A RR Locker for new Taco

Okay, so I've had my -05 dbl cab TRD Sport 4WD for a little over a month now, and I'm already thinking about mods. Among other things, I eventually want to put a 3" lift under it, upgrade tires/wheels, give it a winch, and. . . yes, I really do want to fork out the bucks to replace the LSD w/a locker. I've done a lot of research, and perhaps if I kept looking I'd find the answers to these questions, but I'm tired of looking. . . Hopefully someone in here can answer them, or at least point me in the right direction.

First, I know that you can't upgrade from an open Diff to a yota e-locker w/out signficant fabrication to the diff. housing. Is that also true if you are replacing an LSD w/an E-locker, or is the diff housing for an LSD large enough to handle the e-locker w/out any modification? Also, would it just be a matter of bolting on the electric motor then running the wires for the switch, or would there be significant modification required to mount the motor as well?

I know that my other options are:

1. an auto-locking locker, which as near as I can tell, isn't any better than the factory LSD; definately not worth forking out the extra money for the swap.

2. A detroit locker, which is auto-locking but apparently does a better job than most auto lockers.

3. An ARB, which is quite expensive, but is manually engaged like the yota e-locker. The other advantage to this is that that they make one for the front axle as well (but of course that means even more money).

4. swapping out the TRD Sport RR Dif/axle w/ a TRD Off-Road, which I am sure would be the most expensive (unless I found a used one???) and labor intensive.

Okay, so now I have to show my ignorance. Is it possible for a guy w/limited mechanical experience/tools, (I can do basic brake jobs, change belts/hoses/plugs/etc.) to make these mods, or should I leave it to the professionals? I have, by the way, convinced myself that I can do the 3" lift myself.

If the answer to that last question is yes, then does anyone know of a place on the web that provides step-by-step instructions?

Any input you have is greatly appreciated.

Thx, Rich

 

If you decide with the ARB shoot me a PM. Before I install it, if I find the right deal I will sell it lol

 

Can you do a locker swap? Yes. However, it is a PITA, requires a press, etc. Go for installing the lift, it is very doable in a driveway/garage.

The ARBs are hands down the best option if you want lockers. To do a swap to a Toyo e-locker, you will need the whole rearend, switch, and 4x4 computer (? I think). There is a member here that found the whole rear out of a wrecked truck and made the swap for cheap.

If you are playing around in the gears you might as re-gear anyways. Better to only tear it apart once. I have been pinching pennies for arbs and new gears for a while now.

:Cheers:

 

To get e-locker into your LSD axle you need to swap whole axle (drum to drum) everything is different including third member, axle housing and drive axles)
Now
1. Lockright or aussie is your cheapest way to go and easiest install. and it is as strong as pretty much everything else out there. There are few rip offs (other brand like lockright and Aussie) that get their pins sheared but thats different story.
2 Detroit is very good very strong. takes out the possibility of OEM carrier going bad .

3 ARB Best choice and most expensive one also more complicated to install then Detroit.

4. Too expensive and then you are running smaller R&P so actually now your breakage chances increased. Installation probably more complex then ARB.

 

alburn gear has a locker that is like a GM G80 but has an electric full rear wheel lock that can be engaged/disengaged at any speed.
I have an 2010 Trd and this LSD system is a joke, its got it saving moments...but i miss the G80 i once had.. I would like to lock the rear tires without dropping into 4lo.. and im sick of burning up my breaks to correct the vehicles rear end movement..it throws me out of wack when the lsd is correcting a spin out, when i do it with out even thinking...
It would be nice if the other tire would kick in and pull the same as the drive tire when you lose control instead of locking the drive tire up...

sorry if i repeat myself but i miss the G80 principal ..lsd is not my cup of tea, i still like to have fun...

 

If its a daily driver skip the Detroit,it will drive you nuts.
Secondly,you can pull the third member yourself with basic tools,but take the gear work to a shop your dealing with multipal tollarances and settings and an absolute pain in the ass!

 

If your going to be using the taco as an everyday driver I would not go with a detroit locker. The detroit TruTrac is better for this type of situation. If your just building a off road vehicle and sometimes using it for the road than a Detroit Locker is great. Both are inexpensive about $470-$500

 

I am in the exact same position your in right now man. I want to go with the Powertrax No-Slip, but I don't know if that will work with my rear end. Are all the Tacoma rear ends 30 spline, single pinion? Some buddies of mine are telling me my only two options are both the Eaton Detroit lockers, the make no mention of the Richmond Gear Powertrax. Lost in the sauce big time.

 

Put the lift/tires and winch on, see how that does and if you find the yota wont go where you want most of the time without trouble then spend the extra cash to get the rear locked. I found myself in the same boat...I liked the way the sport model looked better and in truth, most of my time is spent on-road so I bought the sport and added a 9k lb winch. So far I really havent needed to use it with this truck, but it is definately "an insurance policy" when things get rough on the trail. I am convinced that a little bit bigger mud tire and a winch can get me MOST places I want to go.
Another plus is that the winch will not void your warranty.

 

mechanical locker for the rear and an e locker for the front this is what i was thinking of doing i know detroit make them i just don't know if they are for my year and model tacoma. plus i need to regear to compensate for the larger tires. any thoughts on this..