Best 2wd rear axle set up?

Wanting to make my 2wd Tacoma more capable. Auto Lock? ARB rear? Any driveshaft upgrades? Since I don't have 4wd, I'd like to atleast be more capable in the desert terrain on some of the nasty trails out here. Any advice?

 

Buy lockright ~$270 , install yourself see how you like it. If it is too much hassle on pavement for you then you will have to go to ARB.

 

what are the downsides of pavement driving with the lock right? I've read it will have some problems in rain / snow but we seldom get either down here in Hell, NV.

 

I personally like selectable (elocker or ARB) since I do not like to be locked up unless I need it. Good luck.

The other things to consider is the terrain you like to use it on.

 

It makes your rear end buckle when you make turns. Especially bad feeling when maneuvering in parking lots with manual tranny. takes time to get used. In snow and ice makes for hairy ride ... When turning usually you need to be on the throttle through the turn which is ok on asphalt but when it is slippery it can make you spin quickly.

 

bumping for thoughts and input on an E-locker for my 2wd. What companies should I look into?

 

There is only one and it is sold exclusively through Toyota - Either find one online or better yet - put an ARB in the rear you already have... Think East Coast Gear and grab that 5 year warranty!

 

where can I pick up a new TRD one for cheap? found a few on CL but nothing close to where I live :-/

 

Question: Will the ARBs work on the base model 5lug nut Tacos? I'm under the impression from another thread that maybe they won't.

 

I just ordered my lockright today from 4WP. I checked around and no one has an ARB for a 5 lug Taco base model like mine.

 

Just one point... on 'auto lockers' - the least amount of wear (theoretically and real life) when the driveline allows for full differentiation of wheel speed. When you have a 'selectable' you can turn it on when you want it and not when you want: lower wear and binding and tighter turning radius. My vote is and will always be a selectable unless I am building a straight line track car. I know many 'vote' for what they have. That is not the case here for me... I have many things that I have bought for my truck that I would not buy again.

 

That maybe silly question but what is different in differential in 5 lugs? I know you have different axles and 2 pinion diff but gear size, housing should be exactly the same as 6 lugs. Right?

 

gear housing are different sizes

 

So gears are different size too? The same like in 4 cylinder 1 gen tacos. ?

 

idont believe gears are different sizes but inn the 5 lug pumpkin i think people have had problems fitting 4.56 gears in themwhich means that the housings are different sizes or the internal clearances are different

 

what i said about size needs clerification:i think they overall diameter is similar but the thickness might be different. i can research it a little more when i get home and maybe dig up the threads about sizing issues

 

Look on craigslist for tacoma rear axles with the factory elocker. Around here you can often find the entire axle for 400-500 bucks