Detroit TruTrac - LSD Replacement

I wanted to take the time to write a quick review on the Detroit TruTrac LSD. It's been installed a couple of days now and I am absolutely in love with how she performs. The mechanical LSD in my 07 Tacoma had worn out. The LSD in 08 and older Tacomas is a mechanical "real" LSD in that it uses clutch-packs to engage the other wheel when it senses one wheel spinning. Well the problem with such a system is that if you beat on your truck (the way I do) unfortunately those clutch-packs can wear out by the 90-100k mile mark.

The TruTrac uses a helical-gear system. Basically this is a LSD that is made entirely out of gears. It doesn't have clutch-packs that can wear out.

There is only one con. This type of LSD requires both wheels to have "some" traction. This means if one wheel is entirely off the ground the system will not send power to the other wheel, so maybe not the best option for those serious off-roaders, but then again if you often find yourself in such off-camber scenarios a locker is the way to go. The trutrac has a torque bias ratio. It means if the torque bias ratio is 4:1, it can apply a maximum of 4 times the loose wheel's torque on the wheel with traction. This means, if you have one wheel off the ground, you're still going nowhere with a helical-gear system. 4 times zero is still zero. One quick fix if you're stuck is to apply the brakes. With the LSD working against the brakes, it will transfer 4 times the braking force to the wheel on the ground.

I think the pros of this LSD highly out weigh the cons. If you enjoy crawling, or more technical wheeling, I think you should pursue a locker. But, if most of your wheeling is sand, snow, gravel, or other lighter maybe more high speed stuff I would look no further than the Detroit TruTrac.

I give another update once I've thrown a few more miles on this thing, but I'm only smiles so far. Thanks for reading.

 

How much did it cost to install down there?

 

$514 for the diff from Jegs
$350 for the install. I drove the truck in as well. I didn't remove the third for them. Torspd had his installed in Houston with the third removed for $175.

 

Thanks

 

I had one on my 1st gen Tundra and really liked it. It was just a 2wd, but I could always get both tires moving. In winter I would put 6 Home Depot buckets of sand in the back (still do that in my Tacoma) and it made all the difference. I will say that when both engage you can really spin the rear around. That can make it tricky on a slick surface when the outside tire goes away. Or, you can pull impressive burnouts...that might have happened.

 

It's downright comical trying to 2004 STI on the road in the winter with its front and rear diffs because of how quickly they engage. I can only imagine how that felt with a 2wd

 

Latest TopGear mag had a story about taking an STI up Mt Washington in the snow. I want one.

 

Do you have a part number?
Do we have the 8.4" ring or the 8.0"
I have a 2010
Thanks

 

You have an 8.4

 

my want very bad. one of those in the rear and I would be a happy camper

 

so would this work in an 09 and newer truck with auto LSD?

 

sub'd thanks for the review!

 

still would rather have a locker.

 

The only locking lsd I'm aware of is the Auburn ected, which is a clutch based lsd. And is not available for our trucks.

 

that would be ideal.... as like stated a locker in stuff like snow / ice is meh.

 

I didn't know about this, but it seems like it has been discontinued for quite a while now.

 

Is this the same size for the front?