Hi I would like some opinions, I cant afford a locker so was thinking of welding the spider gears on my 8.25. I will be running 31's and was wondering just how strong this rear is. I did this on my Blazer with 38's and broke an axle once with it (my fault for smoking the tires while turning on pavement) I believe I have 27 spline axles...Tj

 

It can be done but it will break.........friend just did this "west va" minnie spool in a blazer...And it broke. Its the street driving that will do it in.

 

don't do it if you drive on the street

 

My first recommendation is don't do this ever!!!!! That being said, I do understand that most of us here on the forum don't crap dollar bills. Lunchbox style lockers are farely cheap and are safe on the pavement. If the XJ is going to be used off-road ONLY, I say go ahead and do it so long as you know how to weld and what to weld to make it as strong and as safe as possible. NEVER EVER EVER run a rig on paved roads that has welded spider gears. Just my opinion, and I know there are those who don't agree with me so, I will leave it at that.

 

OKOK I get it DO NOT DO IT...Thanks you made up my mind..lol...Tj

 

i've seen plenty of hillbillies do this and they always break axles and stuff. end of story. lunchbox lockers are fairly inexpensive. i'd go that way if i were wanting lockers and was on a limited budget.

 

i have a d35 with a welded rear. it dont get driven on the street much but i wheel the **** outta it and i dont break anything i go out at least once a week and wheel it hard and it takes it and keeps going! drivin liek that on the street will eat tires and it will eventually break! but for ofrrad use you cant beat it. i have had many trucks from jeeps to mud bog trucks! i have had some with welded rear and some have had both front and rears welded they work great! lockers have theri place but for a cheap way to get some really good offraod performance its the way to go! but for moslty street driving i wouldnt do it!

 

What's up with all the W.V. hillbilly references? I take personal offense too..........oh wait, I am from W.V. and I did weld up my spider gears and I did break an axle and .............OK you guy's are right. Here's what happens when you weld spider gears and drive it on the road. I pulled out of a T intersection and the inside axle just couldn't take the twist.

 

Ooh ouch jon!! LOL

 

so let me get this straight, if you weld your spider gears you will be on the side of the road with a muddy xj?

 

No, I'm just saying i probably would not have twisted a axle if it were open. You can pull into a parking spot with a welded up diff and leave the jeep a month. When you come back a month later and jack up the rear axle the inside wheel will spin. The axles will alway's have stress on them. But welding is cheap and works great so I still do it and suffer the problems it causes.

 

Welding the rear is not that bad just depends on how you drive. Off road it's no different than running a full spool. The reason your buddy broke the axle on the Blazer was cause of the 38's. A 8.25 with only 31's won't break on you depending on the quality of your welds. On the road there is caution to be used and your tires will chirp when making turns. Not a bad idea if you know what your doing.

 

my buddy has a welded 44 in his xj. it's his daily and he hasn't had a problem yet. there's many ways to weld a diff. the wrong way will be catastrophic.

but everytime he comes to my shop, he tears up my lot whenever he isn't going straight. it digs holes when he turns around. pain in the rear, but he has 34x10 swamper tsl.

i'm locked and don't do it as much if i'm easy on the pedal. a bit, but not near as much.

 

whoever is saying "if you weld your spiders you will break on the street" is full of crap


yes. there is more stress on them. but run an axle that can hold up to the size tires you are running and it will be fine.

 

you my want to re read the question
he don't have the money to do it right