spools?     worth the money or cheap and will cause more damage and future repairs than help your rigs performance....  

There's really more to it than that. Is it your daily driver? Is your other option a full-time locker? What model Jeep? Axle? How much power do you have? Has the wheelbase been modified?

John 

JpEditor:
<P>There's really more to it than that. Is it your daily driver? Is your other option a full-time locker? What model Jeep? Axle? How much power do you have? Has the wheelbase been modified?</P>
<P>John </P>

I'd like to jump in here and get your professional advice. I'm also really considering installing a spool. I have a '97 Wrangler Sport w/ a D35 rear axle. 31" all terrains. Otherwise stock except for an air intake and a few other things here and there. When I have the duckets I will be going to 32-33" w/ lift and all that. I do use my Jeep almost daily but no long commutes. 20-30 mi max daily. Ultimately, I'm setting it up to be an extremely competent "trail buggy" not a rock crawler. I really want some added beef on the dirt and am new to locker knowledge and spools and stuff. I appreciate you help and any advice you have to give.  

if its a trailer queen get the spool, for a daily driver go no futher than a limited slip. an air locker is the best option.  

I don't think you can get a spool for a Dana 35 and I don't think you would want to do that to that particular axle anyway. That's a lot of stress on the small housing, shafts, and gears. Not a good idea even if it were possible. With 32-33s and durability as a concern I think your money will be better spent swapping that Dana 35 axle out rather than putting money into it. It might stay alive for a while but at what cost? And when it finally does go south you end up with a bunch of expensive parts you can't use or even sell for much. Plus a potential tow bill that could pay for half the axle swap anyway.  

they are actually kinda dangerous for a daily driver, while cornering the spool will not allow the inside tire to slow down, in other words it will cause it to spin out and hop and can break a weak axle or ring and pinion. this is part of the reason that the factory rubicon lockers only work in 4 low.
It is alot of fun to romp on the gas in a corner or intersection with a locker and even a tight limited slip differential if you like to go sideways.  

Well, come on, everything could be considered dangerous. Lets just say it will handle a little different. Certainly not dangerous though. Difficult to drive on ice and other slippery surfaces would be a better description. However, in some cases the spool is more predictable. But dangerous? No.  

don't forget they dont like to turn, and push the front end. of course in cali it never rains, but when it does its like driving on ice from the oil slick.  

I understand you point. Makes sense. Thanks for your input. I have been browsing for axle upgrade options. What do you think about those Superior brand axle shaft replacement for the D35 that have an optional 30 spine upgrade like the D44? Is the housing really that much weaker between the two types?  

they claim 30% stronger. The housings are about the same. I put a set in the rubi and have yet to bust one. but what can 190 hp break?  

I ran a mini spool for three years and I am sorry I took it out.  I drive an XJ (long wheel base) with a 4.0 HO (moderate power) on 31's with a Dana 44 chromo axle rear.  I loved it off road in rocks, sand, dirt an mud, I loved it in the rain off or on road, I loved it in the snow and ice off or on road.  I hated it when I started to daily drive a couple hundred miles a week because of tire wear.  In slick conditions, especially on sheet ice covered trails it was much better than driving with an auto locker that would randomly engage and send a rig over the edge.  The spool is predictable and does not surprise the driver.  An auto locker can be darn scary especially in the ice.  Auto lockers can even be a handful on a low HP LWB rig on the highway in a long curve if you get off and on the throttle.  My minispool would still be there if it didnt eat tires as a daily driver. I dread winter snow and ice with an auto locker, I loved it with the mini spool.

If you dont DD, go with a spool or mini spool (need a strong carrier and cross pin for the mini spool).  If you DD use a selectable or if you are cheap use an auto locker but be prepared for a touch of terror when it gets icy.

John  

I also have a spool in my full size Chevy which I've been driving since 1989, the predictability of it is this, I know it will go side ways in any intersection with a little more fuel, on a side hill if it spins out it will be pointing in an undesirable direction, in the snow I will be shoveling if it spins, roads that have a good crown to them are especially fun on ice because the rear end tends to slide towards the ditch, the open differential will guarantee a straight line, paired up with air or manual lockers is the way to go and works in any and every situation by just flipping that switch or pulling out that cable and won't chew the tires off of the daily driver.

spools are for drag racing, mud bogging and hill climbing.
thats my experienced "two cents" about a spool after playing with it for the last 17 years.