truetrac vs e-locker 2nd gen

I have a 4WD 2009 TRD Offroad and planning a gear swap (3.73-to-4.56) and also considering adding a helical (Thorsen) diff to the front, but also wondering about replacing the rear e-locker for a Detroit TrueTrac LSD. Has anyone done this ? is it possible to exchange the e-locker for the LSD ? The reason for this is snow roads, and easier turning on windy forest service roads... or am I out to lunch and should keep the e-locker ? I do not plan to do much rock-crawling, if at all, just overlanding, and the associated highway miles to get there, and winter driving in north Canada. Happy to read any comments and suggestions !

 

I believe your TRD OR has the 8" rear diff with the elocker. And the TRD Sport came with the 8.4 lsd variant.

...and the truetrac only fits the 8.4".

To fit the truetrac on your truck would require a complete rear axle swap from a 2nd gen Sport model.

 

Why would be the question. Why would you get rid of a selectable….

 

@SUMOTNK Thanks for the info ! ...I was afraid that would be the case. So one more dumb question, what do the 8" and 8.4" dimensions refer to ? is that the diameter of the ring gear ? or some dimension of the axle pumpkin ?

@02hilux having the e-locker locked in the rear makes tight turns harder than if you have a LSD, and a bonus is I do not have to "turn-on" the diff, the LSD is always on. According to Toyota speeds for having the e-locker on are quite slow. While a fully locked rear diff is good for rock crawling and hard core off-roading, but I do not plan of doing much of it, and the LSD would perhaps be OK for those sporadic tough spots...or maybe not...

 

8.4 & 8 third are different in designed

locked rear don’t necessarily mean it’s for hard core offroad or rock crawling. There’s many benefit with the capability of controlling traction vs waiting for the truck to lose traction for a potential lock up. Personally, I preferred locking the diff before getting into a questionable position but each to their own. Had a tundra with a lsd and it was annoying when turning, hearing the rear end chirp because the inner tire spins at a different speed from the outer tire.

I’m sure someone will be more than happy to swap your rear elock axle for their open 8.4 or look for one from from an early tundra, they’re 66.5wms like your 66wms 2nd gen taco

 

I have a Truetrac in my third gen with the 8 inch rear end. it ls buttery smooth, doesn’t chirp at all, and a ton of fun to drift and off road with. Only downside is if one wheel lifts off the ground and there isn’t any resistance, it’ll just one leg like every lsd but pulling the e brake to stimulate resistance solves it, or the AUTO LSD feature in third gens. I don’t think any of that will matter if you aren’t rock or rut crawling though.
Based on what you said you’d be using your truck for, I don’t think it’s necessary to rip out the factory e locker. But the Truetrac is extremely convenient considering you can daily drive without it chirping tires, but when you want to have fun you can kick the back end out without having to engage or disengage anything (but traction control) or hit the ruts or rocks and it basically acts like a locker as long as you stimulate resistance on the wheel off the ground with the ebrake or auto lsd

 

@StreetSr5 Thanks for the info ! ...so is your setup OEM or did you have the Truetrac installed later ?

 

third gens don’t come with mechanical lsd, it’s aftermarket. My truck came with the standard open diff (sr5 so no factory elocker) the Truetrac is better in every way than stock

 

I have a truetrac in my 8", drifts and hooks well on or off road

 

we're talking 2nd Gen.....

 

Is the 8” in the 2g different than the 3g? Excuse my ignorance I’ll see myself out lol

 

Truetracs rule. I put one in rear of the '94.