you got with 35" tires and a 6 cyl. I have friends with 38's and 42's on 30 spline rear 60's that break 1350 yokes before they get to the shaft! Too much stupid pedal and strange things can happen

weld it! you can always change it and i did not cost you anything. i love my welded rear. like b4 the look on peoples faces when you round a corner and they ask "what is wrong with your jeep"

Chris G.

full spool

cmk

Mini Spool? Okay, let's throw a hardened steel spool in a soft cast carrier and hold it all together with a pin. Whose idea were those things anyway? Most places won't sell you one without a hardened pin now, but still, if you can wop the carrier out with spiders and sides, what's a mini spool going to do? At least by welding you're taking the stress off the pin and the pin area of the carrier. Full spools are cheap, and chicks dig a Jeep that barks in the parking lot.

WELD it.

Weld it. First, you won't find a 30-spline D60 spool. Second, have you done your homework on what it's going to cost to upgrade to 35-spline shafts? Sounds like you're on a budget.

It's much easier to carry a couple spare D60 30-spline shafts, in my opinion. That's what I do and I run 38.5 SX.

Anyway, I've had a Lockright and thought it was OK for what it was. I currently run a Detroit in my front 60 and a welded rear 60. The welded rear is very predictable. It won't do those weird lane change things and whatnot. It does do quite a bit of barking during low-speed turning, otherwise it's pretty invisible on the street. It also tends to push you into turns a bit on the trail. I don't find that objectionable, but others do.

If it were mine, I'd buy a couple spare shafts and weld the rear to see. Costs almost nothing and then you can make a more informed decision.
Dion

Originally posted by 4Bangler
Mini Spool? Okay, let's throw a hardened steel spool in a soft cast carrier and hold it all together with a pin. Whose idea were those things anyway? Most places won't sell you one without a hardened pin now, but still, if you can wop the carrier out with spiders and sides, what's a mini spool going to do? At least by welding you're taking the stress off the pin and the pin area of the carrier. Full spools are cheap, and chicks dig a Jeep that barks in the parking lot.

WHAT do you have any idea what you are talking about? :rolleyes:

First off have you seen the size of a dana 60 carrier! it is massive! you are not taking the stress off the pin when welding it you are doing the same as a mini spool!:flipoff2: :flipoff2:

you dont weld the spiders to the carrier, that would weeken it. you weld were the spider gears touch each other that is a total of 8 welds....

i will get a pic of my welded front for you to look at! that is how you weld a dif! (it is a 44 but you can get the idea.)

Chris G.

see what i mean.....
Chris G.

I usually weld to the carrier too, and that takes all the stress off the pin.
Weaker? Hmm,never broke one. I break lots of shit, but not that.

Well the full spool and 35 spline shafts are on order. Thanks for everyones help. Ill post some pics sooner or later or me tearin' it up on the trails.

Ryan

Originally posted by Slagburn
I usually weld to the carrier too, and that takes all the stress off the pin.
Weaker? Hmm,never broke one. I break lots of shit, but not that.

i run a 35spline dana 60 rear with a welded carrier and never broke it that way. all you need to do is weld the spiders. i dont think i know of anyone (that welded it right) breaking that style that i have seen in person. but i have seen 2 that broke that had just the spiders welded to the carrier.they proly did not know how to weld to cast iron....but hey i am going off what i have seen.

Chris G.