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One thing people recommending a welded diff for a DD need to consider is that we get a lot of snow up here during the winter. I drove around one snowy winter day with my ARB locked in and let me tell you, it wasn't fun <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/scared.gif" alt="" /> Open diffs are nice in the snow because the 'useless' tire acts as an anchor to keep your truck pointing in one direction. You get both rear tires spinning and rotational torque is much more likely to make the back end try to pass the front... especially in a short wheelbase truck, especially going around turns. IMHO, for a DD 12bolt get an ARB or just leave it open if you live around these parts.


OK, here's my two cents on the matter... If road conditions are bad enough that a welded rear diff would make driving hazardous, I would think that a person would be driving in four wheel drive anyway. With the front pulling(as well as the rear)... I see that as doing basically the same thing as the "anchor" action that Sean spoke of. Have you ever tried "cutting donuts" while in 4WD?? It's just about impossible. My rear diff has been welded for several years and I have driven to work(40+ miles) several times in slick conditions. I had absolutely NO problems. Well other than being late for work after stopping to pull several people out of the ditch. In my experience, I did not(and do not) see the welded diff to be a problem. YMMV.

David
?'90 Trooper?2.6L?Auto?DELTA Cam?AMC Head?"DN" Lift?SlakAzz Sliderzz
?TrXus M/T's?Black Rockcrawlers?Lockers by MIG & ARB?ProComp ES9000's
?Pics and junk...Thx Tad!!