1st gen rear locker

Hey guys! I was looking at putting a rear locker in my 2003 AC 4x4 4.7. It doesn’t do very well in the deep snow or off camber stuff like it is now. I have been looking into my options and have seen Detroit truetrac, Yukon positraction, powertrax lock right, nitro lunchbox, auburn etc. What’s the best? I talked to Keith at dirty deeds and he said not to go with the Detroit because he had 3 of them break on him, but he didn’t have experience with any of the others because he has a 3rd gen rear axel under his 1st gen now. They all seem to be from 400-600 dollars. Also is this something I should have professionally installed or not? I want to make sure it is right.

 

Wait. He has a 3rd gen rear axle under his first Gen ?? What's he running up front? That 10.5" ring gear out back is beeeeefy

 

Second me being confused.

 

I’m not sure his whole set up. I know that that is what he told me. 3rd gen axle with 5.29s and arb locker in the rear. If you want to know more call him up and ask him he would be more than happy to tell you! Anyway does anyone have advice for my dilemma?

 

What's the application? Do you have an open diff or lsd already?

Crawling? Sand? Ice/snow? Etc.


Completely locked may slip the rear end sideways where a limited slip may track more straight.

I've got a powertrax no-slip in my taco.

 

I’m not really sure. Open diff i think just based on the way it acts. How do I tell? Crawling and ice/snow mostly.

 

Crawling I'd go with a locker (arb, powertrax, nitro) and deal with the additional sideways walk in snowy conditions.

A limited slip won't hold up if a wheel ends up airborn.

 

Open the fill hole, get a flash light, look inside. If you see gears its an open diff. If you see a cylindrical thing instead, you have lsd. This is easier and more reliable than the tire spin test.

 

If the sticker is still there, it should say LSD on the rear diff next to the fill hole. You could also do a VIN look up on your truck at Toyota. Looking in the fill hole as discussed above works, as well.

The Toy/Eaton LSD is original on my truck. Works well still to this day. Add a Rear Sway Bar and you’ll be planted for sure.

 

OK good info. Ill look into my filler hole later when i have a minute. Anyone on how hard to install? There is a reputable diff shop in Phoenix that quoted 350 for install.

 

Full locking diff is no good for ice, too slick a surface. You end up just spinning the rear end out. Open or limited slip out performs there, but snow tires or studded tires are the real solution. Full locking diff is beast in the mud and sand though. $350 isn't bad for install labor. Best of both worlds is the ARB air locker or an electronic locker. Then you can pick on or off. But they are also the most coin.

 

If you're good with wrenching you can pull the rear axles out, drop the rear of the driveshaft, then drop the 3rd member and bring that to a shop to do the install. It will save you money. If not just bring them the whole truck.

When I had mine done the options were 200 if I bring in the 3rd member or 400 if I bring the whole truck. I brought the whole truck and provided parts and diff oil. For mine the parts included LSD, 4.56 gear, bearings and shims kit, and a solid collar.

 

I agree with @KNABORES that dedicated winter tires will probably be more effective. What's the climate/conditions you're dealing with?

 

OK good info. Yes i can pull the 3rd member. I would like to go with arb but yeah to much money. My conditions are snow and ice, but also lots of mud and, if you are familiar, cinders. I go wheeling with the guys at the shop i work at and got clobbered in mud and technical climbs. When your tires are filled with mud then you go start doing off camber rocky climbing, it doesn’t grab worth a crap the way it is.

 

I am going to go see if it is lsd already right now.

 

Hmm so i opened up the filler hole and saw something but it didn’t look like gears
SO I called the dealer here to see if they could tell me off the vin, and they couldn’t. For some reason it didn’t tell them.

 

Can you take a pic?

 

you can put your VIN in here and it should say whether it has the LSD or not in the options list.

https://www.toyota.com/owners/my-vehicle/vehicle-specification

 

Keep us posted as I'm considering a LSD in my 2wd Tundra. Is the reputable shop ADS in Mesa? I was happy with their installation of 4:10 gears in my Ford van.

 

Pics man. We love pics!

 

Okay so i used the vin to confirm that i do indeed have a stock LSD, this checks out because I couldn’t see gears when I opened the filler hole.

 

I think because i have a LSD already, i may invest in better tires and springs for more traction and flex instead.

 

You could add some weight into your truck bed. Couple of bags of rocks in each rear corner.

 

Could do what I do in the harsh winters that we occasionally have.

Full load of rock, and then divide that up into the driveway (if its gravel like me)

I put a 2x4 in the rear slots on the bedliner.
Keep the rocks flush with the top of the board, and full to the brim. $50 for a load if grade 57 gravel that I don't have to load myself? Fella brings out the bobcat. Can't beat it.

You'd be amazed at the difference that small amount of gravel makes as far as weight/traction.

 

Yeah. Weight in the back is what I’d try first now knowing he has LSD. Cheap and easy. Tires will help. So will a Rear Sway Bar. The rearward weight is key for the snow, though.

 

Serious question...how does the sway bar help in the snow? I am debating on getting one but am nervous it’s going to change the ride quality.

 

In any weather, it helps keep the inside tire (of your turn) down. The Sway Bar pulls that inside tire down.

The LSD will have to work less on slower (from stop) accelerations as the wheel isn’t slipping on the wet/slippery surface.

You’ll be stoked on the Sway Bar. One of the best things done in terms of performance. Many here don’t have one because they off road. I say it works well off road unless you are rock climbing. If I’m rock climbing I’d get a Jeep.

The Premise of the OP Solution seems he needs weight in the back more than anything.

 

Thanks a lot for the explanation...makes sense. I did not even think about the starting from a stop. I do not Offroad at all and that is what my Yamaha Grizzly 700/mountain bike are for. Looks like I will be getting one in the spring...

 

Change your fluid out. These trucks use a friction modifier in the fluid for lsd, its worth changing out. You want a non synthetic fluid and get a tube of Sta-Lube modifier. Or you can run Lucas Dino oil without any modifier, it is built in.

 

OK cool. How much does it take and what is the best viscosity do you know?