How Differential Gear works

This video so easily explains the differential I feel dumb lol

 

i have a question about rear ends. I just bought a tacoma DC 4x4 and discovered it does NOT have LSD rear end. I have never owned a 4x4 that did not have LSD. How is this truck going to perform offroad? is it a big deal or with a good set of tires and the 4.10 ratio will it work great? Any help would be appreciated. I am a noob to this forum, but this is a great site and very informative.!!

 

Did you get the OFF ROAD Tacoma (TRD)? It has a locking rear differential for better climbing and getting out of trouble.

Otherwise the 2004 Tacomas all have open front and rear differentials.

In 2005, in addition the the Off Road TRD, Toyota added the Sport TRD with a limited slip differential through the 2008 model.

In 2009, all Tacomas were equiped with TRAC, an electronic limited slip on the front and rear in 4WD High Range. The TRD Off Road Tacomas continue to come with a locking rear differential and the state of the art A-TRAC system for nearly locking front and rear traction control.

 

No it does not have TRD. Do open differentials work well?

 

Well open differentials are what allow any car or truck to easily turn, since all 4 tires must rotate differently in a turn. That is why Toyota instructs us with the locking rear differential to use it only for emergencies, as steering is affected.

The bad part about open differentials is if one of the two tires on an axle is in the air or on a low traction surface (sand, mud, snow), the tire with less traction (easiest to spin) gets the power, and the tire that is on solid ground does nothing. With 4WD, you double the traction possibilites, but if you do get stuck you will note that one tire in front and one tire in back spin and the others do nothing.

Limited slip differentials help to slow down the spinning and transfer some of that power to the good, traction tire. This does make a big improvement in off roading. Limited slip can be created with clutches inside a differential or electronically with brakes at the wheels.

A-TRAC is a nearly non-slip system that matches the rotation of the traction tire with the non traction tire using the brakes.

Locking differentials match the tire rotation on both sides 100%.

 

The reason I give a 'full answer' is so the the person is informed as to what is available should he ever get another Tacoma. Most of us don't buy just one car and have it for our entire life, afterall. Also, he isn't the only one reading this, so the information is there for countless others on the Internet.

 

I bought the non-TRD model. The locking diff is the only upgrade I was interested in. How much would it cost to put a locking dif in a SR5?

Thanks

 

Is the 05+ TRD Off Road Locking Rear an open diff or a LSD when it is un-locked?

 

Open. Only the 05 to 08 Sport had a LSD.

 

thx for the info. that really helped me out. so i have a question that may or may not be on this site. i have a 2004 prerunner, i thought it had an LSD but now i know it dont. so my question is, if i find a LSD from a TRD modle, can i swap them and everything work fine?

 

This link explains a lot about different types of lockers as well as gearing.

http://www.off-road.com/aimages/articlestandard/toyota/422005/186289/article.html

 

Is the PreRunner an 'Off Road TRD' with the RR Locker button... that 2WD model does have a rear locker. No LSD until 2005 'Sport TRD' Tacomas and then just to the 2009 model, as I mentioned earlier.