Locking Diff vs. Slip Diff.

K... thanks for dealing with me while I ask a slightly stupid Q..

My '99 pre-runner TRD off-road had a rear locking diff (button on dash)

Just bought a newly used '07 pre-runner sport DC LB.. at first I was bummed that he didn't get it with the locking diff, but now am reading that the sports come with full-time slip diffs..

what is the main differences and what can I get into and what not with the slip diff.. do all TRD sports have the slip diff?

Thanks..

 

So.. I would throw on the locking diff when I would go slight off-road (nothing to wild - and probably didn't even need it).

Anyone know the environmental limits of the slip diff?

 

All TRD Sport models come with the LSD.

The LSD is a lot better than having an open diff.

Here's a site to read on how they work.
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/differential.htm

 

Yes, absolutely.

Both require changing the differential carrier, and both would require setting up your gears again.

You can't have both.

 

"The only stupid question is the one that doesn't get asked..."

These guys have really answered your questions. The LSD is great in most situations. It really shines when you are towing and have minimal weight on the rear axle on a slippery surface.

The only bad thing about the LSD (and why I am a bit bummed I am getting it in my new truck) is that the TRD LSD is clutch driven. Therefore, the clutch can wear out (just ask the X-Runner guys). It may take a while, but you will need to replace it far down the road. How far down the road depends on how you drive. The good news is that it will continue to work as an open differential even after the LSD clutch has burned up. So, it is reliable, but it does require maintenance.

I hope that helps.

 

IF you know anything about offroading, you know that anyslip can kill you. as soon as you loose momentum. locked differentials mean that the tires always spin and dont slip. and you cant just get stuck then lock the differentials in when your stuck and expect to get out. put the truck in 4lo, lock the differentials use second gear. no rockcrawler has limited slip. every real offroader has at least welded axles.

 

Maybe another term for the glossary," Lincoln Locker" as in Lincoln Arc Welder.Refering to welded spider gears.

 

Ummm.... I've gotten stuck many times and reached down and engaged my locker/s and was easily able to get out. It's most fun when you're climbing an extreme hill climb and you start loosing momentum on the way up. Your vehicle is sitting in one spot with 2 wheels turning.... reach down, engage rear and alot of times, the front locker and.........boom, you're going up the hill again.

Real offroaders have welded axles? That's news to me....
The HARD CORE & extreme offroaders have welded spider gears. They also have heavy duty axles too (like Dana 60's, rockwells, and portals).

 

at least welded axles is what i said... i was just saying... if u dont want to get stuck, then u need to obviously alread in 4, and its better when your already locked... but ya. im sure u already knew this but hill climbing is one of the reasons the new tacoma's have the clutch start cancel switch... when u get almost all the way up and your truck cuts off from loosing oil pressure, u leave it in first and use the starter to get u the rest of the way up... but ya i thought that was cool when my bro told me that... my cj5 has rockwells under it but right now it only has 40s but im gonna get the 6.67s for it and run 57s.. and the axles under it are welded too...

 

Never had any vehicle cut off because of oil pressure.... I wouldn't use your clutch cancel switch all that often or else you'll destroy your starter. Personally....I WOULD NOT trust the starter to drive me up an extreme hill climb sitation. I'd rather back-up and try it again or bypass the obstacle completely.

40's? 57's? That's huge.... What kind of suspension do you have to run something like that? How much flex do you have? Doesn't sound like you've had much flex at all.

 

ya my brother is a fabricator... he has built everthing for the lift.... the axles are stretched as much as possible... it flexes pretty good though... like 10-12 inches...