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Locker or limited slip

4.8K views 30 replies 9 participants last post by  Adventure North  
#1 ·
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.
 
#3 ·
Gonefishin said:
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.:lol:

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
 
#4 ·
Yup, you will find lots of threads about this subject if you do a search. :thumbsup: ;)
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.
 
#5 ·
PiercedTiger said:
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??? :confused:
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. :dunno:
 
#6 · (Edited)
Octane said:
Wait a minute...you have an open diff but on gravel you leave tracks with both tires??? :confused:
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. :dunno:
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.
 
#8 ·
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).
 
#10 ·
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 :lol: )
 
#11 ·
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.
 
#12 ·
Octane said:
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.
 
#13 · (Edited)
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....
 
#15 ·
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.
 
#16 ·
I believe my thruck is like yours. But they sell the 4x4 with the sports package, I believe it was $27,000 or so. And the Off-Road package 4x4 for $28,000 or so. Basically the same equipment except for the locker. So I assumed that the extra $1G was for the addition of the locker to the sports package. Oh well I may have been wrong? But I can't seem to find any definate answer either way? Is there a way to actually contact Toyota about this?
 
#17 ·
Yeah, I think the locker is around $900 if you add it on via the toyota build-your-own website.


Mine was $27,000 with the TRD OR and Tow package. THAT was worth it! lol Transmission cooler, 130 amp alternator, sport seats as well as the actual trailer hitch and wiring.

The tranny cooler will be good when I finally get a trailer and off roading. bigger alt good for lights and stereo when I do that.. :naughty:


So have you actually ordered or gotten it? Or still looking?
 
#18 ·
The standard base 4x4 and the base SR5 models have open diffs, only the TRD Off-Road models have the locker and only the TRD Sport models have the LSD. Only the models indicated with the TRD tags (sport or off-road) get the traction aids for the rear diff, and no you can't get a limited slip and a locker. The SR5 badge indicates the truck has a certain level of options, the TRD badge in addition to the SR5 indicates that the truck has an additional set of options on top of the base SR5 package.
 
#21 ·
The owners manual states that the LSD system only works in the 2 wheel drive position. It does not work with the 4 wheel drive engaged.

Correct me if I am wrong but by what the manual states it appears that the LSD applies braking force to the tire that is free spinning. Essentially forcing it to give power to the tire that is not spinning. This would be simular to the Hummer driving instruction, that requires you to ride the brake pedal when one tire looses traction. Sort of a manual LS system.

Someone stated earlier that the locker can only be used below 15mph. That is incorrect the manual states that it should not exceed 5mph. Just for clarification.
 
#24 ·
You are correct. It also states that "the brake acuator temperature increases durring continuos operation" I believe you will find the information in section 1-7 under "AUTO LSD" system. It also states that the LSD does not work while in the four wheel drive mode. pg. 181 . I have the 2006 manual so it maybe different.
 
#26 ·
toku58 said:
Anyone try just using the locker without engaging the 4 wheel drive? I only see the locker on the rear so does it matter if I am in 4 wheel drive?

The locker only works in 4-lo unless you do the locker mod (which I can't remember if they got it to work on an 06 or not. I know it worked on older models) that lets you engage the locker anytime.


It's basically designed for when u are in 4-lo and in a ditch or someplace where one of the rear tires might be off the ground and that's it. Get yourself unstuck and unlock it. Period. Unless you do that mod of course.