Auto LSD vs. "Real" LSD

Been driving vehicles with mechanical LSD's for most of my driving career...over 50 years. They always worked for me. I really appreciated an LSD being an addition to 4WD. Now about the auto LSD's on the Gen 3 Tacomas. As I understand it, it is not all that "automatic". It has to be intentionally engaged by the driver and then it is only used when the truck is in 2WD. My question/comment...Why even bother using it if you have a 4WD Tacoma? if you are in a situation where you need more traction, just twist the 4WD dial and you are good to go. Might as well have a totally open rear differential.

 

Sigh. Toyota and their fake BS traction-control-based LSD. I turn TRAC completely off on my truck.

 

VSC and traction control. It is used to keep the shiny side up.

 

The "shiny side up" is good. By why the "automatic LSD" that is not automatic?

 

They call the same basic principle, different things depending on what your doing. Probably marketing to make is sound like you have more “gizmos” on the truck.
It’s all traction control, ie apply brake to the side that’s spinning faster. So it does actually works in 2wd and 4wd, it’s just called different things.

 

Who needs traction control and LSD when we have Beavis and Butthead?

 

My experience for whatever its worth; I was waiting to turn right when a girl turned in front of a minivan entering the intersection. Minivan hit her and both came towards me. I saw it coming and instincts kicked in. I gassed it and tires spun. After getting my bed repaired, I went and had a truetrac installed in the rear diff.

Should've done it way before that. Truck got stuck once crossing a small ditch when one of the rear tires lifted. Had to lock into 4wd to get out.

 

That was peyote

 

Ok so it fits this thread. It wasn't "Real" LSD.

 

Lol
Never tried the cactus buttons myself.

 

It's par for the course these days. Everything up and down list is open diffs traction controlled systems. They're getting better then they were in the past, they react quicker and more accurately. It's really the reason newer supercars are rolling off the assembly line at 600+ hp and being even remotely drivable by the most mediocre capability with a lead foot. But still, nothing beats good old school mechanical systems and a skilled driver. I still miss my jeep to this day with its lack of any electrical nanny's and mechanical controls.

 

This.

Auto LSD has nothing on a mechanical truetrac. On my To-Do list.

Automatic brake proportioned systems are all reactionary. The Tacomas isn’t as bad as some others I’ve driven. But one wheel has to excessively spin beyond a threshold before brakes kick in to slow the offending wheel down to get power to the other wheel. If at a stop and you punch it, auto LSD spins one tire before determining the tire is spinning beyond the threshold and engaging the brakes so that power is transferred to the other tire, if excessive engine power may be reduced. Truetrac both tires always spin the same direction, punch it and both tires spin forward.

 

And this engine cut is what many owners have reported about when trying to merge. Best to turn TRAC off if you're gonna be doing any sketchy city maneuvers.

 

I have a 2008 Sport with the last year of the mechanical LSD (Real LSD). I'm pretty happy with the mechanical. It seems like I keep good traction in the rear even when going off-camber. Both tires turn even at slow speed. The front is where I loose the traction and spin. ARB lockers have been in my shopping cart for a while for the fronts.

With that said . . . I would love to have that rear positively locked, but if I add the ARB I would loose the mechanical LSD for everyday driving. If it was brake controlled LSD, I could put lockers on the rear and keep road traction with the brake assist every day.

I think that is the best benefit with the electronic over the mechanical for my use.

 

Good info thanks everyone. Was curious about this as well since I have a 2006 Tacoma with LSD. I've been off-road quite a bit and haven't been stuck, sometimes off camber. I wasn't sure how much the LSD is helping off road since I don't really hear anything going on and don't need to push a button to engange it. I think it's doing the job, along with good aired down tires and a (good) driver

 

It’s a huge benefit to traction off road. I can tell a YUGE difference from open stock electric traction control system to having the trutrac best mod I’ve made to mine.

 

I only loose traction in my front off-camber. My rear tires turn pretty equally even when one is in the air at crawling speed. Pretty cool since my buddy with a TRD Offroad needs to put his in 4Lo before engaging his rear locker. In most cases, 2wd with mechanical LSD is all you need offroad. One of my tallest staircase climbs was behind a 2wd LSD 4Runner. I elected to go 4wd.

 

It uses the brakes to simulate lsd

 

4WD is really only one tire in front and one in the rear 'working' and that is only when they have no traction! Still, that is better than 2WD with only one tire working! 4WD is twice the traction of 2WD and that is why you can go further.
Now, the problem is traction loss... slippery surface or a tire in the air! Limited Slip (be it mechanical like the 2005-2008 Sport Tacoma or electronic like ALL Tacomas since 2009) slows a free spin and shifts some power to the tire that has traction. This is better than open differentials. Better still is a locking differential which turns both tires the same regardless of traction. The A-TRAC system also does this using the brake system.
The 2009 and newer Tacomas have TWO levels of limited slip: TRAC and TRAC OFF (called AUTO LSD in H2). There is also a no TRAC choice, called VSC OFF. TRAC is brake force and engine regulation to control tire spin. TRAC OFF (bad name) is brake force only. The engine regulation is off for more power to the traction tire(s).
Some 2016+ Tacomas report better traction with TRAC than TRAC OFF... so a change may have been made? Just test them all on difficult hill climbs and other conditions.