Lockers.. dont hate me.

Hey all. Searched and didnt find what I was looking for. Hopefully someone who has more info can help me out. I know all about lockers but am looking for someone with hands on experience.

I want to make my 95 Taco 2.7l 4x4 more capable as a camping rig. It will see snow in the winter and mountains and desert in spring. I want to close up AT LEAST my rear diff, but I want to do it somewhat economically. This will be daily driven as well.

So do I put something like an Eaton true track lsd? Can I daily a Detroit or lunchbox style locker? Or do I just need to spend the $ all out do the ARB air locker or OX cable locker...

I would rather NOT do an Elocker axle swap. They are hard to find and I like the idea of my 8.4" rear end vs the 8" E locker version.

Remember, this will be daily driven and I would like to keep some cost down..

 

I daily'ed a '99 Tacoma with a lunchbox locker in the rear. Worked like a charm offroad, but the on-road manners were a bit squirrelly at times and occasionally dangerous. Lunchbox lockers "clack" when you make turns as they are disengaged, which some might find annoying but it didn't bother me. It is pretty loud though.

The issue is that if one of your tires starts to slip say on a wet city road, the locker can engage and worst case scenario make it hard to regain control of the vehicle especially if you're going at speed.

That said, tons of people have used lunchbox lockers for years and most will probably tell you it's not that big of a deal, you just have to drive knowing that it's there. Really up to you if it's your cup of tea or not.

I much prefer the selectable locker I have now in my TRD 4x4 Tacoma. But, they didn't make those to fit non TRD Tacomas so an axle swap is the only real way to add one to your truck.

Other option would be to get an ARB selectable air locker which is probably the most popular option. Not exactly cheap though, but having a selectable one is the way to go IMO.

 

I've run a lunchbox locker (Lock-Right) in my old 1976 40 series Cruiser for 20 years. Soft top and it's light and the locker doesn't adversely affect handling. I've run a lunchbox locker (Aussie locker) in an 1997 80 series Cruiser for 8-9 years with zero ill effects. The 80 series Cruiser is awd (full time 4wd) and the FJ40 is standard tranny with part time transfer. I know a few dudes who run autolockers as well. None of us have had a bad handling experience with autolockers. I have no idea where the bad opinions on handling come from. Has to be from internet expert 4x4 guys that have never tried an autolocker. They're solid, rarely break. I'm a fan of them.

 

I'd go with a Detroit locker in the rear and limited slip in the front

I've daily driven many jeeps with Detroit lockers and after a few days of driving after the install you'll hardly notice it back there . Its one of the best trail rated upgrades you can do

I'm running a Detroit locker in my 02 Pre Runner and it's been trouble free and road friendly going on 17k miles

 

Limited slip is a good idea if you want to daily it and don't plan to wheel very hard, and you get the added bonus of extra traction when you need it on the street too. Won't be as much traction offroad but unless you're climbing rocks and shelves you won't notice it much

 

The main thing with Detroit lockers is keeping the same dia tire on that axle . This also means keeping the same tire pressure , if you have a 5psi difference you'll experience driveability problems

Just keep tire pressure equal and tire dia the same and you'll be fine . As I've mentioned I've been driving vehicles around on city streets with locked rear ends going on 45years

My Camaro I've been driving on the street with a spool and on slicks for 20 years , no issues either !!!

 

I wonder if driving style affects the dailyability of the autolockers. I've always driven pretty freaking normal. I don't romp or get on the gas hardcore and I brake like a normal human driver so maybe that's why I haven't had any bad or rough experience with the autolockers on the road? I dunno

 

Quite possibly. I drive pretty conservatively especially in the 4cly. I suppose my only concern with the auto locker would be in the snow. Do you drive in the snow at all?

 

Thanks for the reply. Any experience driving them in the snow??

 

For a daily in all conditions, I love my Detroit Truetrac. It's a mechanical limited slip that locks up quick and won't wear out like clutch pack LSDs.

 

Not letting off the gas when cornering with wet or snowy roads is what gives them a bad rep. If you know they are there and don't drive like a moron they present no problems. If you get on it and try to break the rear loose they can present huge problems. Once they lock on a corner the rear wants to drive itself straight. Which in turn makes it want to come around on you. Then you either correct it or you go for a spin. I used to play around a lot with lockers and the snow when I was young and stupid. lol

 

Yep Utah, don't have autolockee in the taco but the Cruisers have no issue with the snow. But again in the snow I drive like there is snow on the ground and it's slick. I don't magically think oh I have a locker i'll be fine for traction. Thinking more and more about it I'll bet driving style makes more of a difference than I was thinking. It has to. How else do other people have these comments and experiences, know what I mean? Just cause it hasn't happened to me doesn't mean that it didn't happen to them. So it's great people share their experiences so we can all learn from it. I <3 internets because we have so much access to info and data and others takes on stuff. Anywho....

 

I've heard good things about the TruTrac

 

I hear ya, yeah the old 40 series Cruiser was my senior year high school vehicle. Already had the locker installed when I bought it 20+ years ago. My first taste of lockers and I was sooooold quick on em. And when I was horsing around yeah I could make it lock for donuts and shiz. A couple of times it clacked loud but never had a handling issue. Makes sense about romping on it and what was explained in this thread. Now when others bring up the auto lockers and handling thing I'll understand em better

 

Powertrax no-slip is quietest/smoothest lunchbox I’ve ever seen. Slightly more spendy, but well worth it. Been running mine for sever years now. Love it.

I’d have zero reservations about daily driving it, just as long as you are aware it’s there and adjust your driving to compensate.

 

So it's a mechanical lsd, does it ever really lock up? I need to look more into these?

 

Here is some good info: https://www.eaton.com/us/en-us/catalog/differentials/eaton-detroit-truetrac-differential.html

Yes, it does lock and provide power to both wheels when engaged.

 

Truetracs do not lock. Unless they re-designed them with a floating spring loaded cross pin. They are very good as for as an LSD goes but at the end of the day they are still limited slip.

 

I mean I was 18 years old when I had mine, so I can't discount that theory

 

My 96’ is spooled in the rear and has a truetrac in the front. Spools are cheap and I feel like a gangster dragging the tire at the mall.