Adding an air locker

Bought a 2013 with what I thought was the TRD off road. I found out it wasn't but it has the factory stickers on the bed that say TRD off road. So since I don't have a rear diff locker I have been looking at getting an ARB rear diff locker. My question is what am I looking at spending to get one installed and what should I do to make sure I don't get screwed over? And does anyone have any clarification on why I would have TRD off road on my truck but not the actual package? I do have a hitch and trailer adapter so I was thinking it might be the off road towing package but I have yet to get any real answers.

 

http://eastcoastgearsupply.com/i-788575-tacoma-8-4-non-eld-t100-tundra-3rd.html

Makes the install pretty easy. You could do it yourself. No better way to avoid getting screwed over.

 

The previous owner was a decal poseur?

 

It's not unheard of that unscrupulous sellers will put on the TRD sticker to increase the price. You have to look under the truck and get eyes on the rear diff. You can check the VIN for the configuration that it was originally sold as.

FWIW, I'd consider finding the rear axle from a wrecked TRD truck and just swap the whole thing in. It will bolt right in. Take the locker ECU and locker dash switch and make up a harness. I've had Air Lockers before and prefer the factory e-locker. Nothing wrong with the Air Locker but needing the compressor and plumbing was in my experience a little less reliable.

 

The only drawback to this is that you're going to a smaller ring gear, 8" versus the 8.4" he has now. It's a little bit weaker, is all.

 

The 8.4"/8.25" axle has the same 8" ring gear. The difference is the bearing caps are larger than the original 8" differential and the pinion shaft is larger as well. The V6 and e-locker carrier is plenty strong for most people, although to be fair the 8.4" with an Air Locker is going to be a stronger differential.

Just IMHO the relative ease of an axle swap outweighs the potential difference in strength, which you'll really only ever test when you beat up your truck. A lot of people, me included, beat the snot out of 8" diffs (and mine were 4 cylinder diffs with Air Lockers, which is the weakest of them all) and I think you only need to worry when you go to 35" tires.

 

Dave is right about the axle/ diff being the same size and such.

The 3rd member would be a much easier swap than the full axle and wiring for the e locker - which is by far an inferior product and the cause of many a Tacoma rear end grenading.

 

Lol... The plumbing and compressor aren't unreliable unless you installed it unreliably. I have guided several people with unreliable air systems to have completely reliable air systems with the correct procedures.

 

I stand corrected. Thank you for the information.

 

Great for you, my experience is just better with electric lockers. There isn't one perfect setup since nothing is infallible. I've just personally found more ways for the system to fail me with Air Lockers. But I got several of the issues, internal plumbing nicked by a ring gear, failed RDCKA compressor, leaky seals blowing oil out of the solenoids, etc. They were fine normally, other than a couple of cut blue hoses but I carried plenty of 4mm quick fit inline fittings for the normal sort of stuff that happens. I'd certainly use Air Lockers again since I would have better luck knowing what can go wrong and things like compressors have improved. But I just prefer e-lockers.

 

Wow I really appreciate all the great information. I am going to look into everything that was said. I am very curious though if there is anything I can do in regards to my truck being what I feel falsely advertised. I only went to look at the truck because the photos had the TRD off road stickers on them as if they were put on at the factory. They did not look like a regular joe put them on they are exactly in the same spot and perfectly symmetrical. IDK I feel like an idiot because I was trying to buy the TRD off road to avoid all of this. If anybody has an idea or has seen this before I would really appreciate the advice. Thank you again for all this info and please keep putting up info!

 

Was it listed as a TRD, did you pay a TRD premium, or was it only your seeing the stickers that were 'advertisement'?

Where did you buy it?

Toyota dealer? You might have a concession from them if you whine enough and can prove they charged more because TRD.

If it's a certified pre owned from a Toyota dealer, you have a better chance at getting attention, as they supposedly did a more thorough check. I don't think they actually do. I think they look at the vehicle, roll the dice and raise the price. Sorry, I'm a skeptic.

Another dealer, either large or independent? They'll smile and say 'sorry'.

Individual? Don't even bother.

If you have a Toyota dealer purchase and a lawyer friend who is willing to write a straightforward letter stating your case, it might get you a bit faster action. But if you have to pay an attorney, you'll likely not recover enough $ to cover their fee.

Lesson learned. Pre purchase inspection by a knowledgeable independent mechanic, with you and a 'check list' in attendance goes a long way avoiding such things.

 

I too wanted a TRD Tacoma specifically when I was looking, but I had heard of horror stories like this one and was sure to check for the Diff lock button on the dash when I found my truck. Sorry to hear about your situation OP, hopefully you bought it from a Toyota dealership so you'll have a chance of them making it right somehow.

I was helping out this guy on a separate thread last week who had a Tacoma with no TRD emblems but it had the RR Diff lock button on the dash. He posted wanting to know why nothing happened when he pressed the button, we went over all kinds of electrical scenarios or broken locker scenarios before it dawned on me that maybe someone replaced the dashboard with a TRD one. Sure enough, no locker...

 

I bought it from a allen turner Hyundai in Pensacola, FL. It was there as a trade in and unfortunately the only reason I went there was because I looked at the pictures and saw it was the TRD off road logo's on the back of the truck bed. it had 4x4 and V6 so I didn't dig too deep because I have never seen something like that. And I actually went to the bob tyler Toyota and it was the worst experience I ever had so I didn't bother buying from them. I thought I did my research but I see internet research is different that having a mechanic that know what he's doing take a look at your vehicle before purchase. I appreciate the straight forward advice it's exactly what I need. I looked at checklists online I should've asked a mechanic good to know for my future tacoma!

 

Wow that is crazy. I was skeptical about buying used and now I feel like I was right and should have waited to get exactly what I wanted from the dealer. I'm glad I know now and this forum has been extremely helpful and informative.

 

Well, it's not the end of the world....there's always the ARB option, or if you could get your hands on an entire TRD rear end (axle) you could swap that in. I've seen them go for cheaper than the cost of an ARB.

There's also full-time lockers like Lockrite, Detroit, Spartans, etc. They're much cheaper (around $400 I think) but they can be a little squirrelly on city roads if you aren't careful with them. More so if you have a manual trans, I had a Lockrite in my last Tacoma (auto trans) and it worked really well. Never gave me any trouble while city driving, just have to make sure not to give it a lot of gas going around turns.

 

So I have been doing a lot of research since the beginning of this thread and your advice gave me a wake up call. I recently went back to the dealer with all my findings and spoke with the sales manager and the used car side of the dealership management and they are actually willing to make things right they are going to find a toyota tacoma offroad same year and as close to the same mileage and we are going to do a truck for truck swap. It isn't final but that is the last arrangement from the dealership owner and the management at the dealership. If it all works out I'll post pics.