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Debating welding up my diffs
- Thread starter Miller75
- Start date
bot0611
1/2 ton status
FOr 31"s even if not welded id say yes..although welding them might throw the interiors of balance if not welded straight. IMHO
The axle shafts will break. Bad idea unless you have some 1 tons waiting to be swapped in.
lifted76k5
Registered Member
welded front = no steering..... to try it i just filled in the gaps on the spider gears, made it easy to get rid of when i missed being able to turn my tires.
i've run a welded 12bolt rear with 33's and bigblock power for 3 years without breaking an axle. still carry a couple of spare just in case.
i've run a welded 12bolt rear with 33's and bigblock power for 3 years without breaking an axle. still carry a couple of spare just in case.
Stomis
Professional Amateur
You could get away with rear but forget about the front.
trukker
1/2 ton status
For your intended use I'd say weld them up with 31's. Turning will be affected but traction will be worth it.
You should try a search. this topic has been covered several thousand times. It seems like it was just a week ago someone asked nearly the same question. 
It seems like everyone has a different opinion about it though
For me I run welded 10 bolt front and a welded 14 bolt rear with 36s and have no problems. with crossover and hydro assist I can turn just fine and I have yet to break anything in the past year.
It seems like everyone has a different opinion about it though
For me I run welded 10 bolt front and a welded 14 bolt rear with 36s and have no problems. with crossover and hydro assist I can turn just fine and I have yet to break anything in the past year.
Definite yes for welding the rear axle as it's a very cheap or free traction upgrade. I would say the front would hold up fine also with only 31's as long as you don't mind some changes in steering.
I really hope the guy was being sarcastic about making sure you had a set of 1 tons ready. 1 tons with 31" tires, really?
I really hope the guy was being sarcastic about making sure you had a set of 1 tons ready. 1 tons with 31" tires, really?
TheBeast_88K5
Banned
You should try a search. this topic has been covered several thousand times. It seems like it was just a week ago someone asked nearly the same question.
It seems like everyone has a different opinion about it though
For me I run welded 10 bolt front and a welded 14 bolt rear with 36s and have no problems. with crossover and hydro assist I can turn just fine and I have yet to break anything in the past year.
I have searched for about a week now...I found all kinds of posts and articles stating differences in opinion...Most were based on vehicles of lower weight (toyotas & jeeps)...Most people with full size trucks pullout the 10 bolts as the first upgrade which is ideal for most but if it's not broke why fix it.
Wheel it till something breaks then upgrade
Well a mini-spool is like $90 and you can take it out later and sell it if you don't like it. Or for even less money, get an extra set of spider gears from a junkyard and weld them. Then you can go back if you change your mind - no gear setup required.
tyler__820
1/2 ton status
Id throw one tons on with 31s, youd have the freaking ground clearance of a shopping cart!
I really think welding up the readend is the best traction aid you can do, but if you got new tires i would definatly throw a detroit in it and save the rubbers, thats what iplan to do when i put 42s on my rig.
I really think welding up the readend is the best traction aid you can do, but if you got new tires i would definatly throw a detroit in it and save the rubbers, thats what iplan to do when i put 42s on my rig.I actually meant to search this site, this has been discussed many times here on full size rigs, sorry about the confusion there. Here is a link to the thread a couple weeks ago, same question but with 33s.
http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=280683&highlight=welded+diffs
With 31s I dont think you have any reason to upgrade, unless you start breaking things or upgrade to larger tires.
I like the welded rear ends on my trail rig but I would re-consider if you plan on lots of pavement time. My other truck that I dd was welded for a while but after a new set of bfg m/ts wore out prematurely I sprang for a detroit. It acts a little different but doesnt wear out my tires as fast.
