98 TRD 3.4L Turbo , Methanol , LT

your locker is engaged.

Welcome to front lockers.

You generally can't steer when they are engaged, thus you only use them when really really needed.

Something is messed up though, is your solenoid wired right? is it getting air? did you test it before installing?

 

If you're on the street I can't say how it should act from first hand experience but I imagine it would feel like the truck is pulling straight forward even with the wheels turned. On dirt or loose traction surfaces the front wheels are able to slide slower or faster creating a psuedo differential effect allowing a degree of turning but still much more cumbersome than an open differential. Try it out on some dirt and see you can turn the wheel and get a little turning to happen, but it sounds like it's functioning as intended.

 

It should chirp on asphalt if it's locked too. the tires that is.

 

Had a leak in my turbo oil feed line. Kept rubbing on the hood. Re-angled the 90° to be 135° off the turbo so it clears and tucks better. Got a 36" braided line off eBay for $15. Still need to look at this front locker situation. Thinking @Blackdawg @Clay_916 you're right. That's just how a front locker goes until you hit gravel where it can slide/turn. I'll find out more this weekend and do more testing. Getting ready to prime and paint it.....lol. I know 95% of the people on TacomaWorld are going to laugh but it's my build. What I want. Doing a 7 way colorshift. Already bought the pearls I want to do it with........ Solis Hypershift. But it's going to be a flat black matte finish.......

http://www.didspade.com/solis-supershift-pearl/

And I'm going to vinyl wrap sticker bomb the hood, gate, door jams, and wheels......



Like I said most of you guys will laugh at this but it's going to be a jaw dropper. Like my Close Encounters of the 3rd Kind headlights.....more fun to come.

 

I think I saw a 2nd gen LT with sticker bomb bedsides. Looked pretty cool.

 

yes so the locker behaves that way when LOCKED

if you aren't supposed to be locked, as it is a selectable locker, you have a wiring issue or problem with the unit. You should be able to drive in 4wd like normal until the locker is engaged.

 

I'll see if my buddy could answer some of your questions on your front diff problems.

@thefatkid Josh is having locker issues with his front diff. If you read back a couple of pages he explains what's going on.

 

Holy shnikies! That's some wild shit!

 

Yeah for sure......

 

Paint stuff so far......

 

If his front ARB is locked, and shouldn't be, wouldn't he hear the compressor kick on to indicate that it's getting air pressure??

Edit, nevermind, I read back some more.. sounds like maybe a solenoid/valve is not releasing pressure when it's shut off.

 

Hey Josh!

Love the truck, man. Can't wait to see that beast in person one of these days!

Quick question: What spindle gussets are you running, or are you running fabbed 4x4 spindles? I looked around your build a bit and couldn't find any mention of them. Thanks!

 

Thanks man.....didn't know you were local. Yeah, let's meet up sometime. I'm running Solo Motorsports full LT kit so I have their fully boxed fabbed spindles.

 

Thanks, Josh. I kinda figured they were fabbed. I want to get mine gusseted, but I'm MT, likely for quite a while.

We should definitely get together with some of the other locals, though!

 

@Blackdawg
@Clay_916

Good call guys. "Welcome to the world of a front locker." Lol......soooooo true. I took her to the closest dirt to my house and everything worked fine. It's still tough to turn but NOTHING like it is on the street. That little bit of gravel is enough to allow the spindles to move. That's insane though! On road it's nearly impossible to turn. Well now I know. Thanks guys for the input. Now I know...... Absolutely crazy what that does to the on road manners having a front ARB......!

 

so...were you locking it on the pavement and driving around like that? Because..well..you shouldn't. Not even really supposed to drive in 4wd on dry pavement.

But you CAN unlock it and it works just fine yes? Steering is normal as it was?

The front locker in our diff is mostly to help strengthen the diff itself. You will RARELY use it. the rear will get you through most things.

 

Even 4wd without it locked the steering is terrible on pavement. At least I know it's not a mechanical issue now just that I didn't know how those front ARB diffs respond. I still can't lock just the rear. ECGS says with ARB systems you have to lock the rear before the front will engage but I've found neither will hold separate from the other which is strange. I wonder if it has to do with having two solenoids in the compressor chamber now so it won't seal until you engage both solenoids. Going to call ARB today and find out more because I want to and should be able to lock out just the rear. I could before but it had a plug in where the front solenoid now is.

 

yea something is still wrong if you are just in 4wd and the steering is still very hard. It should behave just like stock. You should be able to engage the rear and front separately.

 

I called ARB and they said that's normal too, that their diffs are a lot stiffer than OEM....just glad I won't have to pull it again......

And they said to double check the wiring. I may have the solenoids reversed although I'm almost positive I have it right. I'll check tonight.

 

Did they know you meant it was still when it was open?