Rear locking differential

Hey so I’m new here, I just a Tacoma and was reading about the lsd since I saw it states it on the window sticker. Apparently it’s not a true lsd but I noticed on the roof of the truck it has a MTS and crawl mode with a button showing the rear axel with a x on it. I’m assuming it means locking the rear differential and wanted to know if I would be able to use the locked diff without being in 4x4. I haven’t gotten it yet to lock but I saw a post about getting the rear diff locked so I’m going to be trying out that procedure today. Is there a way to keep my diff locked when out of 4 low? Also if I do need give a lot of gas will it destroy my diff? Like a 60mph spin when locked. Any insights i appreciate

 

If you want to be able to use the locker regardless of drive mode, try searching "anytime rear locker" on the forums to get more info and take a look at the plug and play harness that exists for enabling that too

https://experimentalinc.com/product...n0D-MmUfiM6H_C0AC-6i_mgwmkocUn78DCaNQo3OmYxet

 

Can confirm the experimental designs anytime locker mod it awesome, I've had mine for around a year. Also can confirm you can ignore the part where they want you to t tap the white wire into the traction control wire. Just turn off traction yourself then it's truly plug and play.

 

What are you trying to accomplish with the diff locked at 60mph in 2wd?

 

The truck electronically keeps you from locking the locker in anything but 4lo. There’s some anytime bypass harnesses that can do 4hi and 2hi, but why? You can get away with going straight a lot of times, but have you ever driven a locked vehicle on a turn before? Lol

And at 60 mph, you can do what you want, but if you blow up your diff, twist axle splines, damage an axle, or bind up your driveline, that’s on you. There’s a reason it’s used how it’s used.

 

I drove a colorado zr2 for 6 years which can lock the rear end in 2wd 4 hi and 4lo. thats my reason for having the anytime mod. But I also understand when to not use it. 60mph on pavement is a no no. 60mph in snow go nuts dude.

 

It's been about 20 years so my memory could be wrong, but I had my friend's 2nd gen TRD RWD and used the rear locker to get unstuck after goofing off.

 

actually going 60 with it locked would hurt absolutely nothing. both wheels will be going nearly identical speeds naturally and theres plenty of "give" when tires are rotating that fast so hardly any strain on axles at all. infact where youd be most likely to damage anything would be in 4lo. thats where the most drivetrain bind will happen and most torque being transferred. not sure why it became a common misconception that driving at speed with a locked diff would cause damage.

 

You do not want the rear diff locked at speed. It's not an LSD which has some give to help maintain traction.

Drift cars weld their rear diffs so they can go sideways, dont turn your truck into a drift truck on the highways.


I've used rear lockers many times offroad. The only scenario that makes sense is to lock to get past an obstacle, then unlocking until needed again.

 

what do u mean taco's LSD is not a true LSD?

 

tacomas havent had a limited slip since the 2008 trd sport. its just maketing slang for the traction control system now that just about every other truck also has.

 

drag cars also uses spool to better go straight so im not sure what point your tryna get across. these things barely have power to spin the wheels at a stop. i dont think theres any worries about breaking traction at 60 lol. i have 10s of thousands on miles driven on the highway with a locked diff. after about 30mph you really cant tell any difference whatsoever while driving.

 

Welcome to TW! Let the mods begin!!

a word of warning- Have you seen what a grenaded Taco rear diff looks like? They begin with what you proposed to do. These trucks are great, but they’re delicate in some respects.

 

I am well aware of how diffs work. Locking diffs on pavement at any speed is what I should have said. Lots of good info here for the unwise. I'm a heavy duty mechanic by trade and daily I'm amazed by people. Sometimes I assume everyone has basic mechanical knowledge, then I talk to our operators and I'm beside myself trying to understand how they think.

 

how would one blow up a locked diff at 60mph? the physics don't make sense there.

 

Come to think of it my buddy did daily his first gen with a welded rear end lol. It was sketchy as fuck in the rain he's an interesting guy.

 

are people really willing to drop $250 on a locker anytime kit? I might have to reopen my 2nd gen locker anytime shop. https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/locker-anytime-mod-for-dummies-2005.353724/

 

From what I remember guys tried to make it work for the 3rd Gen's over and over and couldn't. It took 6 years for someone to come up with a plug and play option. If you can make it work go for it my dude. But yes people will definitely pay for it, I did and I'm very happy with it.

 

I was a bit pissed when I found this out.
Auto LSD is not a LSD, it just jacks around with the brakes and engine output.
Pretty much just the same ol traction control found in a lot of vehicles.

 

Yeah, I do a lot of the work myself and was suprised how many people think it’s just and oil change every 5-10k miles and brakes and tires. But if you were to be honest if the diff was locked and I was just sliding thru mud or dirt would the diff get a lot more damage if it was already locked before the spinning and sliding? I don’t know a lot about differentials and transfer cases n such, would the wear be bad?