Rear Differential

How can I tell if I have a limited slip rear diff? I found some paperwork when i bought the tacoma saying the limited slip diff fluid was changed. It will spin both tires on a dirt road, but i got stuck and only one tire would spin. It kept alternating tires. I thought it wouldnt do that.

 

you have a prerunner so you should have a locking rear

 

nope, TRD is the only factory locker. (except the 4cyl TRD models)
the OP has a base model so he has a open diff.

 

Says SR5 in his little blue thing

 

No such thing as a sport model on a 95-04.
95-04 Tacomas do not come with a limited slip.
The only time they got an E-locker was with the TRD package which came on both prerunner or 4x4 trucks.

To be sure if you have one or not, look for an "RR DIFF LOCK" switch to the left of the steering wheel or look for the electronic actuator on the front side of the rear differential.

 

My Diff has a tag on it that says LSD oil only. Check yours, if it had the same tag you have limited slip.

 

I just realized you have a Gen1 truck...

 

like you said in the post below your 1st...its a 1st gen

...but back to the sticker thing.

This isn't true for all LSD diffs. Only clutch/friction disk style LSD's will have the decal/require LSD only fluid. Some LSD's are gear driven and regular gear oil can be used.

this.

First gens never came with an LSD, only open diff, or locker.

The Offroad package started in 1998. If you had a TRD Offroad, you had a locker, all other trucks had an open diff.

 

However, the e-locker was still an option on 95.5-97 Tacoma's.

 

I am about 99.9% sure the locker wasn't an option until 1998.

I have a sales booklet from the 1997 Tacoma Model year, and no where in it does it mention an E locker option.

unless it was a special order deal from toyota at the time.

 

this, i've never heard of a locker on pre-97 trucks.
doesn't mean they aren't out there though.

 

Let me find a link or two with proof.

 

On the contrary...I had a 96 tacoma OEM service manual and it had the locking diff in the service manual - which I thought was weird.

If it exists or not...it's very rare because nobody has heard of it.

 

cool.

Im not saying your wrong, I just haven't heard or saw it anywhere before.

 

pretty sure that it was, my 96 owners manual explains proper use of the diff lock, shows the button too.

Some lucky bastard out there has one, just nobody on this site.

 

Jack the rear end of your truck up
Spin the rear tires
If they spin in opposing directions, you have an Open Differential
If they spin in the same direction, you have a Limited Slip Differential

 

True, but of he has an LSD (which I highly doubt) he will probably check while he is in park and they won't spin at all. Unless of course he has the open diff.

 

Yes...
Jack the rear end of the truck up
*Make sure truck is in neutral; Make sure E-Brake is off (if you have one); excersize proper judgement during this step
Spin the rear tires
If they spin in opposing directions, you have an Open Differential
If they spin in the same direction, you have a Limited Slip Differential

Or do it the fun way:
Get in some dirt or gravel
Turn the wheel all the way to one direction
Punch the gas and don't let up
If you instantly start doing doughnuts, you most likely have an Open Differential
If you instantly careen into a ditch, you most likely have a Limited Slip Differential
Hahaha

 

Limited Slips are... well, limited - they aren't like an Auto-Locker
It's most likely, if you're dead stuck, that one tire will receive the vast majority of the power

If you indeed have a Limited Slip,
I would be very happy to evenly swap you my Open Diff for it

 

I have a non TRD 99 with an Elocker