This is where people run into trouble. It's hard to clean good in the axle. Hard to get to places. Bad welds = problems. All for just not taking a couple more hours and removing the diff.

just remove it and do it right.

 

I can't take the spiders out and have them welded together, then put them back in as a spool?

 

I would not advise it. No reason to buy a lunchbox locker if you weld the diff properly.

I run welded in the rear, lunchbox up front.

I wouldn't want a lunchbox in the rear.

 

I think that's what the end goal is. Either this coming week or the one after I'm going to get the rear welded up then around christmas time or tax return time i'll get an aussie locker up front

 

I am really impressed with the front lunchbox. It's been very reliable. And the welded rear I had heard horror stories about also. But it's been flawless. I guess you just have to find out on your own sometimes.

 

I ran a weld rear in a YJ for at least 3 years. Later I rebuilt it with a Powertrax and was VERY disappointed. The welded rear was 100% predictable. The powerTrax clicked and popped a lot. I would not let the teenage drive with it in there so I removed it. A properly welded rear is a great mod for the low buck guys. It only is second to a spool.
As for excessive tire wear I say no more than normal. I was running 33" BFG MTs and saw no difference front to rear. If I lived close to any decent trails I would not hesitate to run one again.

Ron

 

The factory d44/8.25 carriers are pretty weak. If you do weld it, I'd also weld the spiders to the carrier. It will take some of the strain off of the center pin and carrier.

 

I'm going to take it to an offroad shop here in town to do it right. said no more than 100 bucks to weld the spiders together at the joints, weld a small plate in the middle, and weld the spider gears to the carrier. sound good?

 

Just be sure the pin is still removable. So the diff can be replaced or an axle shaft removed if need be.


Ron

 

}['; ll I know about welding the rear differentials is that its a really bad idea to do it with a drag race car Back in the mid 60's money was hard to come by to be able to race, I worked 2 jobs and rode a bike to work because of prepping the Dodge Hemi for the weekend to race.

It had a posi in it but was crap with slicks so pulled it out and went with a 4.56 gear over the 3.73's it came with and welded them. Second race when the lights turned green the differential exploded all over the track, I didn't race again for almost 2 months till it was fixed with a full spool in it.

All I can say if possible, do it right the first time.

 

I was going to say mini-spool since one can be had for $50-60 but it doesn't look like anybody makes one for a C8.25. I read some stuff saying it's because the C8.25 is a C-clip but this doesn't make sense since a lunchbox installs exactly the same as a mini-spool. Anyway, it a moot point since they don't exist.

 

Weld it like this for the ULTIMATE in off-road traction!



Or.. Weld it like this.

 

the first one looks about right The second one looks like they welded it then poured cement in there!

 

The second one may actually work. But the first one would just grenade.

 

Pretty sure the 1st one has bigger problems. Like the lack of a housing or the ability to get it into a housing.