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how will a locker behave up front?

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by 98fourbangertaco, Aug 9, 2010.

  1. Aug 9, 2010 at 7:32 PM
    #1
    98fourbangertaco

    98fourbangertaco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I have a 98 4x4 tacoma with a detroit truetrac in the rear and are looking for the best traction device for the front within my budget, Does any one have a truetrac in the front of their truck, i figured it would work better because it would be easier to steer than an auto locker, i have a buddy that knows more bout wheelin than me and he says that if i put a truetrac in the front the it would be sketchy in the snow on the road and out wheelin cause the front end would slide down hill with ya, let me know your opinions for my front diff, keep in mind that i am in 11th grade and do not have the money for an arb and its not an option for me, my truck also has manuel locking hubs
     
  2. Aug 9, 2010 at 11:30 PM
    #2
    mortuusangelus

    mortuusangelus Well-Known Member

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    I personally wouldn't trust limited slip in the front. Save for the ARB (they're not THAT expensive, sheesh) and do it right. Unless you plan on trying to crawl that wall behind your truck in your sig pic, you won't need a front locker. Locked rear in 4-lo will get you through a LOT of stuff. Hell I've got the TRD e-locker and haven't managed to get stuck yet (and yes I am trying... just not that hard a lot of times heh.)
     
  3. Aug 9, 2010 at 11:33 PM
    #3
    ttylerr

    ttylerr Well-Known Member

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    imo, if you cant save up for the arb... then you definitely can't afford the cv shafts you will likely snap with a locked front axle... arb or whatever you get
     
  4. Aug 10, 2010 at 12:41 AM
    #4
    4WD

    4WD cRaZy oLdmAn

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    X2

    & I don't really think the benefit of a locking front diff. would outweigh
    the added stress to the more fragile, more breakable front end steering/drive train components unless your going to use it for a crawler mostly, in which case your definintely going to snap/strip CV shafts.....:eek::eek::eek:
     
  5. Aug 10, 2010 at 6:34 AM
    #5
    quattrokiwi

    quattrokiwi Well-Known Member

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    Save for the ARB, look around I got one for 700, (RD90 is the model by the way).
    As for you guys saying the front locker is not worth the trouble because of CVs, you have no idea what your talking about. The front locker provides a shit load of extra traction. And i have never broken a CV, you have to learn when and how to use your locker.
     
  6. Aug 10, 2010 at 7:27 AM
    #6
    98fourbangertaco

    98fourbangertaco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Thanks for the imput guys, i wouldnt mind having a locker up front but i think that no more than i would seriously need it to get me through stuff that an arb isnt worth the money to me for my uses, i also didnt know that a locker would strain your cv shafts that much up front, my truck has manuel hubs would that not be fine cause they will be free when i am on the highway, but my big question is still if you have a locker engaged or a lsd in the front will it make it wont to slide down to the low side of the trail on slick rocks, and in the snow and mud, thanks guys
     
  7. Aug 10, 2010 at 7:59 AM
    #7
    Janster

    Janster Old & Forgetful

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    Being locked in the front can cause problems with steering characteristics.

    YES....being locked up front can cause the vehicle to plow straight.

    Why? When you steer, one wheel goes faster and a shorter distance than the opposite wheel. A locker prevents that from happening. So even though you think you're turning, both wheels are still gonna spin at the same rate & distance while on slipper surfaces.

    Honestly? If you don't want to pony up the money for an ARB - since you think you don't need it. Then....You don't need any traction devices up front at all. Go without it.
     
  8. Aug 10, 2010 at 8:11 AM
    #8
    Matic

    Matic The "OFG" Baby!!!

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    Personally I would avoid any type of locker in the front. If your locked in the rear and 1 pullin up front, you should be able to get up, around, thru or over whatever.
    And if you don't think being locked up front can and will cause problems to shafts and steering components, you must not use yours very much.
    A selectable like Ox or ARB is the way to go. Use it when you need it.
     
  9. Aug 10, 2010 at 8:25 AM
    #9
    4WD

    4WD cRaZy oLdmAn

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    Oh please, I don't recall anyone sayin' you wouldn't get more traction with a locked front diff. So because YOU haven't broken any CV's it doesn't happen. :)facepalm:rookies, what can you say)

    Umm ,I think I know when & when not to use a locker , but since we don't know what we're talking about, so YOU are the guy that thinks IFS is stronger than solid axle & thinks body lifts are superior to suspension lifts. Hey Mikey this is the guy you told me about ? & you're right bro' ,he really is clueless, yeah dude c'mon down to SD & teach us how to wheel, when you start shooting up & down single black diamond rated trails, sucessfully, maybe we'll listen, til then back to the corner for you.....:facepalm::facepalm::facepalm:
     
  10. Aug 10, 2010 at 8:43 AM
    #10
    98fourbangertaco

    98fourbangertaco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I think i will just leave it alone since the rear does great with the truetrac and has took me through everything so far that i have asked of it, besides an open up front dont seem as bad as open in the rear cause u can work yuor brakes and the steering wheel back and forth to make the power swith from wheel to wheel more than you can in the rear and by no means do i want to have to replace any cv shafts anytime soon
     
  11. Aug 10, 2010 at 8:56 AM
    #11
    4WD

    4WD cRaZy oLdmAn

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    X10 !!

    exactly
     
  12. Aug 10, 2010 at 9:09 AM
    #12
    David K

    David K Well-Known Member

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    There wasn't anyplace I couldn't go with my '01 or '05 4WD Tacos with the locking rear diff. engaged. My '10 has A-TRAC and so far it has taking me to all the places that my past two Tacos have. The one advantage to A-TRAC or a front locker is that if you have only one tire with traction, and it is on the front... the A-TRAC or front locker will pull you out.

    I was high centered in the back, driving on a steep, deeply rutted road (backing down actually). Both back tires were off the ground... and I really only had one tire to pull me out (I was facing uphill). The A-TRAC did it... very impressive. A front locker would be the only other avenue if you don't have A-TRAC.

    This was at Panda Jerk's 'Drug Airport' in San Marcos.
     
  13. Aug 10, 2010 at 9:30 AM
    #13
    BlueT

    BlueT Well-Known Member

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    You have manual hubs (lucky bast :) ). I would go with truetrac on the front. Truetrac won't make you slide anymore then open diff would. :)
     
  14. Aug 10, 2010 at 9:31 AM
    #14
    Lichen

    Lichen Well-Known Member

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    My '97 has manual locking hubs too and I installed a Lock-Rite locker in the front a couple of years ago. It handles just fine, nothing has broke, well worth the money. As long as your front hubs are manual, a front locker is a great idea. I don't know why people think it's asking for trouble. I wouln't use one on a vehicle with auto hubs or a 6" lift, but it sure works for me.
     
  15. Aug 10, 2010 at 2:03 PM
    #15
    98fourbangertaco

    98fourbangertaco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Well i would put the truetrac in the front if i knew that it would make me slide down hill on off camber stuff in the snow and mud but i dont want to spend the money and not like it cause when it snow here we take advantage of it and wheel every chance we get and my buddies says that it u had a lsd or locker up front then u would slide down the hill on all the off camber spots in the snow when the front spins, but i dont know, ive never been in anything with a locker in the front
     
  16. Aug 10, 2010 at 3:22 PM
    #16
    1welder

    1welder Well-Known Member

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    tony grace
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    i would def. do the front locker! you can put an aussie locker in for about 300 bucks if you install it yourself and if you do happen to break a cv they only cost like 65 bucks! and you can install one in about an hour. dude you need to do the locker. if you are in an off camber situation in the mud,ice,snow or anything slick once both tires in the front start to spin the front of your truck is going to slide down what ever you are climbing, but its just something you need to keep in mind. no biggie.
     
  17. Aug 10, 2010 at 4:22 PM
    #17
    BlueT

    BlueT Well-Known Member

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    Your friend is correct but to only some extent. If you have locker or clutchpack LSD and your manual hubs are locked you will be very likely to slide in offcamber situation.
    You are much less likely to slide in the same scenario if you have Truetrac and even less likely with open diff. For winter driving truetrac is better thenm open diff but it does not transfer as much power to spinning wheel as clutchpack LSD or locker. So sliding is not likely to happen
     
  18. Aug 10, 2010 at 9:07 PM
    #18
    98fourbangertaco

    98fourbangertaco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    What would make the truetrac do any different up front than a clutchpack lsd or locker, I have a truetrac in the rear already and its just an lsd that works off of helical gears so it should still have the same characteristicts as clutchpack lsd in the slick stuff I would think but correct me if I'm wrong
     
  19. Aug 10, 2010 at 9:29 PM
    #19
    98fourbangertaco

    98fourbangertaco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I was first just looking into the truetrac cause i figured it would be easier to steer the truck in 4wd cause its an lsd instead of a locker till i was told that if i put any kind of lsd or locker in the front that i would slide around everywhere when it was slick, is this true cause i do a lot of wheelin when it snows and i dont wont to do anything that will make the truck sketcy to steer and drive on or offroad in the snow or any other kind of slippery situation, is the truetrac going to effect my snow driving?, thanks for the help guys
     
  20. Aug 10, 2010 at 9:35 PM
    #20
    98fourbangertaco

    98fourbangertaco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    accedently clicked unsubscribe, just posting to resubscribe
     

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