Tacoma front diff and LSD

Hi all.

My question is a two part question: first what kind of differential does my taco have up front and second what is considered to be the best LSD to use up front? I would like to use a positive locker but don't want the poor road behavior. I live in Idaho and there is a lot of snow, so I want my truck to be able to drive with no problems. Any suggestions? Thanks a bunch.

 

even a limited slip in the front of a tacoma will give you some bad handling in snow(the front will want to push through the turn) I have used lock right lockers front and rear with good results they dont really lock unless you start to spin.... as for front I believe it is a 7.5 front not sure..they usually just ask tacoma and what engine.

 

I think that you are right about the diff thanks. I have a 3.4 L V6. The 22RE is a better engine in my opinion although the added HP is nice. I was aware that they have some slight handling problems in the snow but from what I have heard its not too bad, compared to a positive locking diff at least. I really want the added traction. I see no reason to lift or get better tires till I have power to all wheels, or at least mostly to all wheels.

 

even a locker in the front woulndt want to turn like the limited slip i have used the lock rites also and they make to much nmoise just get some better tires i would be cheaper

 

Your front differential is an OPEN differential. Probably the same as your rear differential.

I'm not soo sure about having a limited slip in the front, but....many of the SUV's have them.

If you want a locker and want to keep the driving characteristics you have now - you're better off going with a 'selectable' locker (like an ARB air locker). The ARB air locker allows you to be a fully OPEN differential during everyday driving. Then - when you're offroading or stuck in the snow somewhere....reach down, press a button, and turn the locker on. The ARB is a full locker.

 

Thanks everyone, I have fully considered the options of lockers; selectable are too expensive for my needs and being a pickup with relatively little lift and unlockable sway bar my front tires usually stay planted. The rear locker helps tremendously in rock crawling applications but I still want to be able to get more power to the tires when in mud and snow. I was driving last weekend and got my truck stuck in a 3' snow drift, only one front tire was turning and that is why I want a LDS, I understand that they do not put a 50/50 split of power but that are an improvement over open diffs.

My main question is has anyone done this whit that LSD in their front diff? Also if my diff is 7.5" will any LSD for Toyota 7.5" diff work? I was looking at the Detroit TrueTrack, because I read that they are geared resistance base diffs. Where they apply power in a 1:3 ratio or the slipping tire. I also read that with these diffs a little break action can add the needed resistance to power the other wheel when one is in the air. I know that these are not as good as lockers, but I think that it would complement my needs fine. Again I appreciate all your help.

-Matt

 

Man, I've done LSD a couple o times and whoa! What A ride! I can't see why someone would do that to their truck.

 

A friend of mine did it to a blazer and eventually had to un-do it, maybe because the blazer is a little more top heavy but the nasty characteristics were more than he could bear, I drove once off road and I was like "cool" but then I hit the concrete and was like "not cool", I suggest stay with what you have, get some good winter tires or chains if they allow, the amount of money and ass ache you would be getting into with front LSD's I feel is not warranted.

 

Thanks for the comments everyone. I understand what you are saying, but I still want to know if anyone has used a LSD in their front diff, and how they liked it. My rear diff is good because I have the locker, but I really want to get the power to both front wheels without having to use a locker. Thanks

 

i had one before didnt like it replaced with the lockright...half the times you need the lsd to work it wouldnt the other half I would be saying a silent prayer that it didnt engage and would pushing the front tires through the turn and maybe into the tree in the mud..the lockrights are nice cause they dont lock unless you are on gas...so if you are in mud snow etc and go around a turn...dont press gas down and it will go through turn normal...mash gas and it goes sideways like the lsd tried every time

 

Hey thanks, I think I am going to get a LockRite, they are cheaper anyway.

 

Cool, get pix of the install, I bet it would a very popular thread.

 

when i put my 2008 tacoma in 4wd it gets hard to steer, especially at the extremes. is the does the front have a real differential or is it just a 2 way split?? it seems like it might be stuck or something if it's an actual differential

 

You have an OPEN differential in the front.
DO NOT make tight turns while you're in 4WD. It puts too much stress on the front CV joints.

If you're turning tightly and the truck starts bucking or won't move - DO NOT FORCE IT. LET off the gas and straighten the wheel. If you force it, you could blow out a CV joint.

 

x2 ???

 

I wouldn't think there is much "bind" on the CVs with the open diff, the bind is between the front and rear axles, becasue the rear is traveling a smaller distance in a turn. This is putting pressure "bind" on the drive line and transfer case.
This is why vehicles like land rovers that are full time 4x4 have a centre diff to release this bind.

 

I've seen several of them 'blow out' while on the trails from people turning too tightly while under torque.

How do you think the drive pressure gets to the wheels? It's transferred through the CV axle. They don't work very well when they're bent at a 45 degree angle.

 

Yeah I know what your saying, and agree that the bind is transfered through the CVs, but its equal across the CVs as the front open diff will releave any bind across the front axle.
Now if your locked up front also, thats where you can get axle bind as well as driveline bind.

 

i thought the whole point of a dif open or not was to relieve this difference in pressure so you could turn as needed and nothing would bind