Locker or limited slip

[Gonefishin]

I am considering buying a 2006 Tacoma DC 4x4. I am wondering if I should get the OR package or the Sport package. The locker would be nice for the slow stuff, but the limited slip would be nice for the snow and mud. If I get the locker I will have an open diff when I use 4H, and that can really suck in the snow. I would like to hear from owners of each type of diff, and why it was chosen over the other.

[Royalchoppers]

Hit up the search button and you should find plenty on this subject.

[PiercedTiger]

Originally Posted by Gonefishin

I am considering buying a 2006 Tacoma DC 4x4. I am wondering if I should get the OR package or the Sport package. The locker would be nice for the slow stuff, but the limited slip would be nice for the snow and mud. If I get the locker I will have an open diff when I use 4H, and that can really suck in the snow. I would like to hear from owners of each type of diff, and why it was chosen over the other.

How often do you actually see snow in California? I'm guessing you'd only see it up in the mountains right? At that point you'd prolly want it in at least 4-hi anyway unless you have lots of weight in the back. (by lots I mean at LEAST 300lbs) I have the OR and when I start to slide on snow I just pop her in 4-hi. No problems.

The locker is nice if you off road. The way I do it I have 3 options if I get stuck. Start in 2wd, get stuck I switch to 4-hi, if that doesn't help 4-lo and diff locked. If all else falls get the tow strap.

With normal driving I really don't notice the open diff. Both rear tires seem to grab about the same and I'll leave tracks with both in gravel or dirt. I haven't tried doing a burnout to test asphalt yet. lol

[Bakemono]

Yup, you will find lots of threads about this subject if you do a search.
To answer your question, it depends what you wanna use the truck for. If you do a lot of driving off-pavement, the locker is the way to go but if you dont most of your driving on pavement, then the limited-slip is the way to go.
The locker is really more for serious off-roading. You are only supposed to use it when going in a straight line and I dont think you are supposed to go any faster than 15 mph with the locker engaged.

[Bakemono]

Originally Posted by PiercedTiger

With normal driving I really don't notice the open diff. Both rear tires seem to grab about the same and I'll leave tracks with both in gravel or dirt. I haven't tried doing a burnout to test asphalt yet. lol

Wait a minute...you have an open diff but on gravel you leave tracks with both tires???
If you have an open diff, I dont think you can spin both tires because only 1 is going to get power.
Ive heard of some people who bought a truck with the TRD Off-Road package and have both the limited-slip and the locker. Perhaps this is the case with you truck as well.

[PiercedTiger]

Originally Posted by Octane

Wait a minute...you have an open diff but on gravel you leave tracks with both tires???
If you have an open diff, I dont think you can spin both tires because only 1 is going to get power.
Ive heard of some people who bought a truck with the TRD Off-Road package and have both the limited-slip and the locker. Perhaps this is the case with you truck as well.

Even with an open diff both tires will spin if they have equal traction, yes? It's my understanding that one has to have less traction than the other before it will spin and the other will stop.

Meaning all the power goes the the rear axle and gear box. From there it follows the path of least resistance. so if the left tire is off the ground it will spin and the right will not. if both are in the air or in soft mud both may spin. If both are on dry asphalt, then they both have good traction and should have equal power. The truck doesn't just "turn-off" one tire.

My Corolla has an open diff and it'll lay rubber with both tires. One fades out before the other, but I would assume that's where the traction become unequal between the two.

[Bakemono]

I was under the impression that with an open diff only 1 tire got power. I could be wrong though...

[PiercedTiger]

How would that work tho? I mean, the drive shaft comes back to a gear box that's connected the both wheels right? They don't just run one to, say, the left wheel right? It would go to both with a set of gears in between that allows them to rotate at different speeds for better turning. That would send power to whichever wheel spins easiest. If both spin equally well, then they would each get about half the power. Otherwise there would be no point to the locker. If both tires could not get power then the locker would not be able to force both tires to spin at the same speed (get the same amount of power).

[Bakemono]

Thats exactly how an open diff works. Open diffs are designed more for pavement. You need to allow one tire to turn faster or slower than the other while cornering.

[PiercedTiger]

The LSD is supposed to be a compromise between the two. It allows different speeds for turning (better than locked, or solid axle, or "posi-trac" as it used to be called I think), but limits it.

So you don't have a situation where you are stuck because the left tire is on ice and spinning while the right is on asphalt or dirt. The LSD would allow the right tire to get power and prevent the left from spinning wildly.

With the locker, you'd still have the left one spinning, but only as fast as the right one (which would be controlled by your right foot )

[downseven]

An open differential still delivers power to both wheels. It's true that one wheel will have more power than the other, but even a 70/30 split will be sending plenty of torque to the "weak" wheel. Usually, the only time one tire sits still while the other one spins is when that other one is in the air with no contact to the ground. It's at that time the locker will come in handy.

[PiercedTiger]

Originally Posted by Octane

Thats exactly how an open diff works. Open diffs are designed more for pavement. You need to allow one tire to turn faster or slower than the other while cornering.

true. But try this:

Turn off your stereo and roll down a window or two while corner at, say, 30mph or so. See you you hear your tires chirp. I know mine do occasionally. That would be the tires trying to turn at a different speed, but having equal traction on the hot, dry asphalt. So one tire skips a little.

[yrffej]

first the terms....


differential: A unit that takes the power of the rotating driveshaft at right angles to the rear axle and passes it to the axle. It will not only drive both rear axles at the same time, but will also allow them to turn at different speeds when negotiating turns. In this way the tires do not scuff or skid. Also see automatic slip-control differential, axle differential, bevel differential, center differential, front differential, helical differential, inter-axle differential, limited-slip differential, limited slip differential, lockable differential, locking differential, lockup differential, multiple-disc limited-slip differential, no-spin differential, open differential, planetary gear differential, pressure differential switch, rear axle differential, rear differential, spur differential, torque sensitive limited slip differential, torsen differential, traction differential, variable limited-slip axle/center differential, and visco-differential

open differential: Common to all conventional motor vehicles, performing the basic drive axle differential function. Unlike a limited-slip or locked differential, an open differential is unable to compensate for traction distinctions from one side of the vehicle to the other, and will thus spin the wheel with the least available grip.

locking differential: A differential with the ability for locking together the two half shafts, thus putting the differential out of action and greatly improving traction. In a non-locking differential if one wheel was stuck in snow and spinning, the other wheel would be stationary even if it were on dry ground. In a locked differential, both wheels would turn the same amount. Since the dry-ground wheel had traction, it would be able to pull the vehicle out even though the other wheel had no traction.


torque sensitive limited slip differential: A differential where the mechanism reacts to differences in torque when one wheel on an axle starts to slip, and limits the differential action to help maintain traction.


as stated by others, what type of driving do you want to do? i have the pre runner w/ limited slip.... even the hard core wheelers spend more than 90% (i'll bet) on the pavement.... 100,000mi on the vehicle is 10,000 off road. that's alot od off roading.

add to that, you want the 4wd..... unless you want to go where no man can follow? you probably won't need the locker over the roadability of the limited slip....

[toku58]

I was under the impression that the TRD SR5 Off Road package. Came with the limited slip?? The Off Road package is about $1,000.00 more? I assumed that the locker was an ADDITION to the limited slip feature?

[PiercedTiger]

Do you mean TRD SR5 vs TRD OR? Cuz mine is a TRD OR and says SR5 on the back as well. So it looks like you're saying the same thing. Maybe I'm confused.


I think the 4x4 options have either the open diff or rear locker added on (via one of the OR packages).

Either way I don't think you can get limited slip AND rear locker.