Front E lockers

Just curious how the Colorado zr2 has a front e-locker and if it was possible to yet to put front e lockers on the Tacoma without breaking CVs...it is the drive train and such really that different between the two trucks?

I’ve looked in other threads but most of it was just people talking about air lockers or stating the obvious stress on the CV or that there are no factory front E lockers, which is part true, the zr2 and the land cruiser is the only one I know of with factory front e lockers..

 

You can fit a Harrop E-Locker. They support the Tacoma front end. You’d just need to do your own switch, indicator light etc, and wiring, and you wouldn’t get the fancy indication on the stock dash display.

https://eastcoastgearsupply.com/i-23993405-toyota-t8-clamshell-harrop-elocker-3-73-down.html

You couldn’t pay me to deal with an Air Locker. So many people struggle with those, and you need a compressor. Elocker is the way to go.

 

I just think Toyota did their homework and know that a front locker is just overkill. Heck, most people don't even use their rear lockers for the TRD OR. Plus a front locker on ifs is asking for a trip to snap city, and Toyota would be stuck with the warranty work sometimes. There's dudes on here that literally grenade their front diffs from running it in 4lo WOT and they still ask, "Is this a warranty issue? Why not? There's nothing that says I can't WOT in 4lo"

One thing I am curious about on the Bison is the Boron Steel skid plates. I haven't been able to find videos showing their strength bashing against rocks like they have been advertised to do.

 

Oh sorry I forgot to mention, I don’t off road hard enough yet to justify a front locker. At least not yet, but I was interested in learning the anatomy and process of a front E-lockers in regards to the Tacoma vs some of the other vehicles. In other words I’m just asking out of curiosity.

 

Front lockers are not really a requirement within the capabilities of what a Tacoma can do well. It’s one of those things that’s more of a dick-measuring contest than anything. On older vehicles with no traction control aids, or in dedicated rock drawing rigs, a front locker is needed, but you really need to be pushing the Tacoma envelope to “truly need one” for your Taco.

 

Front lockers break CVs? Apparently I didn't get the memo.... I run 35s and locked the front whenever I felt the need on crawling trails for 2 years and I never broke a CV.

 

It's possible, just like the rear locker, or like most vehicles actually. Nothing special or impossible. Just switch out the stock carrier for a locking one and route air/wires and call it a day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x40WGUtdaLI

 

If I’m wrong, I’m wrong.

 

I think it’s fair to say it increases the risk. All IFS vehicles run a greater risk. For sure, you are right, they don’t automatically break the IFS, nor does anything else if you are sensible and careful about things.

 

for the average off roader, no they do not break CVs

for the average new rookie owner of a 4wd truck with/without lockers that only knows how to press the gas pedal down even further while slamming it into 4lo because that means more torque and wheel hopping their way to snap city, yes that means broken CVs more often than not.

heck, just googling "wheel hop broken axle" returns results from Honda, GTO, BMW, and 350z forums snapping axles due to making the skinny pedal a priority instead of reassessing the situation.

 

Harrop makes a great locker but it’s extremely expensive. Since most people run OBA the air locker makes the most sense and is proven.

Personally I decided against a front locker because I just don’t need it for the wheeling I do. A locker will just take me further into trouble.

The thing is those front lockers on the ZR2 don’t do a whole lot. The few times I have wheeled with them they have to take bypasses. So to me it’s a bit of a gimmick.

 

I mean yeah Chevy put in a front locker.... But they can't quiet handle airbags off road yet. So the faith mileage may very on that one

 

The amazing thing, that even us Toyota bros have to hand to Chevy, is they managed to put an IFS, front locker drivetrain on that ZR2 that the newbs don’t seems to grenade.

I can’t stand GM, but I give them full credit for figuring that out. It’s pretty cool. I’d love to know what it took.

 

From what I've seen on TW there are 2 groups of folks that perpetuate the myth that front lockers and/or 35s break CVs.
1) gas pedal smashing clowns that don't know how to wheel their trucks
2) keyboard crawlers that don't have real trail experience and just parrot the first group.

I've seen 3 "bad choice" CV failures in person on the trail. 2 of those were gas pedal smashing clowns, the other had his drive train bound and instead of winching backwards and out, he knowingly took a risk, tried to slowly muscle out of his situation, and lost.

 

The front 8" clamshell should be able take some decent abuse if properly set up. There are two possibilities for a front CV upgrade other than RCV... it will be sometime over the summer before I get to trials. Agree with the ARB opinion above... sold them for years, good for trail rigs, daily drivers... not as much.

 

It should be noted that driving style has everything to do with breaking parts. You can absolutely put a front locker on a Tacoma and never have a single issue if you use your right foot smartly. Similarly, if you treat your truck like you hate it, you're going to break parts. It's really that simple.

 

The Bronco and the Wrangler also have front lockers on certain trims...