Pros and Cons of various rear lockers/limited slips

My car has a spool with 4:30 gears. The rear end was already in it but I've grown to really like it. I can't vouch much for the wet roads because unless it's an accident, this car doesn't even see rain. I'm sure I'll find out one day but I'm up for it

 

Did'nt even think about the spools, which would be better. Can you tell I'm not at the strip very much? lol
Clint

 

Rayzor,

Do you do much street driving, both highway and in town? Most of my driving is just cruising and, like you, I have driven in the rain only 2-3 times, always on my way home to stay out of the rain. (my window and door seals are watertight, but not by much)

How is the driving in town with the spool? I would assume highway is just normal feeling?

 

Of course with 4:30 gears I can't do a lot of highway driving. I'll drive to a show if it's less than thirty miles but any further than that it goes on the trailer. Other than that I like the way it does, when you make a turn in the parking lot or something it lets everyone know what you have. This car will be 98% street, 2% strip so unless something breaks I'll leave it like it is. It has the good Strange axles too so hopefully it'll last a while. It's a lot of fun to drive.

 

a full spool is better than a mini, but costs more. it doesnt tend to beat up the cross pin since a full spool has none. i dont know if a full spool is available for the 8" rear. full spool costs about $125.

been driving in rain & snow for over a year now, & have had 0 spinouts. if you nail the gas in a turn with a posi, you will break traction. with an open rear end you will break traction. with a spool you will break traction. yes, with a spool its easiest, but if you can somehow restrain your right foot, you should not have a problem.

 

Restrain right foot? hahahaa:bananaman

 

I am looking at a $200 3.70 center section, to put in a mini spool. So, for $250, I can try it out and see if I like it. I assume I could sell it for that much, with or without the spool, if I decide the gearing is wrong. Use the spool for another size gearing, maybe. Either way, I get to test out posi and better gears at once.

 

i thought 3.70 was a 9 inch ratio. ??? i think 8" has 3.80 ratio. i got the idea you had an 8 inch rear. am i wrong? whatever, just be sure of what you're buying.

 

I will talk to the guy on the phone tomorrow. Right now, we are just e-mailing back and forth, due to time zone differences. This is AutoKrafters, dealing used Maverick parts, and I "assumed" he knew I was talking 8". I will definitely verify before I buy. I also thought that 3.70 was an odd size, but I am new to rearends and figured there were some out there I did not know about.

 

I've had a mini spool in my car for almost the whole time I've had it and I can tell you it's not the ideal set up for a street car. parking is a pain in the butt, your tires chirp around tight corners, and there's always the little movie playing in the back of my mind of an axle twisting in half on me. Getting caught in the rain can be a real white knuckle experience if you have to drive at any sort of speed and if you're making a fair amount of power. One person aside from myself has driven my car. I said to him before we got in "Don't put your foot in it until the wheel is straight!" Well first corner we go around, his accustomed to a one-legger self rolls into the throttle a bit and before you know it, we're pointing the wrong way and he's now in trouble.
For putting around on the weekends and occasionally driving on a sunny day, I think it's fine, but I do plan to change it out for a powertrax unit one of these days since I'd like to drive the car a little more often.

 

heh, I had almost decided on a mini spool until I read this thread. thanks guys.
I plan on driving my car whenever I'm not in the workmobile...

 

I really like to put my foot into it around corners, but I may have to learn not to. Of course, I am only putting out about 250hp, maybe, and don't think that is enough power to spin me around. Is it?

 

I'm building a 9" and i am not going to use a full or mini spool in it because i like to drive it and injoy it. (I going to us A DL) As for the corners i will stell have to take it easy do to those skinny front runner tires.

You say your putting out 250hp well i had a fiero that only had maybe a 100hp and on a damp road in a curve I gased on it and ended up in the other direction and don't think that a fiero don't weight much because it weighted 2900 something lbs.

best of luck on which ever you choice

Jim

 

Finally talked to Autokrafters, and the 3.70 was 9". The lowest ratio he had for 8" was 3.25. Anyone use that on the track with good results? Still sounds kinda high for what I need.

 

Summit racing, Richmond gears.
3.25 is kinda high if you plan on taking it to the strip.