No Limited slip on 4cyl 4x4's?

Yeah, I've heard good things about Detroit too. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the behavioral difference between the 2 is that the Detroit takes a second to ratchet and lock while the Lock Right and particularly the Powertrax units are almost instantaneous.

Both behaviors have their benefits in different situations.

 

Yes there is a moment before it ratchets and you can hear it at times but everyone tells me this is normal for a Detroit Locker, you are correct.

 

I just switched from a Dakota 5.2L 4X4, to my Taco. The LSD in the Dodge was as good as I've experienced. Very tight. I prefer the transparency of auto LSD.
Lockers a a different discussion entirely.

 

I too just switched from a V8 Dakota and I miss the limited slip. Would you not want a locker? I am looking at either a LSD or locker. What is your opinion?

 

Lockers perform when asked. They also clunck, ratchet, drag one wheel, or lock and bark the tires around corners. As well, lockers are harder on everything, (tires, u-joints, gears...)
Limited slip performs most of the time, but still drags ,or chirps the inside tire. But they require a least some traction from the slipping wheel, if you are trying to apply more than the torque than the "breakaway" setting on the LSD clutch pack. I found that moderate thottle around corners with an LSD, would chirp the tire, because it is trying to match the inside tires speed to the outside tire. (which is the idea, but not all the time)
Your truck doesn't have TRAC?

 

No, mine is a base model 08. Came as a group buy in the region, good price but no TRAC, LSD or locker. Its OK, can still add it aftermarket an be ahead.

 

I'd get a LSD if you plan on driving mainly on the street. If you plan on doing some serious off roading, a locker would probably be more useful.

 

It is primarily intended for off road, it's OK on-road the way it is.

Thanks for the advice.

 

isnt the powertrax a mini spool? if so that will put you right in the ditch during the winter on the highway. been there.

 

Been trying to understand this better. I have an '09 2wd with standard stability-control and traction-control. If I turn off the VSC, the auto LSD turns on. My question is, what's the difference between the normal traction-control doing it's job and the LSD doing it's thing?

The manual's pretty vague.

 

TRAC is the default mode. It will cut thottle, and use the ABS system to stop excessive wheelspin.
Auto-LSD uses the ABS system to ensure both rear wheels are turning similar speeds, spinning or not. Auto LSD does not cut throttle, whereas TRAC does.
My experience thus far has been that TRAC acts as a limited slip, so long as only one tire is losing traction, hammer on it, and it cuts throttle. The system on 2009's is far less intrusive than in past years.

 

If the Toyota LSD are anything like Fords they are worthless after 50K or so anyways. Lockers rule over limited slip for off road work.

 

I am leaning to a locker. My intent is for off road stuff with it, its fine the way it is on road. Thanks for your input.

 

It's worth mentioning, it will not be the same on road with a locker. There are side effects..... But if off road traction is the ultimate goal, nothing beats a locker...

 

Get an ARB locker and you will have the best of both worlds. And, you will have a stronger rear end then the factory e-locker.

 

Not really.... it doesn't help you on the street.

 

The OP did not mention anything about street performance?

However, even though the new auto LSD may not be as good as a mechanical LSD off road, it is designed to work on the street in more of a safety, control feature for the truck, which is a good thing especially in wet conditions. And, with an ARB Locker installed, with the push of a button you would probably have the best Locker available for our trucks off road. And for those who wished they had a factory e-locker, (like many of us who could not get one with the 4 cyl) the non e-locker diff installed on Tacomas is a bigger, stronger rear end then the factory e-locker diff, so with an ARB Locker installed, you would have a stronger and better rear end. Auto LSD/ARB= best of both worlds. And you could do a dual wheel burn out on the street as well!

 

With an ARB Locker installed, your truck will drive normal on road unless you activate the locker. Put a spool in there and have fun driving around town...

 

If you can't afford the ARB then go with the LSD. Driving a locker on the street requires some care especially if it's slippery. And you may have to put it back to normal before you sell it.

I had a LocRite and it went clack, clack, clack going around corners. You never accelerate around a turn you always decelerate. Acceleration will cause it to lock and if it's slick out you may find yourself facing where you came from.

This was on a Samurai that was mostly used off-road so it didn't matter and it worked great! But I don't think I would want it on my street Tacoma just for occasional off-road use.

Bob

 

First I was responding to...

had you read the whole thread you would have known this. Second he has no Auto LSD. So the question was a generic what is best...... An ARB is only better in extreme off road. On road, and for light off roading, a limited slip is best.