To Mini Spool or Not to Mini Spool

[Emulsifide]

Alright, here's the deal. I'd love to blow a good chunk of money on a new rear end for my car, but I can't afford it at the moment. Being that my rear is open diff, would you mini spool it or not to get through the season? I can't see myself pulling anywhere near a good time at the track without doing this. Once I get everything up and running, the car won't be daily driven by any means and will become a Woodward warrior and car show goer. Parking lots and rain will be avoided unless absolutely necessary.

Is anyone running a mini spool on here? Love it or hate it? Are my stock shafts at risk of shearing apart when cornering? I'm running 235/55/16 General Tire Exclaim UHP rubber which are the softest tire I've ever used.

Any advice would be awesome. Thanks in advance.

[mtuggle86]

Alright, here's the deal. I'd love to blow a good chunk of money on a new rear end for my car, but I can't afford it at the moment. Being that my rear is open diff, would you mini spool it or not to get through the season? I can't see myself pulling anywhere near a good time at the track without doing this. Once I get everything up and running, the car won't be daily driven by any means and will become a Woodward warrior and car show goer. Parking lots and rain will be avoided unless absolutely necessary.

Is anyone running a mini spool on here? Love it or hate it? Are my stock shafts at risk of shearing apart when cornering? I'm running 235/55/16 General Tire Exclaim UHP rubber which are the softest tire I've ever used.

Any advice would be awesome. Thanks in advance.

Buy a used torsen diff off ls1 tech I just sold one with 65k miles for 130 shipped. I have a full spool in my 8.8 its ok but the binding up gets annoying. The only thing good about a mini spool is there cheap Its still going to be weak since it has to use the diffs cross pin still. Also it puts alot of pressure on the on the axle shifts I wouldn't be too confident that stock axles would hold up well.

[Emulsifide]

Buy a used torsen diff off ls1 tech I just sold one with 65k miles for 130 shipped. I have a full spool in my 8.8 its ok but the binding up gets annoying. The only thing good about a mini spool is there cheap Its still going to be weak since it has to use the diffs cross pin still. Also it puts alot of pressure on the on the axle shifts I wouldn't be too confident that stock axles would hold up well.

Not a bad idea, but you can grab a mini spool for about $100. Buying a different diff also introduces the cost of setting up the diff and buying new bearings. I don't know. It's pointless to spend any money on the 10 bolt at all in my opinion, but I've got to do something to get the power to the ground.

Thanks for the advice. I might consider it. Hell, I might consider pumping the money into tools to set up the rear end properly just to learn the process and save money in the future.

[mtuggle86]

Not a bad idea, but you can grab a mini spool for about $100. Buying a different diff also introduces the cost of setting up the diff and buying new bearings. I don't know. It's pointless to spend any money on the 10 bolt at all in my opinion, but I've got to do something to get the power to the ground.

Thanks for the advice. I might consider it. Hell, I might consider pumping the money into tools to set up the rear end properly just to learn the process and save money in the future.

Reuse you old bearings. As long as there in good shape there's not reason to replace them anyways unless they have a ton of miles. Setting up a new carrier isn't hard do it yourself odds are it will be very close anyways. It sounds like your mind is already made up though. If you drive your car anymore then 2.5k miles a year I wouldn't put a mini spool in the car. You won't be able to safely drive it in the rain and your gonna wear out tires a lot faster. Not to mention with your setup your gonna run a good chance of it snapping your stock axles when turning. So lets see mini spool Increased tire wear, unsafe driving while wet, Its still weak because of the cross pin, Very hard on axle shafts. The only thing the mini spool has going for it is its cheap and the money you save your gonna burn off your in tires after a short while.

[kammi10]

how about some details on the car

[c0ncEpT]

The ring and pinions break before the axle shafts 95% of the time anyways. I say go for it. Only $100 and you can install it yourself without having to set the gears up again.

[mtuggle86]

The ring and pinions break before the axle shafts 95% of the time anyways. I say go for it. Only $100 and you can install it yourself without having to set the gears up again.

No. The axle shafts break Because there put into a bind when turning. When you have a spool or a mini spool there locked together and must turn at the same rate. The binding isn't going to break a ring and pinion its going to take out the axles by twisting them. Launching the car or wheel hop is what takes out the ring and pinion.

[Emulsifide]

how about some details on the car

Here you go:

http://www.j-body.org/members/mrpute/cars/5/



mtuggle86, I'm beginning to see the light. Even though it's destined to explode into a million pieces, it might be worth it to set up posi in my 10 bolt along with a different gear set (I've got stock 3.23s) just to get through the season. I just got quoted on ls1tech $2,399 shipped for a fully set up Strange S60 rear, which is an unbelievable price, but I can't afford it right now. Regarding my driving habits, the car hasn't had more than 600 miles put on it since I've owned it (traded my Cavalier for it back in 2008). The car is definitely a weekend warrior and that it's.

Now can anyone recommend a good article on setting up a rear end? I found the GMHTP one for the STI killer (http://www.gmhightechperformance.com...aul/index.html), but it doesn't go into too much detail.

[DETROITMUSCLE]

I thought this was a 3rd gen. I don't believe they even make a mini-spool for a 4th gen 10 bolt. its 7.625 not 7.5

[mtuggle86]

Here you go:

http://www.j-body.org/members/mrpute/cars/5/



mtuggle86, I'm beginning to see the light. Even though it's destined to explode into a million pieces, it might be worth it to set up posi in my 10 bolt along with a different gear set (I've got stock 3.23s) just to get through the season. I just got quoted on ls1tech $2,399 shipped for a fully set up Strange S60 rear, which is an unbelievable price, but I can't afford it right now. Regarding my driving habits, the car hasn't had more than 600 miles put on it since I've owned it (traded my Cavalier for it back in 2008). The car is definitely a weekend warrior and that it's.

Now can anyone recommend a good article on setting up a rear end? I found the GMHTP one for the STI killer (http://www.gmhightechperformance.com...aul/index.html), but it doesn't go into too much detail.

http://sethirdgen.org/10bolt1.htm
http://sethirdgen.org/10bolt2.htm

http://www.highperformancepontiac.co...ild/index.html

Here's some good articles

Also keep an eye out I just picked up an extreme chassis 8.8 rear for $1000 it came with BMR adjustable control arm, torque arm, and a 1inch rear sway bar. My point is there are deals to be found on tech. http://www.mifbody.com/vbulletin/sho...ap!&highlight=

[mtuggle86]

I thought this was a 3rd gen. I don't believe they even make a mini-spool for a 4th gen 10 bolt. its 7.625 not 7.5

As fare as I know the gear is the difference the carrier or the spool is the same size.

[Emulsifide]

I thought this was a 3rd gen. I don't believe they even make a mini-spool for a 4th gen 10 bolt. its 7.625 not 7.5

jawsgear.com sells them and has posted about them on LS1tech.

http://sethirdgen.org/10bolt1.htm
http://sethirdgen.org/10bolt2.htm

http://www.highperformancepontiac.co...ild/index.html

Here's some good articles

Also keep an eye out I just picked up an extreme chassis 8.8 rear for $1000 it came with BMR adjustable control arm, torque arm, and a 1inch rear sway bar. My point is there are deals to be found on tech. http://www.mifbody.com/vbulletin/sho...ap!&highlight=

Thanks for the info. I considered an 8.8, but decided against it. I've read all the builds on LS1tech and have come to the conclusion that I don't trust the torque arm mount mods that these people are making. Welding to cast iron is a nightmare and an art combined into one. If someone came out with a solid casting of the 8.8 with torque arm provision, I'd go for it. I'm not a fan of the mini 4 link setups either.

[Emulsifide]

As fare as I know the gear is the difference the carrier or the spool is the same size.

Totally forgot about that fact. That means any of the 7.5 inch 28 spline mini-spools in summit's inventory would work as well.

[mtuggle86]

jawsgear.com sells them and has posted about them on LS1tech.




Thanks for the info. I considered an 8.8, but decided against it. I've read all the builds on LS1tech and have come to the conclusion that I don't trust the torque arm mount mods that these people are making. Welding to cast iron is a nightmare and an art combined into one. If someone came out with a solid casting of the 8.8 with torque arm provision, I'd go for it. I'm not a fan of the mini 4 link setups either.

My 8.8 was in a 4000lbs trans am with 1000hp that ran 9.29. I think the torque arm mount is up to par im not to worried about it.

[kammi10]

i would pass on a spool and look into a used posi diff unit someone is taking out of their personally.. if its going to be a racecar then yeah a spool will be fine but street car.. no