Swapping Auburn LSD for Powertrax Grip Pro

So, I'm planning on swapping my Auburn Pro LSD out for a the Powertrax Grip Pro. I'm doubtful that anybody has experience with both, but, anybody have experience with both? I've seen a few posts about the axle shafts being problematic on install, but aside from that, any other issues with the unit?

Why for am I swapping out the Auburn? With 100k miles on it, surprisingly it still works like a charm. I've kept up on gear oil changes and running the proper amount of friction modifier. Plus, I don't try to make skid marks down the road, nor do I hammer it off pavement or in the snow, so I'm not too surprised that it's still working well. But the differential certainly lets me know when it's sheared up the friction modifier. I'm thinking the with the constant load I carry around combined with towing, it just goes through the friction modifier more quickly than most users would.

Even with the increased maintenance, that's not a big enough issue to make me not like the Auburn. I really just wanted a helical gear limited slip from the get-go, but nobody offered one for the truck when I installed the Auburn. I was really hoping Eaton would step up with a TruTrac. So the auburn will come out and the Grip Pro will go in. I'm also curious to see how well the bearings are holding up. My installer was able to reuse the original bearings but I'm betting he won't be able to reuse them this go around. Summit was willing to price match a lower price I found on the Grip Pro and I've got a shim kit from last install.

Plus, I think a torsen rear diff will only complement the torsen diff in the sequoia t-case sitting in my shop ready to install

 

@Mdl will shortly:
https://www.tundras.com/threads/general-supercharger-thread.85513/page-319#post-3252448

 

Awesome. Thanks for tagging him. Interested to see what he has to say.

I'm also trying to resist the temptation to install 4.88's while I'm in there. Still rocking stock size tires but am considering 275/70's again. And my boys sure would dig some 285/75r18's. Or 295/70's.. As much as I like this game, I kinda hate it too.. Er, my wallet hates it...

 

Installing the Powertrax is on my list but I have to get my engine dialed in first. Probably be a few months before I get into it. Glad to hear your Auburn is doing well. I would think that they solved their manufacturing process to get a better fit. Hopefully earlier diffs would be already out of inventory. Changing out bearings would be ideal as you are already in it. I would test fit the axle and dif before hand but really haven't read too many that HD the tighter tolerances on the diff diameter. The Auburn swap was pretty easy. My biggest issue was benching that thing up into place before the fipg dried. Ha
I haven't re-geard and run 315/70/17 dick cepek extreme country with no perceived issues.

 

Santa showed up today. Waiting to hear back from my installer to get it done. My guess is it will be a few weeks. Looks smaller than the auburn if I remember it correctly.

 

I had the auburn on my prior 2010. I have the GripPro in my current 2017. Overall I much prefer the Powertrax. No clutch materials to wear out, and it locks up super positively every time you would expect it to which I didn’t feel the same with the auburn. Short of having a wheel totally off the ground which I’ve not tried, the powertrax always seems to be putting power down to both wheels quite well. My installer said the axles were snug but went in ok. I’m using valvoline 80/90 regular gear oil. I think you will love it.

 

Good to know. That’s what I’m going for.

 

How does this play with the Tundra's traction control/braking system? Or does that have to be disabled?

 

It doesn’t cause any issues, if anything it keeps that junk system from ever engaging. The only time it may come into play is if you use auto LSD in low speed offroad situations which will likely only aid the action of the LSD as it brakes the slipping wheel.

 

I have the grip pro with 4.88’s and it works great. Buy the gears from your installer in case they are noisy and need to be replaced. Their dime, not yours.

 

My experience has been the same with the Auburn. Unless both tires start spinning (such as trying to start out on an icy road) the traction control rarely kicks in. And in the icy road scenario, you have twice as much traction since both wheels have to be spinning for it to kick in, rather than one wheel. I’ve not noticed any adverse affects from and ABS/traction control standpoint.

As far as the ALSD system, it actually plays quite nicely with the Auburn, transferring more power much faster to the wheel that’s slipping. I’ve had a few times climbing up rutted and rocky/gravelly two track where you would feel a wheel start to slip then almost instantly you feel the power transferred to the other wheels. I notice because I’m looking for it and am familiar with how the truck drives with open diffs and with just the Auburn without an electronic Nannie’s.

So, IME, it has only been helpful in ALL driving situation and has not caused any issues.