Does your SPOOL cause your car to pull to one side?

[98GSX_MTX]

I have a Shep tranny with SPOOL. Ever since I installed the spool my car really doesn't like to drive straight for very long.

I had an alignment done and it dead on the nuts....but once the steering wheel gets slightly off center the car really wants to pull to one side or the other. It kinda feels like really sticky tires on a crappy road...you know pulls hard one way or the other.

Just curious if other SPOOL owners feel the same thing.

 

[97TSIAWD]

I have a Shep tranny also, and just for my enlightenment and others could you explain what spool is? I am not sure exactly what that is, but I know that I have no pulling problems as you so describes. When you put the tranny back in all your suspension parts/axles everything was put back on tight? Did you push the shafts in all the way any leaking and so forth?

 

[98GSX_MTX]

A spool replaces the center diff with a device the splits power 50/50 front and rear. You probably still have the stock 2 spider.

Tranny is great...no leaks or issues other than the slight tugging left or right.

 

[97TSIAWD]

I'm sorry, no I have the 4 spider diff gear put in.

 

[ryanman]

Well when you put in a spool it locks the tires together. They're both gonna try and grip the same on both sides, something has got to give and let loose some of the pressure. It's not THAT hard to figure it out.

 

[97TSIAWD]

Your reply seems a little hostile, but thank you for helping him with this problem, it adds info for people who have the same problem and search the site.

 

[mavisky]

Well when you put in a spool it locks the tires together. They're both gonna try and grip the same on both sides, something has got to give and let loose some of the pressure. It's not THAT hard to figure it out.

Now I know that's true on a fwd, but we're talking an awd here. Unless I'm confused the spool goes on the center differential and not the front diff. This would lock the distribution 50-50 between front and rear if I'm not confused and would leave the lsd in the rear of the car and the open diff in the front to distribute power from side to sid and from tire to tire. All an awd spool does is lock down the power distribution between the front and rear differentials.

Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong as I'm sure I'm not the most informed on the exact workings of the dsm awd system.

 

[Jeff_Jeske]

Well it definately has an effect on turning....not to say its locking the left and right because its not but even in the slightest of low speed turns it drags a wheel.

But my real question is aimed at others with a spool. I know most of you mean well but I need to hear from the people with a spool.

Its not a violent ripping of the wheel but it does take continuous pressure to keep it straight. If this is common with a spool I am sure others will provide some input.

 

[beat90tsi]

have you tried an alignment?

 

[Jeff_Jeske]

I had an alignment done and it dead on the nuts....but once the steering wheel gets slightly off center the car really wants to pull to one side or the other. It kinda feels like really sticky tires on a crappy road...you know pulls hard one way or the other.

Good idea!

 

[pneumo]

I had a spool in my AWD car for a while. It did not pull to the side when the steering wheel was turned. It steered the same as without a spool.

If I'm reading you right, when you turn to the left, the wheel wants to turn harder to the left, and vice-versa? If so, that sounds like too much toe out of the front wheels, tho I'm not a suspension tuning expert.

 

[Jeff_Jeske]

You got it!

I'll have those yahoos at firestone double check the alignment again....I have a lifetime alignment thinger.