What do you have when locking diff is disengaged?

Hello everyone,

I'm hoping to become a Tacoma owner soon (probably a used 2nd gen), and as I'm trying to figure out what will best suit my needs, I'm trying to figure out if I should go toward the TRD Off Road or Sport. I know this has been discussed way too many times in general, but here's my specific question: On the Off Road with locking differential, when it's not locked, do you then just have an open diff?

I'm asking because I'd like to have something that can go off road (probably not really hardcore, but I want to explore around the desert southwest and possibly Colorado). But I also want something that will be good in the snow/ice and bad weather in general on the road. My assumption is that the limited slip diff in the Sport would be better in weather than having an open diff. So if the Off Road has an open diff when it's not locked, would that be worse for me on snow and ice?

 

Both the sport and the off-road have the same "Limited Slip" differential...at least after model year '09. Prior to that the sport had a clutch type limited slip.

I have used my locker when hung up on some rocks going up a trail. I could have maybe nursed it off with ATRAC (which is also part of the off-road package), but it still would have been a bit of a struggle. Locked the diff and drove right off.

You'll only need the locker for fairly serious off-roading, where wheels will be off the ground.

Both trucks, after '09, have open differentials front and rear. They use braking power to simulate limited slip differentials, and it sort of works. The off-road gets more advanced traction control (ATRAC) and the locker.

 

Ok, so when the locking diff on the Off Road is disengaged, it is identical to the diff you would have on the Sport?

 

When the locking diff is disengaged (normal operation while driving) it is an open diff, your wheels are able to spin a different speeds freely. If one wheel looses traction (in the air or in mud, gravel etc.) it will be the wheel that gets all the power. To my understanding Auto LSD, Trac and ATRAC (in that order each one is slightly more advanced) somewhat helps in that through sensors it applies brake to whichever wheel is slipping to give the opposite wheel the ability to rotate thus acting as a mechanic type LSD.

Read up on these two posts, between them you will have a much great understanding of what all the features are and do on these Tacoma's...It can get a tad confusing without some sort of guide to reference.

Here and Here and for the Sport models reference This to essentially enable the same ATRAC ability the Offroad version has.

 

Great info, thanks!

I'm breathing a sigh of relief, as I was thinking I'd have to choose between an lsd or a pure open/non-lsd with locking diff. I don't know why I thought that, but this is my first time to really be looking at this stuff. Thanks for taking the time to answer.

Now I really have a decision to make...

 

No problem!

If your getting a 4x4 then basically it comes down to do you want a locker or not. The sport and offroad are basically the same vehicles with the difference of diffs, hood scoop and atrac. The sport can be tricked into having Atrac usable but I've read it is not as effective as the true Atrac in the offroad models.

If you plan on wanting to add an upgraded diff then I'd stick with the sport or lower trims but that's just me.

 

Another difference between them is you can't get the double cab long bed configuration on the off-road, only the sport. The locker on the off-road can only be used during 4lo, unless you rewire it.

 

Exactly! If you're set on getting a short-bed, then get the off-road. You might save a bit of money by getting the sport, but it seems like most of the short-bed configurations have the off-road package anyway.

Get the sport if you have to have the long bed, or if color-matched bumpers/mirrors and a hood 'skewp' are important to you.

 

Rewire it for sure, only being able to lock the rear in 4LO is horseshit....this is a really good write up

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/locker-anytime-mod-for-dummies-2005.353724/

 

Sorry to thread jack, do I have an open differential in my 05 non TRD?

 

yup

 

Everyone has an open diff, except for 05-08 TRD sports. I believe 09 is when it went electronic.

 

Gotcha. Thanks