Tacoma front diff and LSD

Yes!

An open differential allows turning. The tire that can spin easiest gets the torque.

A limited slip differential or system (like TRAC/ AUTO LSD) works when one of the two tires per axle spins excessivly because of a loss of traction (ice, snow, wet, sand, or loose rock)... A Ltd. Slip Diff. slows the spinning tire down (using clutches in the diff., or brakes) and that transfers torque to the traction tire so you can move. It is 'open' until needed so steering isn't affected.

A locking differential, removes the differential action and locks both tires together so they must turn at the same rate. Steering is very difficult to impossible. The benefit is in off road where you want all tires with traction to have torque to keep you moving. Air pressure or an electric motor activates the locker.

Active Traction Control (A-TRAC) is an advanced limited slip system that works more like a locking differential in that both tires are rotating almost at the exact same rate... giving maximum torque to the traction tires. The benefit is that steering is not affected.

 

The open differential will only let the pressure off ONE side (per say)- not both.

In a turn, both CV axles will be at an extreme angle and atleast one of them will always have torque applied to it = bad for CV's axles.

 

what's the best way to alleviate the binding and still be able to turn in 4w??

 

You can make turns....it's a matter of recognizing when the driveline & CV's are binding up. It depends on the situation and the surface you're driving on.

As long as you are aware of it - you'll be able to recognize when the binding occurs. If you're ever making a turn and the truck doesn't want to move, starts bucking, or some other strange characteristic.... don't force it. STOP the truck. Ultimately, you should straighten the wheel out.

In most cases, making turns from one street onto another (and you're on snow), you shouldn't have a problem. It's when you're turning (for instance) into a parking space or going slow making a 90 degree turn and applying the gas, etc.
Those tighter situations will require you to straighten the wheel out and sometimes put the truck into 2WD to make the turn.

 

You can turn in 4WD, as long as you are over low traction surfaces (wet, icy, gravel, sand)... Just don't be in 4WD on DRY PAVEMENT!

 

what about cars don't they use a front differential to turn and drive? how is it able to work with out binding?

 

The binding occurs on 4WD vehicles ... those that have a transfer case that engages the front and rear differentials & drive shafts together PART TIME. The front tires rotate more than the back, since they do the turning. 4WD is for use at times (part time) when traction is poor and the tires can slip as they rotate differently.

A differential is between the tires on the same axle, allowing the left and right tire to rotate at different speeds.

All Wheel Drives are not affected as they have a center differential between the front and rear drive shafts allowing different rotation on dry pavement.

 

They have AWD (All Wheel Drive) and their front, rear, & center differentials are designed totally different than ours.

For instance... several AWD vehicles will have 60% drive in the rear while only 40% in the front. The center differential is a clutch pak (for lack of a better explaination) that is set to give more torque to where its needed based on torque applied (front or rear). Some vehicles have clutch paks in the front & rear differentials that will send power side to side as needed.

We don't have that type of clutching mechanisms in our tacoma diffs. We have a transfer case (not a center diff).

Do some research online. It's interesting what you'll learn.

 

If you are specifically asking about front wheel drive cars... the front differential is doing its job... differentials are there to allow DIFFERENT rotation between the left and right tires. The same as it does on a rear wheel drive vehicle.

A 'locker' takes away the action of a differential and makes the left and right tire rotate at the same rate. A limited slip differential still allows slipping for turning on pavement.

In addidtion to the left and right tires rotating at different rates, the front pair of tires and the rear pair of tires rotate at different rates. In standard part time 4WDs (like the Tacoma) the transfer case locks the front and rear drive shafts together... and that is why you should only use 4WD on slippery surfaces, so they can rotate differently.

All Wheel Drive (full time 4WD) vehicles have a center differential so the front and rear drive shafts can rotate differently... thus be driven on dry pavement and no binding occurs.

 

is there an easy way to change out a transfer case for a center dif? or is it even a good idea.

 

It is mostly a bad idea, unless you got bucks to burn... AWD is not as good as 4WD if your purpose is off road ability. AWD is fine for highway speed steering control on mountain roads (Subaru, Audi Quattro, etc), but AWD on an off road vehicle is not as capable unless there is an center diff. lock to 'remove' the differential action... and there is on those Full Time 4WD rigs with a center differential.

If you are serious, then check out what the FJ Cruiser or 4Runnes have with their optional full time 4WD units.

 

hea everyone. im new to the site and i had a quick question. i just bought an 05 prerunner and its definitely time to change the diff fluid, problem is..... im not sure how to tell if the truck is equipped with a limited slip rear diff. how would i find that out???

 

does anyone have issues with breaking cv axles with the locker in the front???