Detroit TruTrac Install?

Doing some googling, saw a post that says that the transfer case also disconnects the front driveshaft in 2wd as well as one of the half shafts.

I think I'm going to drive over my phone and see if that front driveshaft is turning. Curious to see it all in action

 

You shouldn't do that it sounds expensive. Before you go and do that there is a possibility of the driveshaft turning it just doesn't do anything in the t-case. The way an open diff works you can have the very slight possibility to see it spin just a bit.

 

@erasedhammer before you go and even start this project that guy that did the AWD version by the time you add up all the junk yard parts he bought, labor, machining, etc. He probably has more in that front diff than ordering a clamshell with an ARB in it from ECGS. That just is such a quicker and easier option. Also since it sounds like you aren't wanting to go full crazy AWD there is no need for a torsion up front on a daily basis.

 

I would think if the driveshaft were disconnected in the front, a torsen diff, or any LSD, wouldn't be able to bind anything up

I'm just thinking here. If there were no issues with placing a torsen up front, it would be way cheaper and a simpler 'locker' than an ARB or e locker would be.

Just thinking out loud here.
If the driveshaft were disconnected in the front, a torsen diff, or any LSD, wouldn't be able to bind anything up or cause any damage with only one shaft connected to one tire? I'm having a hard time imagining where excess part wear can come into play here.

 

That's not part of the differential. You need to eliminate the thought of the driveshaft in this equation and read up on how differentials work. Because you are putting the driveshaft and t-case in the equation not focusing on how differentials work. Go read up on how these things work and it'll make more sense. I have tried my hardest to focus the train of thought away from the drivshaft and tcase that is not where the problem lies you need to simplify the thought process. I am not going to write out a whole explanation on how any differential works open, LSD, locker, spool it has been done 1000 of time find a reputable source not on a forum and read watch a video etc. But you need a better understanding to see.

 

The only reason I bring up the t-case and driveshaft is only because I am also learning more about the Tacoma.

I have a pretty good understanding of how torque biasing limited slip differentials work, and a good amount of experience using them in all kinds of conditions. I've even played around with disconnected half shafts and drive shafts in similar configurations to how the Tacoma is setup in 2wd, and the torsen has never affect handling. As for parts wear... That's a different story.

I am a far cry from fully understanding the drive train of a tacoma, but from the info I've read on here, I have no reason to believe that a torsen diff could interfere with proper operation of the vehicle while in 2wd.

 

I know that when you park the truck in 2wd and crawl under the front drive shaft freely spins and obviously the CV axles do not since they're bolted to the wheels. So that means that when you're driving in 2hi the rotation of the CV axles will not spin the front drive shaft either.
I've never opened up the front diff of my Tacoma so I don't know what goes on inside of it in 2hi.
@ovrlndkull do you have a schematic or video to show it? I'm having a hard time trying to visualize what you are trying to explain.
A Torsen has no clutches to wear out. So even if the addition of a Torsen would result in more parts moving inside the diff I don't at all understand why you say it would result in bad road manners as long as the front ADD is off or parts breakage even...

 

Sub'd

 

Google is amazing I would suggest reading more. Maybe watching some 3d videos on these systems. You only need to understand how the diff works leave the front driveshaft and the rest of the drivetrain out of it.

 

Oh my goodness lotsa info in here, I have a TT an love Ive seen first hand what lsd or mechanical locker can do to a front diff without maneul locking hubs...It aint purty an its a expensive mistake.
It would be wiser to get a selectable locker up to use only when needed an TT in the rear Going down the path of the fj swap while totally bada$$ may not be the wise thing to do finacially

 

Hell Ya

 

Saying it's it's going to cause issues is one thing.
What exactly does it do? Eat up CV joints? Excess ring and pinion wear?

 

What I saw was the cv axle getting stressed an litterally snapping in half, granted the truck was in full lock off camber turn. Seeing him try to do a 3point turn was painfull turned out to be more like 10 an switching from 4hi to 2hi about 6x.

 

Plus I havnt been able to find a lsd for our front just a mechanical locker is all.

 

That doesn't sound like a torsen diff. I've done some really tight turns with them, they don't bind up.
Plus if one half shaft is disconnect and the driveshaft is disconnected... Well there's just the weight of the diff on one shaft.
In 4wd, there's going to be binding because the center diff is locked... So maybe that combined with a loss of traction on the side that wasn't stressed cause increased amount of torque to the side where you saw the half shaft snap.
Ive broken a fair bit of half shafts but that's only from braking while a wheel is in the air.

 

I've seen one torsen diff available for the front 8" axle.

 

Your probably right but all the switching of 4h to 2h would annoy me, I have not been in a situation where I wish I had a front locker, hence why I invested in a winch but still want a front locker the helluva it someday. Im gonna go with the harrop elocker if I do.

 

Again I am going to say this half your diff wasn't unlocked. You just don't have a good grasp on how this works. You have a novice understanding and are trying to justify at a higher lever. You go to the expense of swapping the torsion diff out of that FRS into the front and keep the ADD when the thing eventually grenades or you snap CVs left and right, I won't tell you I told you so. You can't have that much differentiating torque bias and not have issues.

 

In a theoretical case where a torsen is in the front of a tacoma, it's only connected to one half shaft. Binding is impossible in 2wd with only ONE connection from the ground to the diff.

If you want to talk 4wd, that's a different story.
A torsen diff can act like an open diff allowing one side to spin infinitely and the other to not spin at all. Yes the torque biasing can put put a lot of torque through one half shaft, but unless youre slamming the gas then the brake on low traction surfaces, the half shaft would not brake.
I can imagine that if a normal LSD were put up front, it could definitely cause issues.

 

Again minor understanding trying to have a greater understanding go for it I've warned and tried to explain this enough. Hope you aren't sorry.