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Welded up d44?? Good or bad idea?
- Thread starter bigjohn79
- Start date
if youre running unlocked hubs you shouldnt even notice it.
have fun unlocking the hubds with a welded up front end...ive never been able to get both to unlock on 2 front ends without jacking the front end up in the air and spining the tire while unlocking
yikes, didnt think about that.
destro360
Registered Member
i was considering the same on my 10 bolt... im not sure though im hearing a mixture of good and bad..
Elevator Man
1/2 ton status
My 10b has been welded for 4 years with 36" TSL's and I have never had a problem.
destro360
Registered Member
thats good to hear (i really want to weld mine) i've heard a ton of different stories though like.. only locking one side to keep down on the stress and lots of other stuff.. my truck only sees mud, creeks and soft dirt so i dont think it will be a problem but i imagine under extreme rock crawling and heavy traction you might see some problems.. the beauty of the 10 bolt is if it breaks you can find a million more for close to nothin and be back on the trail in half a day!
yep i always had problems...i even bought warn premo hubs cause some one told me that they would have no trouble but still had problems with it...
4xcrazy
3/4 ton status
extra pain,,hmmm, extra pain/cost as in having to replace the steering box sooner than normal, having to get a steering brace for the frame due to the added flex n twist created while trying to steer with locked front axles, added cost in replacing tie rod ends from the added stress TRYING to turn a locked front end?
i personally don't think so.
Alot of people say they don't have ANY issues with a welded front diff, with a stock steering system, i call BS on that one.
Personal experiance, i welded mine before i installed a rear Gov-Loc, then the Loc-Rite...
the welded front was more of a pain than anything, pretty much couldn't do ANYTHING with both hubs locked, because i couldn't get the wheels to turn where i needed them, and if i COULD get them to turn, i was putting some serious effort in turning the wheel. This i KNOW was causing some serious tension on frame, gearbox and other components while doing this.
Gove-Loc,,,worked alittle better, was easier to steer because it wasn't locked in all the time, but when the wheels started spinning, it would slam in and shockload the axles,,,,that was quickly removed after 3 outings.
Loc-Rite,,,love it, i can have both hubs locked all the time (while wheeling) with no issues in steering, mainly because i keep the t-case in 2wd most of the time so i can steer, and when 4wd is needed, put the t-case in 4wd and the front locker locks in.
I have some serious slop in my steering currently and it was mainly due to the welded front diff, i know this because it was fine before it was welded.
i'v replaced just about everything except the gearbox, and have yet to get the frame area of the gearbox stiffened up. Pretty certain the gearbox has excessive wear and the frame was weakened from excessive flex from torquing on the steering wheel trying to get it to turn.
no, my frame is not cracked, YET.
so, this is just some information i have come up with, FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE, not second hand "i heard" information.
my personal opinion, get a Loc-Rite, even for mud, it only locks up the axles when there is torque applied to the driveshaft, so you can romp through the mud, it will be locked, get out of the mudpit, toss the t-case into 2wd (unloads locker) and steer easily around the complex.
destro360
Registered Member
well sh*t the bed... where were you will all that info before i just welded my front diff? lol oh well we'll see what happens
That is some great advice. I guess you would have to use common sense while driving it to make it work. I still think I am going to try it out. I guess you could just lock one hub until you get in a bad spot, then lock the other if needed?
there is no problem locking them in but unlocking them sucks...are u running stock steering??when mine was welded i almost wrecked the damn thing trying to steer it cause it goes where it want to
no i run a lockright in my 60 and a detroit in my 14 bolt...i would weld a rear but not a front
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Mine is welded and has been since I bought the axles. I have had a time when a hub didn't want to unlock but a slight push of the truck with my hands made it unlock. This has only happened once. I have been running these axles since early 2006.
Mine is a 10 bolt 3/4 ton with upgraded shafts and warn hubs (not premium)
I have a detroit in the 14 bolt and welded in the 10bolt front. Yes with both hubs locked it likes to go straight but with crossover and hydro assist it is better but still has a horrible turning radius.
I lock the hub on the long shaft side when I need to and both when I need both, otherwise its two wheel drive.
This is my only experience with a welded front and I have none with any other front locker.
I would love to have an ARB or some other selectable locker but won't change to it until I break this. Hasn't happened yet.
Shortly after the pic with some air under the driver front I did break the welded steering arm off the knuckle and trashed a hub. But that was a gas motor that kept dieing when I got on top the rock.
I also have 4.10 gears and 37's FYI.
I would weld one again in a heartbeat.
Mine is a 10 bolt 3/4 ton with upgraded shafts and warn hubs (not premium)
I have a detroit in the 14 bolt and welded in the 10bolt front. Yes with both hubs locked it likes to go straight but with crossover and hydro assist it is better but still has a horrible turning radius.
I lock the hub on the long shaft side when I need to and both when I need both, otherwise its two wheel drive.
This is my only experience with a welded front and I have none with any other front locker.
I would love to have an ARB or some other selectable locker but won't change to it until I break this. Hasn't happened yet.
Shortly after the pic with some air under the driver front I did break the welded steering arm off the knuckle and trashed a hub. But that was a gas motor that kept dieing when I got on top the rock.
I also have 4.10 gears and 37's FYI.
I would weld one again in a heartbeat.
