Weld front gears = bad?

[Charlie]

Quick question about welding gears. I was thinking about welding my front gears, but it seems to me it would screw up my front hubs, or cause other problems.

If I weld my front gears, will I kill my front hubs with regular driving, even if it is in 2wd? As long as I have it in 2wd, would it have any problems on pavement? It just has the stock auto hubs on it.

I think it would screw things up, but I am just asking in the case that it wouldn't cause problems...'cause I don't know for sure.

Thanks

 

[wood1]

If the hubs aren't locked it won't hurt anything, but once locked I wouldn't think the auto hubs wouldn't last very long...

You are probably right, how much is a front locker?

 

[Charlie]

I always thought it would run fine in 4wd, assuming that you were not on dry pavement, and that it caused problems in 2wd on pavement.

Seems to me a locker is 500-700ish dollars.

 

[wood1]

I was thinking that the constant stress on the auto hubs would be more then they could handle. There would still be a fair amount of strain on dirt. Mud and snow would be alright. Wouldn't it be hard to turn as well? Might end up being annoying, might end up being great...

 

[Charlie]

I wouldn't think it would cause problems with the hubs in 4wd, because it should act like a locker then (I think)

Maybe, would anybody know how this would act different than just putting in a locker up front?

 

[mikeh44]

if you weld them if you go around a corner on hard ground you could break a hub or axle the olny ones that i know of that weld the spider gears were dirt track racers

 

[Blee1099]

Don't weld the front, just get a locker like an Aussie. or start by locking the rear first. With the front end welded, it will act very screwy. Basically its gonna try to push you when you try to turn. You have to consider you will be permantly locked in the front so when you try to turn both wheels are gonna spin at the same speed, eventually something will give way in the differential.. often times the welds which will result in the welding slag damaging your carrier, housing, etc..

 

[Charlie]

Alrighty, thanks for the replies

I thought it was a bad idea, but just thought I would check.

 

[unclemeat]

Welding the front will ruin you ability to make a sharp turn, even off road. You wont be happy with the snow performance either. It is great for a dedicated mud bogger.

 

[95exploderboy]

I'd say listen to Blee. I had an Aussie in the front of my 95. You can get them shipped from Aussie for $250. You can weld it, but the front end has enough trouble with a real locker in there, I can't imagine what it will think when its welded. You can expect to break CVs from time to time, but your ex will go where you want it to if you lock it front and rear with some Aussies.

Also, it doesn't have auto hubs. It has unit bearings. Like I said the CVs are what you have to watch the hubs will be fine unless they just plain wear out.

 

[IZwack]

Here's whats going to happen in the snow if you weld up the front gears:





Exactly, nothing, you're not going anywhere cauz that thing isn't going to turn :

 

[wood1]

Joke's on me, I forgot Charlie didn't have a 1st gen...

 

[JDraper]

However...he does have a '96 which has the split right front axle. You could weld the spiders in it and then do the manual switch mod to swap it in and out of locked mode. The one huge advantage of the '95-96 Explorer front axle.

Edit. Here's a link to the thread http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=88718&highlight=96

 

[Charlie]

Thanks for that link, I'll have to look at that and keep it in mind!

 

[IZwack]

Yeah I forgot you have a weirdo.. *cough* .. I mean a 96

 

[Charlie]

Oh, I know you are just jealous.

Besides, I'll be able to buy collector car plates before you can!!

 

[IZwack]

Oh, I know you are just jealous.

Besides, I'll be able to buy collector car plates before you can!!

AHaha .. depends on the state you live in

 

[gijoecam]

The only drawback I can see here is that even in 2wd, the locked front diff would be driving the front differential all the time and, therefore, the front driveshaft as well. The constant drag on teh driver's side wheel (I would think) would cause the vehicle to pull to that side all the time.... But I don't know of anyone that's tried it, so I can't say for sure.

-Joe