Tacoma Off Road - Locking rear diff

I am new to the site, so please excuse me if I am not posting in the right area. I have a question regarding the rear locking differential for a 2008 -2011 Tacoma. The way I understand it, the Off Road package is has an electronic engaged locker (non full time). Is it possible to just add a rear limited slip diff to any Tacoma. I'm interested in having the limited slip rear diff and am wondering if I could just add that instead of paying more for the Off Road Package. If so, what would you recommend?

 

You can't have both a locker and an LSD. One or the other.

I'd say LSDs are better if you generally don't off-road much and are more interested in traction for daily driving in the snow etc... If you off road with it, stick with a locker.

 

To answer the question slightly differently, if the Tacoma you want has an open differential, you can add aftermarket limited slip, of several types, or an aftermarket air locker which functions similar to the OEM electric locker, but is actuated by compressed air. Converting to the Toyota e-locker isn’t really realistic.

 

Agreed.

The factory lockers are pretty darn good lockers, but there are definitely better ones in the aftermarket realm. The thing about the air lockers (ARB) is that you also need to install some way to actuate the locker, which is typically a small air tank and compressor that is hard-wired into the truck, air lines, etc... Most people who go that route opt for a bigger tank than what's necessary strictly for the locker so that they can fill tires or even operate air tools while on the trail.

Getting a factory locker installed is more straightforward than that, but you have other things to worry about because the diffs with factory lockers are generally slightly different than the non-locker equipped trucks (iirc). The "easiest" option (labor wise) is sourcing a complete axle assembly with a locker (from a junk yard) and swapping them out. You also need to worry about gearing, so make sure your front diff is geared the same as the "new" one. Then you need to wire up a switch, too. In the end, an aftermarket locker seems to make more sense, imo.

The OR, TRD, etc... models on the newer trucks come with a lot of other fancy gadgets and electronic gizmos that aid with off-road driving, but are hardly "necessary" for off-roading. One such gizmo is the A-trac which is basically down-hill assist, however my '17 SR5 4Runner came with that, so getting the more expensive OR models isn't really "necessary".

So, in the end, if all you're interested in is a locker or LSD, you'd definitely spend less if you bought a non-OR/TRD model and added the locker yourself. However, if the traction control gizmos, hill-assist, etc... interest you, those are much harder to install aftermarket (due to system integration), so you're probably better off with the OR model that comes with those gizmos from the factory.

 

Totally agree. Only reason my wife and I bought the TRD OR 4x4 package was to get the bigger rearend with the e-locker. I wish they'd let you spec that axle on a non-OR truck, since I have no interest in the other features. That said, between the stock rear e-locker and the front ARB, I can't wait to see what this truck can do.

 

I was amazed at what my brother could do in his 86 4Runner with open diffs.

I'd be careful with the front locker, though. I hear of a lot of breakages with a locker on IFS. I know, plenty of people don't have issues with it, but it seems like they are much more cautious drivers, too. The way I see it, if I get to the point that I "need" a front locker, I'm going to just skip ahead to a solid axle swap... I can just go out to the back yard and pick form the money tree...

As for the TRDs and ORs nowadays, it seems like Toyota has moved slightly away from the TRDs of old, where you got shocks and a locker; all business, no fluff. Nowadays you still get the shocks and a locker, but then you also end up with a lot of TRD branded badges, shift levers and floor mats, and you seem to pay a premium for it. IMO, the Pro is the worst offender. Lots of branded badging, very little useful off-road stuff that isn't available on lower models. I'f I'm going to pay that much (~$50k) for an off-roader, I'd like it to be fully equipped with swing away bumper, rock sliders, on-board air, winch, etc... And give me some 33" all terrains, not those skinny road slicks!

 

I completely agree with you, on all counts. This is my first foray into 'wheeling an IFS rig, being a died-in-the-wool Jeep guy (not a Jeeple; that's completely different). Our first Jeep, a '97 TJ with the 4-cylinder, a low pinion D30, and ARBs front and rear, taught me to 'wheel technically, not with brute force, so I'm pretty sure I can keep the Tacoma's front end together even with the ARB. Honestly, I don't foresee many occasions where we'll use the lockers, but I prefer to have them and never need them.

 

In my opinion, there's really no point in paying to put in an LSD in a truck. Either stick what you have (open) or put a selectable locker in there.

 

Depends on what you use it for, and where you put it. For off-roading, an LSD would be good for the front diff, and it would add a lot of traction, but minimize the wear and tear on the relatively weak IFS, and you literally set it and forget it (to quote Ron Popeil), no wiring, no air lines, no remembering to switch it on/off. For the trucks that don't have electronic traction control, an LSD would be very useful for daily drivers in cold climates, too.

For 90% of people out there, an LSD offers more than enough traction (especially in the front). Hell, an open diff 4x4 provides enough traction for most off roaders...

I'd also hate to put a locker in my IFS, only to expose the weak links (CVs) and start breaking parts. At that point you have to start thinking SAS...