9 inch questions?

[pappawheely]

Which is stronger, stock trac-loc or mini spool (both 31 spline)? I have a trac-loc pumpkin. Will mini spool work with this pumpkin?

Bonus round: For everyone who has told me a semi-floater is ok for my 33" tires and weak motor I have seen tons of semi floating axles break. Opinions on semi over full floater.

[SPONSOR]

Membership in the largest desert racing community has its advantages - Participate in Forum Discussions - Send and Receive Private Messages - Maintain Public Photo Albums - Access to Groups - User Profile in our Social Network - Increased Access to more Sub Forums - Reduced Online Advertisements Join our community today

[philofab]

Which is stronger, stock trac-loc or mini spool (both 31 spline)? I have a trac-loc pumpkin. Will mini spool work with this pumpkin?

The trac-loc is much stronger, mini spools will break even with small tires. The pumpkin is the same between both open and posi rearends.

Bonus round: For everyone who has told me a semi-floater is ok for my 33" tires and weak motor I have seen tons of semi floating axles break. Opinions on semi over full floater.

Semi-floaters are fine even on race trucks with 33" tires and a healthy V6. I've seen lots of stuff break too but it's usually because it's worn out or in the wrong application. I was never able to break my 9" 31 spline axles in my 6K pound bronco with 35" tires and a 351W. I never raced it but I did beat it like a bad dog. A full floater is way better if you have the money... how much are you going to spend?

[clogking]

I have 9" with a spool in my 5000 lbs F100 pre runner. BBF C6 35 spline(i am not sure if it's 35 or 37splines but it is the big one) Willwood semi floating axles, 35" BFGs and have never broken an axle.With 5000+ pretty hard pre run miles in BAJA and 10k road miles. The spool is bitchen in Baja but tough on the street.
MMM may be i should crack check it soon ......

[pappawheely]

Semi-floaters are fine even on race trucks with 33" tires and a healthy V6. I've seen lots of stuff break too but it's usually because it's worn out or in the wrong application. I was never able to break my 9" 31 spline axles in my 6K pound bronco with 35" tires and a 351W. I never raced it but I did beat it like a bad dog. A full floater is way better if you have the money... how much are you going to spend?

I am trying to spend as little as possible but having witnessed too many axle breaks first hand a full floater might be more money but smarter money. Whenever I try to do something cheap it usually has to be upgraded later costing more than if I just did it right the first time. I like the f-450 unit bearing set up but the best price I could find on the bearings alone are $275 ea. I checked out Schreiner but was not too impressed with the salesman I spoke to. Everything I needed was an additional charge and then we he recommended more expensive axles I asked him what material they were made of and he didn't know, he just knew they were better.

[philofab]

Stay away from mini-spools, they work in circle track racing but not off road. A full spool is much better and stronger. Try and get one with no lightening holes in it.

What is your application?

[pappawheely]

Looking to put a 9 inch in my Chevy Colorado. It has the 5 cyl sewing machine motor under the hood. I'm positive horesepower ain't gonna break an axle there. I have a 31 spline pumpkin with a detroit locker in my '67 El Camino that I am going to rob for the truck. I didn't know if the trac-loc would last behind 450 horse and a built trans in the elco. I already bought a mini spool but it's going back since the pin doesn't fit through the hole in the spool. I don't know what they were thinking, the pin was not turned on the O.D. (nominal size) and the hole in the mini spool looks like they drilled it with the wrong end of the drill. DOH!

[philofab]

I would just run a semi floater in that application. I doubt you'll be able to break a 31 spline axle without seriously screwing up (totaling the rest of the truck). I have a bent axle housing from a bronco that rolled at high speed with 35" tires and the axles are still fine.

[matt_helton]

flanged axles will be fine in your truck mike. the SY2 ran a semi floater and never had one failure in the rear end....and you know how many times that truck got hucked. and that rear end is still going strong in a nissan that races too!

and my 4banger broke a minispool at rialto once. deffinetly do not buy one!

call currie and talk to chris nissley and he will set you up with the right shiz.

[hooptytank]

I am trying to spend as little as possible... I like the f-450 unit bearing set up but the best price I could find on the bearings alone are $275 ea.

I would think a semifloater setup with quality parts would be cheaper, and strong enough for your rig at this moment. You could spend a little more now and be done with it though. In my research for the most economical full float setup I found any way you go you're looking at about 1000 for FF parts without brakes, axles, or machine work.

Unit bearings for 275 here already machined down for 5x5.5 which is not bad. Weld on spindles are 250 for the pair here and already have a mount surface for caliper brackets. Add drive flanges for another 200 and it comes to about 1000 without brakes, axles, or machine work.

The price is comparable to Speedway Engineering GN hub priced around 400 ea and about 200 for spindles. again, add for brakes, axles, and machine work.

Chevy Dana 44 front stuff would actually end up being a little cheaper by 1-200 bucks and would include rotors off eghey and could work on a rear end but I think the snouts are much wider than each of the above, plus more individual parts. Same would go for D60 stuff. lots of info about this on pirate4x4.com

Personally I'm going with the F450 unit bearings on my Dana 60, since I have not heard anyone have problems with them. Now if I could only bolt some of these to the kingpin spindles up front, all I'd need is one spare and have all corners covered should a problem arise.

[mrmatt]

Whenever I try to do something cheap it usually has to be upgraded later costing more than if I just did it right the first time.

Use your experience to your advantage!