limited slip differential

hey guys, im new to the tacoma world and owning a tacoma. i purchased my 2005 quad cab prerunner with limited slip differential. can someone explain this feature as if i was 10 lol. and also ive heard a locking differential is better, is it? and if so, would it be possible to install and upgrade to one. thanks again and excuse me for my lack of knowledge with this haha

 

Limited slip is what you want for the street. A locking one is for off road use only. (not for the street)

Limited slip is where if one wheel is loosing traction, then the power is diverted to the other wheel. It is like a locking except it allows one wheel to turn faster than the other for going around corners. (good thing)

Locking is where both wheels are locked as one and if your on the street, it's not good for going around corners. (bad thing)

Now drink your milk, and go to bed.

 

I have the open diff/w elocker and wish I had read a little more and got the LSD. The locker is very limited from the factory, (4LO, <5MPH, no hard surfaces). You can mod it to allow 4HI and many people routinely drive over 5 with it locked in. With the open diff you get less traction on the street with only 1 tire turning, but if you lose traction, you won't fishtail. With LSD, you get more traction, but if you break loose you will most likely fishtail since both tires are turning. I am used to LSD so I don't mind it, but some prefer the open diff. I talked to a dealer and for me to change over to LSD would be about $2500. $1800 for the axle and the rest in labor.

 

The stock LSD sucks man they use clutch packs and they wear out, mine where starting to wear out on my X-Runner and it only had 25k on it. You are better off getting an after market LSD that does not use clutch packs.

 

Your LSD will still help offroad/snow. Taking off from gravel to paved road, busting up snowy driveway or in the mud on the back of my property, both the rear wheels spin to get you moving. As said, it can come around quicker on a snowy road if you foolishly step on it. Locker has its benefits and is better for real off-roading, but seeing you got a 2wd Prerunner most likely you wont be rock-crawling or mud bogging anyway.

Mines got about 35K works great. I change the LSD oil every 20K, seeing you just got yours, you know if they have records of changing the oil? Best of the life of the clutches.

 

How do you know it's wearing out?

 

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/differential.htm

Give you the complete low-down on diffs (open, LSD, locked)

 

One tire spins in situations that both used to spin. Others have had the same problems with there X-Runners aswell. Gadget from URD was one of the first to find this problem with the stock toyota LSD's.

Edit:

Janster If I was you I would not really worry about your LSD in your truck. I drove my X-Runner extremely hard and that may be part of the reason the LSD was wearing out. My new truck I drive like an old man (because its so slow ha ha).