Help...I'm tripping on LSD!

I need some advice. I have 195K miles on my 2004 Tundra Double Cab 4x4 with the factory Limited Slip Differential. I figured with that many miles, my LSD should be toast. I found a deal on a Nitro Helical LSD and picked one up.

https://www.nitro-gear.com/Toyota-8-4-Worm-Gear-Limited-Slip-p/tors-t8.4.htm

This is a Torsen LSD, similar to Detroit TrueTrac and Powertrax Grip Pro. I like the concept of an LSD that won't wear out, being all mechanical with gears instead of clutch plates and springs.

Today, I was about to remove my 3rd member to ship off to be rebuilt with the new Nitro Helix LSD. I decided to take a drive on some dirt roads to see how the original LSD was working. To my surprise, it is functioning just fine. Both wheels spin and dig into the dirt - no "one wheel peel" going on. I like the LSD for the snow, and I do take the truck to the mountains on light to medium trails. So what is your opinion on replacing this functioning diff and going from clutch style to Torsen gear style? Would you replace it?

 

I would stick with the LSD. I have a Grip Pro and I like it, but I never would have spent the money on it if I had a LSD.

 

Factory mechanical LSDs wear out? I haven't seen anyone on the forum complain about that but what do I know?

 

Great thread title. Keep the factory LSD. 195k miles can’t be wrong

 

get a new one! and sell the old one to me.

 

Iunno here's some pea-ness

 

Mine is worn out. Needs to be rebuilt or replaced.

 

Is that just normal wear and tear or are you driving in conditions where it engages on a regular basis?

 

How many miles on yours?

 

Mine is a junkyard diff, from an 04 DC w/4.10's. So mileage is unknown. The truck itself looked like a farm truck, given the mud under and dirt inside. So very well used lol.

 

I’m sure the clutches are worn. But chances are yours is ok. Probably cheap to have yours rebuilt than to install a new nitro unit

 

My 05 with 203k (diff was replaced at 59k under warranty though) my rear end still “works” but it’s definitely weaker than a fresh one. I’ll probably have my local trans guy rebuild mine when I decide to swap to 4.10 Or 4.30 gears.

 

My LSD is badly worn. One wheel peel everywhere.
~185k
Truck drug a landscaping trailer for 12 or 13 years before I bought it...from the original owner. He was good about maintenance, but IDK that he noticed that the LSD had given up the ghost.

 

Thanks for all the responses guys. I will keep driving the OEM LSD and keep an eye on it. When I tested it on a dirt/gravel road, it seemed strong - it dug two ruts down into the road. It sounds like towing may play a big part in wearing the clutches, with @assassin10000 "farm truck", @empty_lord towing Tacomas all over the country and @chrisb "landscaping trailer". For the life of the truck, I only towed a trailer once, and hauled about 15 loads of dirt/mulch across town. I haul a dirt bike and camping gear regularly, but they are light. Good to hear about the positive Powertrax experience from @crewmaxlmt for when I may go with the torsen down the road. Also good to hear about the lack of failures.

 

mines got 460km/290mi and it still "works" in dirt/gavel/rocks but if I do a hard turn on a really slick road I'm staring to get some one wheel peel and the backend doesn't really kick out anymore.

 

Mine did the same a few months back. But now that its raining and slick, the LSD isn't doing enough anymore.

 

I just picked up on this thread and have a related question. My rear end is making a "wah wah" sound when I let off the accelerator coasting between 45 and 55 mph??...when you get up to 60 and above, no problems whatsoever. My mechanic said the noise is coming from the chunk and that it is most likely the chrome that has worn off of one of the rollers in a bearing. He checked and he said no metal in the bottom of the differential and he told me I could just drive it. Has anyone had a similar sound situation??? Is it ok to drive? I did get it from a junk yard and the yard paper work had 280K miles on the sticker but it works fine, both wheels pull and the fluid looked good when we changed it out.

 

Not a good sign. It'll probably be ok for a while but any heavy loads will exacerbate the damage thats already been done.

I'd recommend swapping to a different unit.

 

I will only be pulling a light aluminum boat and maybe hauling a 4-wheeler for the foreseeable future....what about swapping out the guts for an electric locker when the time comes? Any thoughts?

 

Unless it's aftermarket, you need to modify the housing (requires welding iirc).

 

Could it be one of the wheel bearings? My old t100 made that same kind of sound and it was the wheel bearing. My sound wasn't as speed specific though, it kind of did it all the time when coasting.

 

Very possible, actually it is so faint that I only hear it when I am coasting on a smooth road. I think I am going to wait until it becomes more audible then possibly take it back to someone to check.

 

Hmmm I thought 2003 and up Tundras no longer had the mechanical LSD’s and utilized “auto” brake LSD. I’m probably wrong though.

 

Mine was from a junk yard replacement....I was told it was from a 2004 double cab, but it is a mechanical LSD for sure

 

Mine is a 2004 DC and I have factory 4.1 gears with clutch pack LSD. My truck does not have the auto brake LSD system.

 

I believe it was 05/06. There may be outliers because dealerships could install the Kazuma as an option.