Economical Rear Locker Option

I would say I fall into the weekend warrior camp, with no plans to tackle serious obstacles. More like dispersed camping, to and from deer camp, occasional snow, etc. I have a 4x4 TRD Sport with no locker. Looking at throwing in 4.88s in the near future, and thought I’d consider a rear locker while the diff was opened up. ARB looks nice but is very expensive, and it doesn’t feel like I’d get true use out of it. I’ve been looking at the TruTrac (I know it’s not a true locker) as an economical option. Has anyone done one just in the rear? Curious what is out the for third gens that doesn’t fall into the hard core camp.

 

ARB or Harrop

Trutrac is awesome though.

I’m not a fan of air lockers for various reasons but most like them.

 

I had a trutrac up front in an older Toy and it worked fine for a limited slip. If you're doing gears and debating between the two just suck it up and get the ARB. Selectable locker is so nice if you have to drive in snow from my experience. Only you can decide if you really need one though. I will say in favour of them they allow you to drive slower through the rougher bits taking less toll on your truck/tires.

 

Is there a TruTrac even available for these trucks? I can find them for 2nd gens but nothing listing 3rd gens.

 

I've only seen the ARB rear air locker for the 3rd Gen, unless another company has made one.

 

Bookmarking that for sure

 

Save your money and go with an ARB or other real-deal locker. I'll vouch for arb because I've used an them and at the time, the only e-locker available for the application could be overworked and slip as it was basically clutch based. An e-locker is the way to go now, as long as it actually locks/is not clutch based.

I learned the hard way on a jeep I built. I ran an Aussie Locker in the front dana 30, then high pinion d30 and rear dana 44 because it was cheap and "its a jeep, it doesn't need to have road manners." It was terrible. It sure as hell locked, that part was fantastic but it was miserable on the road. FYI, a Detroit (old school, not truetrac) or similar ratcheting/overrun style will do the same. I yanked that thing out and put an ARB in and fell in love. Now, an aussie locker in the front was awesome and I would do that again in a heartbeat. Unlocked rear and locked front was incredible on snow and sand. I don't know if they make aussies/lockrite/Spartans for our axles but the ratchet behavior is the information I'm trying to convey.

 

I’m not a fan of the ARB. It’s too prone to leaking.

 

Helical gear diffs, like the Truetrac, work great, and you get on road benefits. Their Achilles heel is effectively dealt with by the stock traction control.

Eaton's new gen 4 elocker is also hitting the market right now. Nice design and plenty of applications in the Toyota range.

 

Can you expand on this?

 

Sure, the Truetrac is helical gear diff, most commonly known as a Torsen style. Some torque from both tires needs to be realized for the gears to function and create the limited slip action. It's weakness presents when a tire is lifted off the ground... In that case, the design transfers no torque to the wheel with traction. The traction control will apply the brake to the spinning wheel, just as with an open diff, and allow the Truetrac to operate.

Good reading on the subject from the original https://torsen.com/ask-torsen-torque-bias-ratio-functional-questions/

 

Any rear locker will be deemed "hardcore" by most. If you go cheap style like a lockrite that's most hardcore cause you deal with the onroad characteristics. I always went lunchbox locker when cash was tight.

Selectable is only hardcore in the fact it costs more money. But you're back to normal grocery getting behavior on road.

There are many options out there with the older diffs unless you have the rare nonlocked 8.75" diff. The beauty there is you can find the stock e-locker for $300-$400 from a take out, whip up a basic driver circuit, and you're on a selectable locker.

 

What did you decide to install?

 

Powertrax no slip available for the 3rd gen?
Ive had one on my 1st gen for many years and it works flawless.

 

Someone from North Adams, MA (my hometown) and Easley, SC (I work in Greer, SC)... it's getting a little weird in here lol

Powertrax is akin to the aussie, lockrite, spartan, etc. Good ol lunchbox locker. I'll repeat what I said above, a lunchbox locker in the front is phenomenal... but in the rear diff? Never again for me. For those determined to do it, a longer wheelbase and an automatic transmission help a lot. A TJ with a manual transmission and 4.56s... that was rough.

I'm fighting the temptation to lock the taco's front diff...

I figure the old bronco will get an aussie (made in Rochester, NY) locker in the front d30 and probably ARB in the 9" rear because of familiarity and I'll have on board air already. I will definitely revisit E-lockers beforehand though. Are you guys aware of any aftermarket elockers that use a collar or spline setup instead of clutches?

 

https://www.yotamasters.com/shop/differential/yukon-8-4-spool-30-spline/

Nothing cheaper than a spool!