Compare Auto Limited Slip Differential and Lockers

New member and new to Tacoma. Awaiting delivery of 2017 TRD Sport. Wondering about how Auto Limited Slip Differential compare to lockers on the OR. If I am in 4h with both wheels on one side of my Sport spinning on mud....will the Auto Slip throw power to the two wheels on the other side with traction? If so, will that be 100% power or just 25% or so?

 

lsd will basically hop as it locks one side then unlocks with the brakes.
locker would be better but lsd is better than a fully open diff

 

Auto LSD and the locking diff aren't mutually exclusive, my truck has both. The "Auto LSD" system isn't really a limited slip differential, and doesn't actually have anything to do with the diff hardware at all, it's more like a subroutine in the software for the ABS system which uses the rear brakes to slow or stop a wheel that's considered to be slipping based on the sensor data. I kind of thought the TRD sport might come with real LSD gearing in the rear end, but since I was adamant about not having a fake scoop on the hood of my truck, I didn't look too much deeper into that package (didn't occur to me that I could just trade hoods with someone since there's a lot of guys out there who like the scoop), also at the time the only reason I was looking at TRD packages is that it was the only way to get the tow package without doing a factory order.

The locking diff on the TRD OR package mechanically prevents the rear wheels from turning at different rates when it's engaged. It's puropse is to increase traction and ability to get going on rough terrain or slick conditions and it can be dangerous to have engaged in general driving since the wheels need to turn at different speeds while cornering (one of the main reasons a differential was invented in the first place).

I don't know enough about that specific mechanism to know why it's apparently not possible (or not practical) to put a locker mechanism onto a real LSD, I'm sure many people on these boards do, and I should probably do some homework on that topic now that I think about it.

 

not 100% sure if it is the reason why but my assumption is that since an actual LSD uses clutch packs to limit the slip, once you add in those clutch packs you wouldn't have space in the differential to put in a locker.
A locker and the clutch packs both would need to work on the same gears to perform the locking/limiting slip.

This basically explains how an LSD works
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujsxq9WBllU

if you look how a locker works its very similar so not sure they could both be fitted together.

 

I believe this to be correct

 

I knew there was someone here that knew this stuff better than me.

 

like I said not 100% sure, but educated guess.

Regardless when it comes to a truck and offroad work a locker is better.
LSD to me is for sports cars lol.

 

Thanks for the insight. So, it seem the auto slip uses braking on the slipping wheels and not a mechanical slip. I had heard the mechanical slips only sent a small amount of power to the non slipping wheels. Does the Tacoma Auto Slip braking model send more power to the non slipping wheels?

 

The differential is open, so if you were to lock up one wheel with the brakes, it'd send all the power to the other wheel. Modulating the power distribution in finer increments is more complicated, and since the braking would be taking power/torque from a moving wheel when it's engaged but not locked, there's less total power to go around, no to mention that the ABS system is involved, and it's primarily designed to remove braking from a wheel that's locked in the first place so a lot would depend on how the computers and code are built to work together.

Not sure how far the Auto LSD software is willing to go along those lines or how the transfer case would alter that if you're in 4WD since the front differential is also open (and the wheels monitored by the same system).

 

Auto LSD is used upfront as well on the OR.
From what I understand it won't send all the power and it will only lock for a second.
Once the other wheel starts moving it will just unlock the previously locked wheel and have all the power go back to that one.

You can usually tell when someone is running an LSD going up a hill lol. If they get stuck you'll see it just jumping. It won't go anywhere, but it will start to move then stop and repeat usually.

Honestly only place I find LSD to work amazing is in snow, and sports cars. One of my friends has an LSD (clutch pack) in his 240. uses it as a drift car, makes a pretty big difference for drifting.
I'll try and find the video I saw on them in the past where it was comparing a hilux with a LSD rear to a locked one and all you see the Hilux do is hop on the hill.

 

https://youtu.be/4U1SLSV9wNk?t=2m59s
One of them.
there's also an ARB video where they compare open LSD and locked.
same thing happens in the LSD until you floor it and then it made it up the hill.
Doing so you risk spinning wheels and when they come down and make traction they'll hit hard and if its your front with the CV your CV may go.


EDIT
ARB one
https://youtu.be/YNFacsKnswM?t=2m47s

 

Some great information. Thanks for taking the time to pass it on.

 

Because of the differential in the axle, if your truck is able to stop a spinning wheel, the wheel on the other side of the differential is going to be driven at twice the speed of the other set of wheels that are turning in unison on the other axle.

Also, the sport uses vacuum boosted brakes and they often cannot stop a wheel in 4lo. The OR has an electric pump instead of vacuum and the brakes are much stronger

 

Im very interested in this also. I have an SR5 2wd with LSD. I would like to add a locking diff. Now does that mean i will have a 1wd car when the diff is not locked?

 

Jeep Rubicon's diffs are true mechanical LSD when not locked (or they used to be in the TJ years). The Auburn Ected is an aftermarket selectable diff that is a true mechanical LSD "unengaged", but can also be locked up fully.

 

And it will usually lock on its own from time to time....

 

Basically yep.
When you are on loose ground the diff will send all the power to the wheel with least amount of resistance, so basically a 1wheel drive. a 4x4 is only a 2wd unless you lock up.

If you want to add a locker its probably much cheaper for you to go the air locker route

I thought the Rubicon uses air lockers?
one of my co workers is a hardcore jeep guy and said he put rubicon axles on his TJ and they were air lockers?
Or maybe is it the older ones were air lockers and now they are using LSD?

 

Yep, they are low pressure air, not compatible with ARB from my understanding (I had a regular TJ that I drove with both a Powertrax and a Detroit)- that info is unrelated obviously but just wanted to mention I have some experience with different diff types.

They were only that setup during the TJ years (02-05) & only in the rear axle, the front was a conventional open/locker (powered with low pressure air as you mention). The newer ones do not incorporate a LSD anymore, I guess there were some durability issues (trying to cram all the LSD guts and locking mechanism into the same diff doesn't leave a lot of room for "carrier meat"- I assume)

Just double checked, The Auburn unit is still available but they changed the same to "Ected Max", and they make one for almost every application except Toyota axles :/ (didn't realize that when I first mentioned it).

 

So far, using MTS has gotten me through all but one situation where I needed the locker. It's good, but there's no replacing a real locker

 

MTS is great, but he doesn't have it if he bought a Sport