Adding a rear locking differential 3rd gen Sr5?

Would you have to turn off the traction/stability control when using an aftermarket locker on a truck that did not have a oem locker?I'm guessing trucks with oem lockers have programming to disable the traction control braking to rear axle when the locker is engaged, keeping the system from fighting itself? I honestly think a true-track style unit might be better all around for the uses O.P. is going to do according to post. Either way, both systems will help a lot, especially if there is some weight in bed and good tires.

 

There would be no shipping down time. They'll ship you a built one, you tear yours out, you install the built one, and then ship yours back for the core charge refund.

 

You can plumb any pressurized air source to test. I recommend doing a leak down test before going through with the install anyway.

 

No, you can let the systems function.

Traction control will basically work as normal and for the auto-LSD type functions that sense cross axle slip they'll just never intervene because it'll never see cross axle slip with a locker. With a mechanical LSD the auto-LSD functions are even more effective.

Stability control only creates an issue if it wants to brake a single wheel for corrective action and the axle is locked. The outcome the system expects will be different than anticipated since it's effectively braking on the entire axle and not an individual wheel.

 

Fair point. I didn't consider that

 

What kind of off roading are u planning on doing ? Lockers are good for situations only not to be used all the time . From the looks of your truck u definitely will not need a locker since your setup would not even be able to get in those areas that would require using a locker . Just my 2 cents … your truck is more than capable of doing normal trails without a locker .

 

My advice would be to upgrade your tires before you do anything mechanical. My Duratracs are loud, look great, and even though I have used my 4wd quite a bit, 90% of the time I could have gotten through without it, and I was searching out places that looked challenging. I used to get my work van so far off the road most 4x4s would have thought twice using nothing but the stock LSD and AT tires.

 

This is what i would use on my 2016 2WD.

 

Good info, thank you!

 

Auto LSD on the Tacoma's work surprisingly well. Got me out of quite a few jambs over the years.

 

I put an arb air locker and it costed me almost 5k with parts and labor, labor was like 1100 I put it in my cubby in my bed so I had to buy a cover for the cubby and then I bought the ch4x4 switches since they look oem and I had to buy a special wiring harness going to the engine

it’s been about two years haven’t had any issues if I had to do it again I probably would have went with an Eaton locker just because it’s cheaper and I wouldn’t have had to buy all the crap that I did

 

This. I love my Truetrac. Around town it acts like an open diff until you loose traction. Kinda fun how it spins both wheels when I do a burnout or swing it (not that that matters anyway) And yes, if one wheel is off the ground an lsd won’t work, but if you press the brake or even engage auto lsd the Truetrac spins the wheel on the ground, basically acting like a locker. Truetracs are also bulletproof as well, they don’t have clutches that wear out, and are overall much stronger than the stock spider gears. I paid 1400 total for it, 700 for parts and yeah 700 for labor I live in the Bay Area so that was the lowest quote i got. If OP you go with a locker be prepared to pay! But you won’t go wrong with anything you do, they’re all better than the stock diff

 

Yeah that does seem a lot more reasonable.I live in the Bay Area also. Where did you get the work done if you don’t mind me asking?

 

I went to United transmission and differential shop in Albany. I got quotes as high as 2000 for labor, so I called around a lot. The Albany shop was the closest to me and the lowest price, they also let me provide parts my self so I was able to save money there. They also got it done the same day. The second choice was shaffers off-road in Union city, they also quoted 700 for labor but it was farther and they were booked out for a month.

 

This^ just adding my 2 cents as well, if you’re not crawling, you don’t really need lockers. I got by with my SR5 4x4 on 33s. Especially if your truck is your daily, a locker is an expensive mod to nearly never being used.

 

Did you ever get it done? I’m looking into doing the same.

 

have you thought about taking the cash and putting it towards a trade for a stock 4x4 or 4x4 with a locker? Messing with the diff could affect the resale on your truck and possibly prevent you from being able to trade it in in the future.

 

Can't remember how many years its been, but 4Wheeler or 4Wheel & Off Road magazine (remember print magazines, LOL) did a test between a stock 4x4 (think they used a Ranger back then) and the same model Ranger, only 2WD with an aftermarket Detroit locker, and went off-roading. IIRC, they also made sure they both had the same brand/type and size of tires to keep things consistent for the experiment. The 2WD with the locker went more places than the stock 4x4. The key was the 4x4 would lift a tire either front and/or rear, and then end up with no power to the tire on the ground even with a LSD, whereas the locked 2WD always had at least one tire with traction at all times. It was eye opening for the 20 something me at the time. Definitely made me a believer in rear lockers if one goes off-roading beyond a light trail or fireroad.