What have you done to your Tacoma today? 1st Gen Edition

I'd consider an e locker If someone in Ut happened to have one laying around because they never got it installed.

All 4 of my Tacoma’s have had the factory E Lockers in the rear and I've never had a problem with them.

I've seen ARB lockers at work and even watched a buddy go through a few issues with air leaks but once they are dialed in its pretty impressive how fast they operate and having on board air is just convenient

 

All this locker talk has me regretting buying a truetrac.....thats been sitting in a box in my garage since may 2020

 

I've swapped two welded diffs out. One for a Detroit, and the other for an elocker. I regretted both. Weld it.

I like my ARB and OX more than the Toyota elocker.

 

Remember, opinions are like assholes, everyone has one.

 

Their own video shows how it disengages when changing directions.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nT_H6rpd-Ck

Or watch one of the many other videos by someone other than the company making them showing them failing to lock without rocking back and forth. Yes, it should lock back up right away, but that doesn't seem to always be the case.

 

Regearing to 4.88s when you've already increased your tires size to 33s puts the engine RPMs back close to where they were when you had 31s and 410s. This translates directly to less heat generation because both the engine and the trans are not having to work as hard. An external trans cooler will help even further with the trans heat issue.

IMO, 4.88s are perfect for a moderately weighted truck with 33s and the auto trans. Having said that, there are times when I wish I had gone to 5.29s but in my situation, weight I carry is the issue.

I know of a couple of people who have come to regret their 4.56 choice.

 

Great feedback I appreciate your input.
I've considered the 5.29 a little bit but think it's a bit over kill for my current setup. I wouldn't be sad if the truck was topped out a little sooner if it meant making the truck feel a bit more zippy. Stock gearing just leaves you wanting for a little more like a supercharger and around and around the rabbit hole I go.

I took the truck in today and had my Coopers balanced and the shop was kind enough to let me do my own oil change while it was on the lift. Currently at 321,050 miles



I got a new shirt from my wife today too

 

Did you even listen to what he said in the video?

He doesn't say it disengages from forward to reverse. In fact, after he demonstrated, he disengages the locker and says "disengaged it's open each way"

He even goes further to say that the bind SPECIFICALLY wont allow it to "disengage"

Earlier the video also actually demonstrates another misconception (or more accurately misinformation) that it takes half a turn for the locker to engage. I doesn't, that's false.



But... if we want to check out videos from people who aren't the manufacture of the locker... how bout we checkout the thousands of videos about...
"Troublehooting an ARB locker"
"How to fix an air leak in an ARB locker"
"Whats wrong with my ARB locker"
etc.

 

With a DC - Auto - 3.4 with 33s... I wish I had regeared to 5.29 a long time ago.

Granted I'm normally running pretty heavy. But with projects etc right now, running light... the 5.29s are really nice.

I'll be doing 35s fairly soon. But I would not say 5.29s are too much, or overkill in any way. FWIW.

 

Lots of big hills around here where lower gears come in very handy specially dealing with the power loss of high elevation. Besides the truck is going to be a bit heavier when I get the steel in my garage painted up. Hopefully those 600lb coils are up to the task

 

Consider me in the 4.56 with 33’s group lol. Should have done a bit more reading before pulling the trigger. I mean they’re a vast improvement, but with the weight now is the issue. That and desire to go to 35’s..

 

Is the starting making a grinding noise when it’s cold outside a thing? I know it’s not normal but that’s all I can think of that’s doing it.

 

My radiator on the new truck somehow sustained a dime sized hole in the plastic top. I JB welded another piece of plastic over the hole to hold me over until I could find a replacement.

Finally installed the Koyorad VH010513



I coupled it with the

$52 Hayden 678 Universal Rapid-Cool 9.5” x 11” Add-On Transmission Cooler – Not for Direct Replacement of the OE Cooler

Hayden 678 cooler, but the size is difficult to work with and I don't like the placement or hose routing so I may look for another alternative.

 

My mans, was waiting on this one

 

Another vote for ARB. Mine have been problem free F&R.

Buddy has a harrop though that seems to like it too. To each their own...

 

Have you seen the low pressure drop coolers from Long. They offer a variety of shapes and sizes. I have been running this one for the past several years and am happy with its performance.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005XZXB1M?ie=UTF8

 

My buddy had 4.56 and has recently switched to 5.29s. He did it because he carries a lot of weight like me and has gone to 35's.

 

I assume you would want the trans fluid going through the cooler before going into the radiator to help keep some of the heat from the trans fluid from making it to the radiator.

 

Yessir, and in the winter it makes sure the radiator gets the trans up to temp quicker as well

 

You guys are great