Diff Upgrades: Where to get a True-Trac Front and ARB Locker Rear installed or How-To guide?

My truck:
2009 DCSB SR5
Bilstein 5100 w/ OME x885
JBA UCA's
TSB 4 leaf back
Firestone Riderite Airbags w/ daystar cradels

As I get more into overlanding and hitting the off road trails, I realize one of my weakest points is that I have an open diff front and rear on my truck. I know I have the electronic limited slip (TRAC) on my truck in 4Hi or I can do the Yellow Wire Mod so I can have TRAC on in 4LOW, but nothing beats a true rear locker.

I'm focusing on right now regearing to 4.56 gears so I can run 33's in the near future, a True-Trac in the front, and an ARB air locker in the rear. Reasoning for the True-trac instead of a locker in the front end is that I feel it is more cost effective for the front end for my application and I don't foresee myself hitting a trail that hard that needs a front locker. (Anyone want to convince me otherwise?)

I know the best source is ECGS on the forums and I saw they do drop in replacements w/ a core charge for regearing the front, but can they do that with a True-Trac installed in the front diff? I saw they do that for an ARB locker and re-gear for the rear.

Also, are there any how to guide to install the ARB compressor, wiring, switches, selinoids, and the diff assemblies? I tried a search but I see more of the final install pics and not much on the how to.

Thanks in advance for the help.

 

I think having the LSD upfront with the Air Locker would be pointless. But if you insist on having something in the front, I would install another ARB since you already have installed the system for the rear and you need just another line and control (no pump).

Install Guide... If this is your first diff set-up, I would take to Offroad/Axle shop have them do it.

 

There was a thread recently that some owners really detailed their experiences with both the TruTrac and the ARB units. The conclusion I came to was the following...

• A TruTrac in the rear is ideal in the majority of situations assuming it isn't a dedicated offroad vehicle. The LSD unit performs way better and actuates automatically.
• You can't install a TruTrac for the front (at least that's what I was told). For the front, ARB is pretty much the only option. If this is wrong, someone please correct me.
• To validate the top two bullets, one of the members here actually has an ARB in the front and a TruTrac in the rear and he said he prefers that setup.

Pretty much, the only time the ARB outperforms a TruTrac is in dedicated wheeling where you put a wheel high in the air and need to go slow. Even still, the TruTrac can still shine in that type of situation if you use the brakes to control the spin.

 

It really comes down to your use case scenario though. Straight up crawling machine? Go ARB and don't look back.
Do you drive the vehicle on the road more often than not? Snow and ice? LSD is probably better.

One thing I often think about is HOW and WHEN you'll be needing the diff for help. A lot of times, you'll be rolling along and won't know you need the extra traction until your already at a stop. Then you'd lock the diffs and try to start from a complete stop. The big issue here is that you've lost 100% of your momentum, arguably the #1 thing that keeps you out of trouble. What's nice with an LSD is you don't need to stop and engage it. So instead of stopping and losing all your momentum it engages on the fly and keeps you from getting stuck in the first place.

 

Yup, TruTrac rear ARB front. I also like your gear choice,never fear the gear!

 

It is correct that ARB is the only choice for a front traction device.

ECGS has great prices. I recently installed 4.56 gears and TrueTrac in the rear. I opted to order the parts (free shipping over $500 on parts) and have a local gear head that I trust do the setup for me after I pulled the diff. I'm going to do my front diff soon, no locker for me up front. I'm running 285/75r17 tires and love the 4.56 gears.

 

FWIW.....

If you're gonna go thru the effort & costs of changing gears...it's pointless NOT to put ARB's in the front & the rear. I would highly recommend a profession install of both the gears & ARB's.

We had 2 ARB's in our Jeep and they are absolutely awesome!!! There's nothing like having a completely stock open diffs for day-to-day driving and the ability to flip that switch and be locked in an instant.

I think the most impressive thing about the ARB's...... You can 'attempt' a hill climb in 4WD totally open. If you get half way up and find all 4 wheels are turning but no forward movement. You can reach down, flip those switches without even stopping or slowing down. Fully engages while you're still on the gas.
It's a beautiful thing.

 

I have the true track in the rear on my truck. I was abusing the ship out of mine and it let me know it didn't like it with a loud pop. The true trac is great. Mine is quiet smooth and engages great. They don't have friction material so no need for the lsd additive and they don't wear out and have to be adjusted. I just seen one in a 700 hp truck today so it is strong as hell. Randy ring and pinion is where I got mine from for around 560 shipped to nc

 

I just did this myself. 4.56's with ARB's front and rear. Small ARB compressor.

The air compressor comes with detailed instructions and wiring diagram.

Write up for the rear:
Https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...ocker-3rd-member.193828/page-14#post-11556589
It's for an E-Locker rear. But, it's the same for an open diff except for the E-Locker gear part.

Front diff removal instructions:
http://eastcoastgearsupply.com/files/PDF Files/clamshell-removal.pdf
Just install in reverse.

Stub shaft removal:
http://eastcoastgearsupply.com/files/PDF Files/toyota-clamshell-stub-shaft-removal.pdf
They don't mention the stub shaft in the front diff instructions. So, don't do what I did and miss that step. The stub shaft has to be switched over to the new diff along with the ADD tube.

Torque spec guide:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-torque-spec-guide.318116/

My thread:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/this-weekends-project-re-gear.409086/
If you want to see some of the things I ran into