rear locker and front locker

How hard is it to install a locker?
How much will it cost (approx)
Is it worth it?

 

Read this thread

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/1st-gen-tacomas/200467-4-wheel-drive-98-tacoma-locking-hubs.html

 

how hard? if you aren't mechanically inclined, i wouldn't do it. you also need the right tools. if you screw it up you can do some serious damage.

how much? seems to depend on labor rates wherever you live. iirc, i paid $400 per axle. that could be alot or a little, depending.

is it worth it? what exactly does that mean? worth it compared to what?

if you offroad, in my opinion, hell yes it's worth it. you will be able to go places you never, ever dreamed of going before with open diffs or lsd's. all you have to do is wheel a few times with folks with lockers and you'll see what i'm talking about.

i will say this though. sometimes having lockers makes things "too" easy. i used to wheel plenty and sometimes i would purposely keep my lockers off just to challenge myself a little bit. other times, i got in situations where i was damn glad i had them. your experiences will vary.

 

Can one of you snap a picture of how the hit and bumper are installed. The body shop who put on my bumper was lazy and said they couldn't keep the factory hitch on there. Now I'm doing it myself.

 

If it's a DD a selectable locker is mandatory IMO. They run about $1000 just for hardware. Not worth it unless you plan to put some serious money in other off road modifications as well. I agree with what jackhart said about the difficulty. I often find myself doing the same thing. Your money would be better spent on a lift and a set of 31"-33" off road tires.

 

I say do the install yourself.

Purchase the complete 3rd from Marlin Crawler with the gear ratio of your choice.

1. Drain gear oil
2. Pull wheels and drive shaft
3. I removed the cap on the MC and covered it with Saran wrap (in your kitchen drawer?) and put the cap back on. This eliminated the fluid from getting all over the place once I cracked open the brake lines
4. Unplugged the ABS sensors
5. Removed the 4 nuts from behind each backing plate
6. Carefully slid out each axle 6"
7. Remove the 10 nuts/ washers from the 3rd
8. Carefully pull towards the front, removing the 3rd off of the studs. It's heavy and awkward due to the position you are in, be ready for the weight
9. Clean the surrounding area well, use a thin layer of RTV being careful to NOT get any on the inside
10. Install the new 3rd and do all else in reverse.

Once you have all of the tools gathered, takes about an hour and a half.

Hope this helps you.

 

That an air locker?

 

Yes sir... an ARB for the 8.4 3rd in my '03 Tacoma.

These lockers are awesome.