converting Sport Model to A-TRAC

I haven't been able to find this info in the old threads. If I wanted to add A-TRAC to my sport truck, what parts (and part numbers) would I need?

I know it will require a hydraulic brake booster instead of the vacuum booster I have. (part number?)

Is there an offroad specific computer/VSC computer/etc?

Different instrument cluster?

Wiring changes?

ABS sensors/computer?

I am considering this a feasibility study. I would love having A-TRAC available. I will be adding F/R lockers and gears at some point, but If I can make minor mechanical changes for a under a thousand dollars, I am getting a huge capability increase for a small fraction of the cost.

Cheers.

 

I really don't know about the fesability, but a sport tacoma, with the cool look, A-TRAC equiped, would be NEAT!

 

x2

 

just buy a trd offroad and get a new hood bumber and door handles.

 

seriously guys... thanks for the useless replies x3. If I wanted an OR model, I would have bought one... I intended from the get go to install new gears and lockers F/R... so why pay for an OR model? ALSO, IT was MANDATORY that I get the bigger bed.

We aren't talking about a 4x4 conversion... it is a brake booster and maybe a few sensors. I should be able to get all of the parts from a wrecked truck... if I knew what other parts I needed.

I know the gurus out there with their wiring diagrams and service manuals can do a side by side comparison and come up with a part list... please!

 

sorry I don't have much to offer in the way of actual answers, but you might post this over in the tech forum as well. Some of those guys have the in-depth knowledge to answer your question.

good luck!

 

-daytime bump-

 

Just get lockers, you can not do this conversion under the $1K
You need to replace whole ECM plus skidd computer and reprogram which alone is way over $1K
Brake booster is another $600 - $1000 so you will be way above of price of two lockers. I think ABS sensors are the same since you have 09 which has VSC.

 

1. To reiterate, please treat this as intended in my 1st post "I am considering this a feasibility study". This is a mental exercise.
2. What is this warrenty you speak of? My truck is so far from stock that I will be very hard pressed to get anything covered. These lockers you speak of... are they covered under warrenty? the new gears? when I grenade something in my IFS will that be covered? The point is completely moot.
3. I can worry about the cost and do my own cost/performance calculations.
4. As I already stated, I will eventually be going to lockers Front and Rear.
5. A-TRAC is a superior means to go somewhere >75% of the time. While lockers have a great place in offroading, they are not the be-all, end-all, mythical panacea people make them out to be.
6. Let us please try to avoid the A-TRAC vs TRAC vs Auto-LSD vs Locker debate...

So far on the list we have 'ECM, ''skidd'' computer', and brake booster.
BlueT, when you said skidd computer, are you refering to a VSC module behind the dash? Do you have part numbers for an 09 Sport vs 09 OR?

Can anyone confirm if the ECM has a different part number? Will new keys need to be coded for the ECM?

Thank you for input so far guys. Keep it coming.

 

Dont have part numbers (behind the dash on pass side that would be 4wd ECU, I think skid is in the engine bay) , and yes everything needs to be reprogrammed. Also not sure if you can just buy junk computer and swapped in your truck. I think 09+ would need blank one.
Plus do you know if you have all the wiring ?
If you need to get new harness that would be costly and hard to replace.
Honestly if you are so keen on getting A-Trac (not sure why ) easiest way would be to get Offroad truck and just swap hood and color coded items from the body

Oh and I completely dont agree with your #5.

 

Actually the electric factory rear locker alone is worth the price difference of the OR TRD model.

And I wasn't aware that the OR had a smaller bed then the Sport - that's news to me.

Also, your question has been posted before (in the correct and appropriate technical chat area).. here

Anyway I get your line of thinking.. ATRAC is wicked cool and I wish my 07 had it, and I have too much invested in mine to just trade it off for a model with ATRAC.. of course I think the best option is to get the lockers, or limited slips.. the front locker really binds up the steering/turning and a limited slip up front seems more practical to me. The rear locker is fantastic! I love mine, I did the mod so it can be engaged anytime I want. Really fun.

Best wishes in your quest for answers..

 

Agreed. I think that a new wiring harness would render this infeasible. However, wiring harnesses are usually very common across all models to save money... however on my first however, I have the biggest version of our trucks-being the 4dr, longer bed... which might mean it has a different harness.

 

I have an '09, I thought the deciding factor for the long bed was the transmission not the model? I'm almost sure that I could've gotten the O/R with a longer bed if I got an automatic. Sorry off topic.

As far as A-Trac goes, doesn't it only work when 4lo is engaged?

Scott

 

Good link. Thank you. The 4 door "Long" bed is not available in Off Road trim . If it had been, I would be driving that instead.

 

I have 07 DC LB and I know mine is not pre-wired. I was looking at the way to throw TPMS out so checked the harness and it does not have half of the cables required. But yours is 09 so who knows they may have put in but with Toyota being cheap on other stuff and copper wire being expensive I would think they would rather spend few dollars on labor in China then install $200 of extra copper that will never be used

 

Bed extender

 

Careful now...I came away pretty impressed with it. It walked that bowl on Dickey Bell without even thinking. I look forward to testing it more in the future and further forming my position on it.

That said, everyone saying get lockers is ABSOLUTELY CORRECT. Lockers will be much less expensive than an A-TRAC conversion (in both dollars and time), allow you to regear at the same time, and put a compressor on board for OBA.

A-TRAC is a great feature to consider if you're in the market for a new Tacoma already. If you're not, don't bother and look at locker options.

 

That is correct...

In H4 you have TRAC and that is awesome in high range... A-TRAC is the Low Range traction control and it does brake harder any loose tire for über traction control, like lockers provide.

To the OP: If you are going for front and rear lockers, then make sure they are selectable so you can turn them off for steering. The A-TRAC automatically locks/ unlocks loose tires so steering isn't affected, but because of that it makes quite a bit of noise when operating (only when there is slippage, not all the time it is activated).

As much of a fan of A-TRAC that I am, I see no reason (at all) for doing this if it were possible. The after-market lockers you say you are going to get, will get you everywhere.

You could have saved a fortune buying an Off Road as it has the rear locker and A-TRAC. But, if you had to have the longer bed and didn't want the bed extender, I see why the Sport... But surely not for the fake hood scoop and colored bumpers?

If you succeed in installing the A-TRAC, then there is no need for the after-market lockers. A-TRAC provides the traction of lockers, but it makes noise... and isn't "smooth", which seems to bother some here who have front lockers.

I kind of think changing your differentials will be easier than adding A-TRAC to a Sport... But, I would be curious to follow you on this. Maybe search to find if anyone in Japan or anywhere has done it already?

Good luck!

 

A-TRAC is great for when you can be on the gas (mud, sand, hills, loose rock. etc.), but it does nothing at crawl speeds (on the rocks).

Conversion is not practical - I thought it through as well. For the money, you can put air lockers in and be better off.

 

If you have the ability/knowledge, please start writing. BTW, this is nothing like asking for a list of parts for a v-8 pulled froma '69 chevy swap... it is more akin to asking, "hey the 09 in xyz trim came with heated, turn signal, curtesy light mirrors and my truck doesn't have them. What parts are required to add them in myself?".


Based on the info here: http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/at...76793371-ability-add-atrac-2008-2009brake.pdf

It appears to be a Combination meter (if you want the lights), A-Trac switch (or any switch for that matter), Skid Control ECU, Hydraulic Brake Booster Module, rear-diff switch (any switch to simulate a rear diff), potential wiring harness modifications, and maybe an ECU.

Do the O.R. models have have 100% hard lines?