What is the difference? I would rather pay $180.00 on summit for a spool than pay $400.00+ for a Detroit Locker. I just bidded on a Detroit locker on ebay. Does anybody have a write up on spools?
A mini spool is piece together to go in a open carrier. It uses a cross pin like what's in a stock carrier which can break and they can't be installed in a locker carrier so you need to find an open carrier to use a mini spool. A spool replace the carrier and is solid you can't break it. Locker has more engineering and technology then a spool. I run a spool in my Daily Driver and my Track car. If it's mostly track driven then go with a spool.
a spool permenantly locks both axles together so that both wheels get exactly the same power at all times. when turning, a spool will cause one wheel to drag on the ground a bit and make scraping sounds.
a locker gives equal power to both wheels just like a spool but when on the street, it disengages when not on the throttle so you can turn without the tire wear and noise.
i believe the mini spools arent for drag racing. the poor man's way of making a spool is just welding the differencial gears in the trac loc you already have so that they cant spin.