2 or 1 Wheel Drive??

are 2 wheel drive 1st gen. tacoma's really two wheel drive or just one wheel? i'm curious because on and off ive noticed that when i slip on slick streets the noise from the spinning tire is coming from the right rear tire. and ive gotten stuck sometimes off-road, but ive noticed that if i hit a mud hole with just my left side, i make it through just fine. im thinking its because the right rear is the one with the power. i dont know a whole bunch about rear diff locking and im pretty sure my truck doesnt have traction control ...ive always wondered about this, can anyone explain/help?

 

Well it's fairly simple. Power is being sent to the rear axle, which powers both rear wheels. The thing about power though, is that it has a habit of following the path of least resistance. Apparently your right tire is that path. The role of a differential lock is to force both sides of the axle to spin at the same speed, therefore equally distributing the power.

 

so there is power going to the left rear right?

 

I've noticed something similar as well! Thanks for the link Chris!

 

And your front left will get the power up front...

So why, other than least resistance, is this always the case?

And how exactly does the locker work?

 

lol

 

The link is good.

Most cars have a lighter side left to right and front to back.

So the tire that is on the lightess side with the least amount of tractions get the most power. Suck becase that wheel might be on ICE or sand and you are stuck

 

Really? Has no one else responded w/ the answer to this or am I just reading wrong? Unless you have a diff locker that is engaged your axle is an open differential. That means that the power goes to both wheels unless there is a variance in traction between the two rear wheels. If your left tire is on ice, etc. and the right on pavement, the left will spin. If your right tire is on ice, etc. and the left on pavement, the right will spin. The power goes to the wheel with least resistance. It's all to aid w/ turning smoother (the inside rear tire will not receive as much power as the outside tire, so it will turn smoother).

 

you can lead a horse to water but you can't make em' drink

 

they did....

so can anyone explain why it's usually the front left and the back rear that get get the most power or am I just making that up?

 

LOL i thought this would be the end! haha oh well...

 

I actually didn't read your link until now, but I just figured this was something everyone knew already. I know this site is to help people out (I've also had some dumb questions later revised) but I thought most people knew there is not a "one wheel drive" truck. Sorry if I offended anyone, but I thought this was common sense stuff.

 

Its just the way it works and because the Right side is lighter! EX. Gastank and Driver on Left side.!

 

True, depends on the situation your in. but in almost any situation the lighter wheel, or wheel on a softer surface is going to spin, wasn't saying you were wrong...