Front Lockers On 3rd gen

Since I am no longer going LT and I have a 6MT without the lame crawl control(Actually badass) i am debating front lockers but ill admit I have no clue where i would even want to start. I know everyone is talking about going 4.88 ratio but I thought that was just for better MPGs. Can anyone give me some insight please? Thank you.

2017 DCSB TRD OR

 

ARB air locker is best bet.

4 88 gears are for larger tires to help fix the out of ratio you get when upgrading tire size.

Although everyone is saying 4.88 is fine with a 33 it really is overgeared for that tire. I've talked to a few shops about it too now cause I want to regear but they all said I really should not do 4.88 with a 33, and considering my winters are a 30" tire it will be terrible.

Really for 33s we should be around 4.56 but Nitro gear isn't making 4 56 for some reason. so I'm waiting on Yukon.
I get the 4.88 will give you nice torque and a really slow crawl speed which to me would be amazing off road but for daily driving its just not good. Your highway MPG will take a dive.

You should really do some more research cause a front locker and gears are two different things. Yes if you will regear do it when you do hte locker as its all overlapping labour but its two completely different parts with different outcomes and purposes.

 

end thread

ARB Lockers are probably the best out there but require on board air (eg compressor)

 

I would disagree. Harrop/Eaton E-locker would be my choice. I have one in my Land Cruiser and it is FANTASTIC.

 

Remember to keep a spare front CV shaft when wheeling hard and running a front locker.

 

I have heard nothing but good results with 4.88 gearing on 33" tires, i am pretty sure MPG's actually are improving unless your lead footing it like a freakin race car! I just ordered 4.88's and front and rear lockers i am running 33's for now!!!!!!

 

e lockers are always a pain in the ass and don't engage when you need them. At least in my experience.

I've had bette results with air.

 

Not true with the Harrop. With the older gear driven Toyota E-Lockers I would Agree. The Harrop locks instantly and silently using an electromagnetic locking system. No air compressor or air lines. Will get you through the gnarly stuff, but not sure a Taco would warrant a front locker.

 

but if you do the math and can find plenty of videos on youtube of how you're supposed to do the math for what gear you're going to it will always tell you 4.56.


I agree many have had good results but in what case? They all say oh the truck feels more peppy. Why? Because they're over geared. No shit it will feel more peppy the engine is getting to its powerband faster.

Its not necessarily bad if you want that, but it will impact MPG, it will also limit how fast you can go. Though I doubt anyone is even trying to get to the speeds it will limit you to, but regardless its not the right gearing ratio that should be matched with 33s. 35s on the other hand, yes its right on where it should be.
It will impact shifting for the auto trans as well.

By all means go head and do so. It may work for what you personally want but in terms of technicalities of proper gearing between transmission and axles its not where it should be for said tires.

 

haven't tried theirs but with eaton never had a good experience.

The ARB does have the highest rep as well.


Lockers on IFS do have some benefits. it does strengthen the front diff although CVs are your usual weak point. But in the event of a broken CV, lock the front and you still get drive in the front. With a broken CV all the power will just go to broken CV. At least with a locker you won't lose front drive. BUT I will say a locker will put excess strain on front CVs likely resulting in said break lol.

 

The Harrop is relatively new stateside. It's very popular in AUS. My 80 was one of the first to have one and I wouldn't even consider an ARB anymore.

Yeah...I agree about the CV being the weak point. Does the CRAWL feature utilize traction input from all 4 wheels or just the rear? I'm kinda in the OPs boat as I'm looking to purchase a Taco and trying to determine if I go with a MT/AT TRD Pro/OR or just a Sport and add lockers.

 

the pro is just a fancy Offroad and if you actually plan to wheel you can get an OR for cheaper and build it.
its exactly what I did. given the 13k extra a pro is to an offroad here I kept that 13k, spent 10 so far and my truck is a hell of a lot more capable than a pro would be. I have extended travel and armour for cheaper than a stupid pro.

I'm sorry but toyota really shit the bed with the pro. Had they made it like the raptor is so different from the regular f150 ok. but when its only performance difference is a bland fox suspension its not worth the 13k to me. Had they given it a better engine, gear ratio or at least a fuckin charger maybe would be worth while.

But anyways I have the offroad automatic.
I haven't found a place where the crawl feature actually helped. The few times I used it I found it actually fucked me over more so than helped lol. But the multi terrain select that you get with it as well I've found very useful. It just uses the brakes to sense wheel slip and locks that individual brake should it spin. 5 different settings allowing different levels of slip. Although I haven't really tried the mud one much I have used the rock one with great results.

It uses all four wheels as input.
I've had wheels off the ground and it stopped them right away and gave power to the other wheel with traction to pull me over the obstacles.
I know many will say computers are just doing it for you. But in the case of MTS they really do not. I see it as a traction aid no different than a locker.

 

That makes the AT pretty attractive, but damn I want a manual. Might do the same as OP and add front Harrop for added traction. Thinking TRD OR M/T is the ticket.

 

i was going to get the MT but after driving one I wasn't fond of how long the throws were and the engagement of the clutch. Just not what I'm used to in a manual. I'm used to subaru manuals so slightly different.

 

Seems silly but I also really like the look of the hood scoop. Do you know how much a factory hood is with a scoop?

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/installed-4-88-gears-in-my-2016.455190/
Good info here!

 

no clue. I think there's actually a trading thread somewhere on here for those with sports that don't want the scoop and off roads that want lol.

I would think it would be rather expensive from the dealer.

 

FYI those scoops are tough to see over when out wheeling. Looks great!

 

Don’t want to high Jack this thread, but getting front air locker would it affect the crawl control? Or are the independent? I was also thinking of getting a arb front locker but I still want to keep the crawl control in tact.

 

Yeah when I had a Honda the clutch and throw were completely different as well. Who would have thought?

My truck throws much like my old 4runner. Still wish we had her.