TRD Locking Differential Operation

My Taco is a TRD 2WD Double Cab. According to the manual you only engage the locking differential after you have stopped and only use it long enough to get one out of trouble then stopping to disengage it before moving on. This seems a bit lame to me bordering on useless.

We had a pretty bad ice / snow storm recently and I left it on most of the way to work because the roads were very bad. Did I do wrong?

I would like to know how some of the other Taco TRD 2WD owners have used their Locking Differential. And if anyone has some more insight from Toyota on this bizzarre (IMO) differential.

 

whats useless about it?

it saying use it when you need it, and engage in disengage when your not moving.

same thing you would do with an arb. seems sensible to em, not sure what is so bizzarre?

i personally wouldnt run locked in 2wd on ice though. 4wd i would, but not 2..unless i was just playing. snow i would in either, but its up to you if you know how to drive and handle and prepare for the kickout you will get.

 

DO NOT, use your locker in snow and ice. Unless you are stuck in a ditch it will put you in one.

 

I've used my locker at 75mph on the highway for 30 mlies. It was an accident but no harm no foul.

 

totally not useless! one of the main reasons i got my prerunner. like said above, dont use it on the street! way dangerous!

 

I have gotten stuck in 4WD LO more than once and the locker has always gotten me unstuck. I love it.

 

I had LSD in Ford, Dodge, Nissan and Jeep. I wanted the Tacoma O/R specifically for the locker.

LSD on the street gets squirrelly in corners during the rain. I prefer open differentials in the rain.

I use the locker to get unstuck only. I use it only to get moving again. And in stock form, the computer will disconnect it after 10 0r 15 mph in the 2008s.

Just wish it engaged more easily.

 

Using a locker to get you unstuck or through a tricky trail section is wonderful.

Using it driving down an icy road is VERY dangerous. If you go around an curve, the outside wheel needs to turn faster than the inside wheel. On dry pavement, a locked axle on a curve will at best ruin tires, at worst ruin your differential. On ice, a locked axle on a curve is going to try to push your vehicle straight instead of allowing it to turn. It will greatly increase the risk of breaking loose what little traction you already have. The possible ramifications of this are obvious. You are far better off leaving your diff open.

 

that sucks! mine doesnt do that!i got a 2010

 

I am curious, why would you need the locker after you are moving? I don't understand why people need it at speed.

Just wondering.

 

You don't need it at speed. In fact, at speed, you're much better off without it.

 

Most of my driving is on paved streets. I probably should have purchased a Taco Sport that comes with a limited slip diferential. A LSD seems more logical to me.

 

i use mine alot goin thru deep sand washes

 

Okay, I misspoke after checking the manual again. The manual does not say the computer drops out the locker. It says don't use it over 5 mph. I must have read it somewhere else. Oops.

Eitherway, I use mine to get it moving and then turn it off. That is why I bought it over LSD.

 

I also use mine in sandy washes, deep snow, and tough trail sections but that's all below 10 mph. I assumed when he said "at speed" he meant "at road speed".

 

yea mine says that too..lol i think its just for safety. yea i have LSD on mine as well.. very useful!

 

I have not seen a sand wash since I left SoCal and that was 7 years ago. I miss them.

 

good explanation. I think the OP misunderstood the use of differential.

 

I have a Prerunner w/TRD o/r and have used the locker to get myself unstuck several times while off-roading. I once parked on really wet grass for about 20 mins and when I tried to back up, my rear wheels dug in. Had to use the eLocker. Funny thing is, I have good tires. It's also important to air down before off-roading for more traction!!

 

what a bummer =/...im in the high desert haha so im in them all the time lol