Diff swap

Looking to get a posi rear end for my 99 prerunner cause im tired of the getting stuck with one wheel haha. Problem is I cant afford an entire new rear end. I found a locker called the Powertrax Lock-Right Locker and it is in my price range. From what the description says is that it is an auto locker that replaces the spider gears in the stock housing. it sends power to whichever wheel has the most traction. When traveling straight the rear end will lock the axles together similar to a spool(help with what that means?) but it will still allow the outer tire to spin more when turning. My question is is does anyone know anything about this locker? I dont do heavy offroading, just some time to time and would like more traction, and this I can afford. What are your opinions?

 

http://yhst-99618682857744.stores.yahoo.net/trdkazamalsd.html you could always get one of these and have it installed

 

I'd say dumping money into the rear end isnt going to be as fruitful endeavor as actually converting to 4WD.

Why do you want more traction? Street driving or off roading?

 

Lots of people around with that locker, as well as lots of mixed opinions on it. First, a "spool" is an axle that is always locked (like has the spider gears welded together). From what I understand, any time you are on the gas it will be locked. So if you coast around a corner, your diff will behave normally. If you goose it in a corner, it'll lock up and you might get some bucking or squeal a tire. People generally say to avoid them in the snow, but I think I'll be going with one eventually and do a good bit of snow driving.

 

Thanks for the LSD recommendation but i really want 50/50 power over an LSD. And a 4wd conversion is something I want to do later in life, but right now I can barely afford a new rear diff. I do go offroad but where I go 4x4 isnt really necessary. Posi in the rear would help though

 

I take my daily driver 4x4 offroad, so for me, a rear posi works perfect. I have the Detroit Truetrac. Can't tell its there when on the highway, and going through parking lots. Not maximum traction like a spool or locker, but it really helps offroad. Its a gear-driven posi, so it has no clutch-packs to wear out.

 

So looking up reviews of the lockright locker I'm probably gonna get it. I found a website that sells them with or without the couplers. It's about a hundred more dollars with the new couplers but it says all the side gears would be new. If I go without I would be running my stock side gears. Anyone have an opinion on whether its worth the extra money? Is it even needed?

 

if you go with an auto locker you will have to change your everyday driving style and get used to an auto locked rear. when you go around corners, you will have to not hit the gas or it will try to lock up and chirp and hop. also while driving it will click, and snap, and pop, and generally make weird noises. Also will have to just get used to it. When you are going in a straight line it will lock itself. Maybe before buying it find someone who has one and take a ride and test drive thier truck first?

 

Does the rear break loose easily when driving on the road in heavy rain or snow?

 

I don't know anybody with one. I looked up a bunch of reviews an it said the pros outweigh the cons of havin one. I can't afford a selectable locker. An I'm tired of gettig stuck with one wheel. I found a bunch of tacoma reviews an they said they love it and the website definitely makes some of the cons sound worse then they actually are. And that u just hav to get used to havin an auto locker

 

Not sure what you mean by 'breaking loose'

Operation of the TrueTrac is smooth and quiet. It does not engage and dis-engage, like an auto-locker. The only drawback, from what I have heard, is that if one rear tire is COMPLETELY off the ground, then it will spin, and the other side will not turn. This has not happened to me, yet, even though I've been on some very rocky roads in the Mojave desert. To avoid the spinning, I lightly apply the e-brake, this will fool the unit into thinking one tire is not actually up in the air. Works very well.

With this smooth operation, I suspect that it is a lot easier on the drive train (u-joints, pinion gear, etc).

The cost of the unit is less than an ARB, more than an Lock-Rite, about the same as a Detroit Auto-locker.

Now that I have one, I would never get anything else for a daily-driver/mild offroader.

 

"Break loose" is a common colloquial term for lose traction or slide sideways. I guess it's more popular in the motorcycle realm. What I was asking is, since you installed the lsd/posi in the rear, do you go through turns on the road slower (with more care) in rain/snow? Because what I've been told is that Open gives the best traction on slippery asphalt. If you give a truck with an LSD or locked rear to much throttle mid-corner, it can cause the rear tires to step-out on you and slide. I think in car terms that's over-steer.

I'm really asking this because I've been considering dropping a Supra LSD into my Front diff. I know it's a different story in the front but I'm still curious about the rear.

 

OK, I know what you mean. I have experienced that in snow runs with lockers. Pretty scary, especially when one side is a drop-off.

I haven't been in snow or ice or heavy rain since I got the Trutrac, but from what I've heard, its better than open and better than a locker, in that situation, because of the smooth operation. When a locker 'locks', there is a sudden change in spin, or torque, which may have the same effect as a sudden and momentary stepping on the brakes while on ice. You 'break loose' and start sliding.

Many years ago, in a '84 4runner, I had a TRD LSD in front (adjusted fairly tight for minimum slippage) for about 3 months. It acted like a locker, in that it wouldn't allow me to steer when I locked the hubs. Hated it. Couldn't take the line I wanted. I was better off open, so I took it out. I don't recommend anything up front other than a selectable locker (e-locker, ARB, etc). I'm planning on leaving my Tacoma open up front (no plans for serious off-roading, just milder stuff). So far, I've been keeping up just fine with my 'locked up' buddies.

 

Well I decided what to get. I order a truetrac. I don't plan to rock crawl but I like that all I have to do is tap the brakes and it will lock up if ever get into a situation were it doesn't lock up. I believe the trutrac combined with the 4.10 gearing, and some good tires will get me anywhere I need to go. The truck already amazes me what it can do for a 2wd open diff on street tires so I can't wait till it's all done

 

You'll love it. Be sure to get regular gear oil for it, NOT "Limited slip" type.

 

Thanks. I know that's not needed because it's a gear driven LSD, instead of clutch driven.