I read on here that if you put in an aussie locker, or something similar, with manual locking hubs,,in the,front it wouldn't affect your driving performance on the road. But, when you lock your hubs, it would in effect activate the locker.

If that is true would a spool work the same way? Could you lock and unlock the front using the manual hubs?

 

Yes, that is correct. As long as the manual hubs are unlocked, it wont affect your driving at all.

However, locking the front will greatly affect your streering offroad. Since the wheels will want to drive straight, it will suck trying to steer. And chances are, you are going to break the stock J-arm. If you lock the front end, i would recommend hyrdo assist and crossover steering.

 

Not sure the exact scenario you are referring to, but yes, with the front hubs unlocked there is no difference in steering; regardless of spool, locker, limited slip or open diff.

If you are in 2H and have the front hubs locked, some folks report a slight increase in steering effort/noise due to the drag of the locker free wheeling as you turn.

If the front hubs are locked and you are in 4H or 4L, steering will be harder. A locker will only really lock the two front wheels together when the ring gear is being driven via the front drive shaft, which only occurs when you are in 4WD. The outside wheel up front will unlock in a turn (under power) and only the inner wheel will be getting power so that will feel a lot like under steer as that wheel is trying to follow the inside radius of the turn but will try to spin faster and that makes the front end push.

 

In some situations a front locker is a PITA, but the traction grains are well worth it IMO. That being said I wouldn't I wouldn't run a spool in my front or rear of my rig which is also a DD, it wouldn't effect the front at all with the hubs unlocked but with the hubs locked a whole different story.

 

My 4runner is nowhere near a DD. I might end up driving it to the trailhead from a campground or something, but in reality it will be trailered most places. I live in sunny southern california, so it will be rare that I am running it with the hubs locked out in 2 wheel drive. Basically, I can't afford to buy a selectable locker, but would like to have something to aid in traction when on the trail.

Would a spool be a worthwhile purchase?

 

Yes, the spool will be very worthwhile.

You will be able to do alot more than you currently can with open diff. It is well worth the sacrifice of the turning radius.

I don't know if they make them for a Toyota, but a mini spool is some times even cheaper, and much easier to install. I would look into them.

 

Correct me if my logic is wrong, but I think you could also hop out in a situation where tight turning under stress is unavoidable and unlock one hub and be essentially "open" as well. No? Could be come a PITA though if multiple changes were required.

 

Yes, that will work to some degree. You will have 3WD (assuming the rear is locked as well). It can still have some affect on steering since you have to pick wither the inside or outside wheel to lock. If you unlock the outside wheel, then you get the same condition that an auto locker does where the inside tire in the turn is driving and since it wants to roll faster it makes the front end want to push through the turn. Or if you unlock the inside wheel, you probably get somewhat better steering although that tire will be wanting to roll slower so you may get a little over steer.

I think what I have heard folks who use that technique a lot do is to leave one front hub unlocked most of the time, then only lock in the other side when they need the traction, at least if a lot of tight turns are involved. One thing to note is that if you do bind up the front end in a tight turn, simply turning the hub dial to Unlock may not immediately unlock the hub as it needs to release the binding first before the little spring can pop the locking gear out of the way.