Lockers for 2nd Gen/input greatly appreciated

I was wanting to put a locker on the front of my 2006 Tacoma and posted a thread wanting info about it. I got a reply that I should probably put a locker on the rear instead because of the fact that A front locker could break the cv's. I would like to hear replies from anybody that's made these mods to 2nd Gen Tacoma's. Any and all info from brothers that have made these mods including price and brand would be greatly appreciated. Again ALL INFO is appreciated. Thanks.

 

I don't have a front or rear locker but if I'm trying to find info on this site I like to go to Google, type in 'tacomaworld' then related information and you will most likely find a thread with a bunch of info.

In your case I would go to google and type in 'tacomaworld 2nd gen front or rear lockers' first or 'tacomaworld do I need front lockers'...stuff like that

My truck is pretty much stock because I don't do any rock crawling or heavy off roading in it and dont plan to. I'd say before you go totally head over heals really ask yourself what is your plan and end goal for your truck.

Personally if I was going to make a offroading machine out of a tacoma I'd go 1st gen extended cab but of course they are hard to find in decent condition. I have a 1995 2wd that will never leave the family. Id rather give it to a friend in need than sell it

PS. My girlfriend is a jeep person and I have a great time watching her fuck her shit up with me puckered up in the passenger seat. Don't get me wrong though I would love a rock crawling tacoma.
Good luck

 

Why do you want a locker? What exactly do you plan to use it for? Why do you want it only on the front? Why not put one on the rear? Without explanation this makes no sense to me. Let us know what you are trying to accomplish and why and you’ll get better responses.

 

I have ARB air lockers, wheel in 11 different states and have never broke anything. I am conservative when I wheel, and use both lockers plus a winch when needed. Get 2 of them. Good luck with your truck.

 

Preciate it Disco. Even when I had my Jeeps, I always wanted a Tacoma. I just loved the Jeeps because of bein' able to take the top off. It's the next best thing to a Harley.
Whatstcp I really don't know. Never had a locker mod and just assumed I'd probably want a front for the fact that I could pull positive in different directions. Thanks for the replies fellas.
Sprig- just 4 wheeling are my plans. I just want any and all info I can get.
Mully-thanks dude. Great reply.

 

I’ve been on the fence too about a front locker. From watching various YouTube videos I noticed they break CV’s either bound up tight and forcing through or too much wheel speed. Especially if the tire comes up off the ground and the second makes contact snap goes the CV. There’s a dude that has a YouTube channel called DirtNation. He has some decent wheeling videos with a locked up 3rd gen and he wheels with other vehicles besides Tacoma’s and shows them all going through the same obstacles. I would give you a good idea of what locker can help with and where the limit of a typical locked up mid travel Tacoma is.

 

Thanks Shadow. Best reply yet. Thanks for the info. Tell me about your Tacoma if ya have time. I'm really interested in any and all mods. Feels great to be a part of the Tacoma family don't it? This is a great website.

 

I don’t want to clutter your thread with my boring mods. You can click on my profile, then click on the information, I listed most of the mods there.

 

ARB preference for me. I do like the Toyota e-lockers, preferably the newer style in the 3rd gen but they've all been solid if you keep the actuator in shape.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/front-arb-air-locker-diy-install-thread.692979/

 

Thanks Shim. Very helpful.

 

Front lockers only really break CV's when you're being dumb with them.

Generally a rear locker is much more useful than a front locker, if you have none get a rear locker first, if the 'froadin' you do still merit's a front locker then get a front too.

When you re-gear for larger tires or weight and towing is the best time to get a lockers, no sense in paying for a job done twice.

ARB is probably the most widely used and tested and when they fail they fail open.

Downside is you have to add an air system, upside is you have onboard air now.

Eaton makes a new E-Locker that seems to have some promise but they can fail partially locked or in the fully locked position and supposedly they semi-unlock and relock when switching from forward to reverse and back I don't know the mechanism inside the device as to why they do this but this is what my light research yielded.

Upside, you don't have to add an air system or worry about air lines.

Air system seems more reliable and fail safe as well as when locked it stays locked until it loses air pressure or is unlocked regardless of what direction you're going.

Lockers make it very difficult to turn especially the front they just want to go straight: period. This is because you're removing your differentials ability to differentiate and both wheels turn at the same speed with the same torque. "Locked together"

Lockers are great when you need them though.

A-Trac helps but it's no substitute.

 

The mechanism plunges pins to engage the clutch but the pins must ride up a ramp to be plunged. When reversing direction the ramp rides the pins down, then must turn far enough to ride the pins back up the ramp in the opposite direction. You end up with a measurable amount of deadband in the system and the mechanism does release and reapply the plunging action during direction reversals.

Equal speeds, not equal torque.

 

Thanks Key. Very useful info.

 

Get your suspension mods finalized and your desired tire size on there. Get on board air and learn the benefits of airing down your tires under 10 psi. Get a good winch setup. Then decide if you still really need lockers. You'll be a much better driver by this point, and may decide lockers aren't something you really "need". I'm still open/ open (TRAC disabled) and this truck goes places!

 

Thanks PigPen. I actually have a lot of experience off roading and am pretty aware of most of the tricks. I do have a Smittybuilt winch along with a 3 1/2 skyjacker lift and 285/75R16 tires. I really just enjoy making mods. I maintain and take good care of my Tacoma but do enjoy the hairy stuff from time to time. I need to update my profile pic. The pic I have doesn't show those upgrades. I don't know if I'll go air or not. I'm really just tryin' to research as much as possible. I'd like to know how well lockers like the Yukon grizzly lockers and others perform and any cons associated with it.

 

Putting a locker only on the front is just not a good idea. I don’t think it will accomplish anything. At least I’m not sure what it would accomplish. If it was a great idea then factory’s would put them on the front instead of the rear or at least give you a choice. A front locker by it self will put a lot of stress when in use on the front and you will break things. If you think you really need a locker put it on the rear. Put a locker on the rear and see if that does all you want to do. If not and you have a need to climb up the face of cliffs, mt. Everest, the Empire State Building or what ever then put a locker on the front too.

 

10-4. I am hearing that some. Preciate it Sprig.

 

I went with arb front and rear. The truck is very capable without the lockers and most of the time I don’t use them. It was a “might as well...” decision when I re geared to 4.88
That said, having that extra capability has made some rock steps look easy, and also got up a particular rock climb I otherwise wouldn’t be able to do without the lockers. I have no complaints on the product from arb.

you got some pretty good advice/info here already. Good luck with your mods

 

Thanks Jazz. Yeah I did get some good advice. Tacoma world is good people.

 

I am in the same spot as op. Have lift and tires. Sport with lsd so wanted locker rear. Then find out if doing locker may as well do gears at same time. Costs adds up quickly and at about $4500 with gears and rear locker. Add another $1k front locker.

then sometimes I think the 285s aren’t too bad stock gear maybe just save a bunch of money and just add a locker. Idk

front locker kinda scares me though. It would basically be only used as a last resort