Tacoma LSD questions

Long story but I recently lost my father, I miss him terribly. He was a Iwo Jima survivor (5th Marine) with a Navy Cross, one hell of a decent all around human being. When he was alive I purchased a 07 Tundra 4x4 Crewmax because I would drive my parents, an aunt and my large dog to family events and while my father was ill I worried about that phone call in the middle of the night in deep snow: "Son, can you please take me to the hospital?"

For several reasons it is time to downsize, so I'm seriously shopping for a new Tacoma. I am accustom to fair amount of HP but I'm willing to give a little of that up to better than 10 mpg day to day. My Tundra has a OE electronic LSD which is 100% worthless. I put in an Ardun LSD which I very much like. I can go anywhere in +20" snow. I've had other pickup trucks with Eaton True Trac LSD and in particular I had a 91 Toyota pickup (4x4) with a Detroit Locker that could climb almost anything.

I'm thinking anything electronic and OE in LSD is a waste of my time? I am resigned to taking a new truck to a speed shop and have a LSD installed in at least the rear axle. I am greatly annoyed that if I am correct Eaton does not make any LSD for any Toyota made in the last 5 years?

Somebody has to have this all figured out already. My application would be more dicey-icy and snow than off road. I've had locker's on the street so far, so an occasional talking LSD noise does not bother me when a locker locks and unlocks.

Short of swapping out axles who makes the killer LSD for 2015 Tacoma pickups. They don't have to "lock" 100%, in my experience the best trick axles I ever used was a Tru-Track" that moved torque around based on resistance. With that setup I could climb icy hills that no one could walk up.

Do all 4x4 Tacomas have the same axle housings? Who makes the best LSD for my needs?

Thank you in advance,
Blessings on Blessings.

Timothy

 

My Dad passed 15 years ago and it still feels like 11 0'clock that morning. Welcome to TW.

 

I've been reading and watching TRD Pro reviews, I don't know what I think about 2015 TRD Pro yet.

My dad had cancer for his last 4 years. Mom and dad had 66 years of a very good marriage, He was 95 years old when he died. I still talk to him every day. I feel obliged to be the man he would expect me to be. My mom is low maintenance but I still want to be there for her any time she needs me.

Once my uncle called me at 3 AM; "Are you busy? Could I have a ride to the hospital?"

"Sure if you hang tight I can be there in about 90 seconds."

I recently spoke to my mom, she said she still has to live up to his standards but now at least she can do it her own way. Next I spoke to my older brother, also retired, who offered: "I still talk to dad about once an hour, I ask for his input on any important decision." That generation that saved the world can't be easily replaced. "When giants walked the earth?"

I have almost no respect for jeep, dodge, ford and chebby QC and stealer service so I don't want another. However any of those brands can get almost any LSD they want off the shelf. My 91 Toyota pick up had uncomfortable seats that were painful. Any ride over and hour and I needed physical therapy.

The hill in front of my house and my driveway in particular can be very treacherous in winter. I'll keep my driveway clean enough to eat off, and when I turn my back for a half hour it can ice up. So even though I live 2,500 miles from Moab or Baja I'm highly attracted to good traction for winter use.

Thank you Chris and Steve. My dad died in his own bed, in the house he built with 4 generations of his family nearby. The house was full and most of us took a short brake for dinner, leaving my mom and dad alone. Not long after Mom walked in and said: "his hands are cold and his chest isn't moving, I think he died." On Monday when he started hospice care he was walking with a walker, by Thursday he was dead. He needed "permission" to go.. For a guy given only 6 weeks to live he lasted almost 4 more years. When hospice care started he asked: "So this is it?" and was gone in 4 days.

The day before he died I was watching "Gunsmoke" with him in the afternoon. Dad liked his westerns.

 

Sorry for your loss Timothy.

As for your questions...

The Tacoma is very comfortable compared to other 4WDs or older trucks.

The electronic limited slip (TRAC/ AUTO LSD) does indeed work, but it is not a locker, so I advise getting an OFF ROAD TRD 4WD, which has more powerful hydraulic brake booster traction control (and the 4 wheel "auto locker" system 'A-TRAC') and a rear differential locker. It is the most capable stock small truck you can buy.

 

Welcome to TW Tim. Sorry for your loss. The first upgrade I would make is changing out the tires. The stock tires are garbage in my opinion.

 

I'm confused?

David: OFF ROAD TRD 4WD = trim level of Tacoma? I once lived in NM, half my driving was off road, I miss it.

& Thank you,

My Tundra has electronic traction control, it is so useless with an Auburn it doesn't even get in the way. Off road with a real rear LSD I never needed 4x4 unless I needed to lift the front axle out of a deep rut. Without the Auburn my Tundra can get stuck parked on 3 wet leaves.

 

The rear locker in the new tacoma will mean you get weaker diff. From what ive searched your better opting for the open diff or lsd then buying an aftermarket locking diff its stronger that way! I found were I read this info. 4wd Toyota owner magazine november/December issue 2014 tech special page 58 thru 62. Hope this helps. Sorry for your loss.

 

For tires on the Tundra I run Michelin LTX M/S2 (Highway all-season) for spring summer and fall, and Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V1 for winter. I think the Michelin have a nice ride but are otherwise over rated. I my try something else next time. I have two sets of rims. This is my second set of Blizzak for winter and while they wear fast on dry roads they still much more affordable than body work. I like them a lot.

 

Sorry for your loss. Your father sounded like a great man.

The TRD Off Road is a trim level of the Tacoma. It's available either as a 4WD or 2WD (Prerunner). It has a factory electronic rear locker in an 8" housing I believe. The other trims use a 8.4" I think. I don't think it's weak by any means unless you're hardcore wheeling, which it doesn't sound like you will be. Other options would be to get a base, SR5, or Sport trim and go aftermarket. ARB makes an air locker, but that requires an air source to power it. There are people on here who run Detroits as well.

 

Thank you DpS,

I will call some Axle shops Monday. You are answering my question, (thank you) I don't need a body lift or off road shock or extended travel for snow. (as in a TRD Pro) I need some very smart axles. I worked in Gallup NM as a mining engr 35 years ago. I miss Albq.

 

Your welcome timothy. Ill be heading towards Gallup tomorrow for work. Its cool to hear from someone whos heard of Albuquerque New Mexico. Most think were south of the boarder!! Good luck with your seach tomorrow..

 

Sorry for your loss, reading your story made me sad and brought a sick dose of reality. Life sucks but keep trucking, your father lived a long life, longer then most. Thats something to be thankful for, I think of the grand fathers I have lost and the grandmother's I am going to lose, its a bad feeling.

I have a trd off road, if you are not in 4wd the electronic limited slip is not active. So its pretty much an open diff, but with a locker anytime mod I can lock the diff when I wish.

If you are going to add a true limited slip buy the sport model and put your choice of lsd in. In the snow I haven't had any problem with my offroad. I live in the northeast so I deal with some pretty slippery roads.

Good luck dude

 

Mr. Berk

(in Agreement)

I had a Detroit Locker in my 91 Toyota 4x4 (in PA) and a Detroit Truetrac in my 81GMC Jimmy (in NM). Both worked, the locker is preferred for 1/4 mile, racing on asphalt track and inching through boulders; none of which I frequent. It is ultimately stronger than a TrueTrac and is necessary for vehicles with 36" tires or larger.

The TrueTrac was preferred for general off road, ice and snow. I loved mine. It is transparent to any user under any ordinary use. In deep, deep mud I could "float" on the skid plates/belly pan and use WOT to make the TrueTrac hunt for traction. All for show but completely unnecessary.

In my case, unless I was off road and intentionally dropped the front axle into a ditch the 4WD became unnecessary. I seldom needed 4WD to lift the front wheels over something and 4WD was completely unnecessary in the snow on the street.

To the credit of the Detroit Locker, in Pittsburgh 1993 on St Patrick's day in a record >30" my 91 Toyota 4x4 was climbing very steep untreated hills with the snow as deep as the top of my hood. Somehow my grill survived.

When I had the 81 GMC Jimmy I worked as a mining engineer and explored for coal. One morning in particular there was a long ice covered concrete arch viaduct that crosses over a number of RR tracks. It was covered with a jumbled mess of cars that could not progress. With the True Trac and good tires I just threaded my way through the mess without any problems. When the factory schyte 305 motor died young I put a new LT1 350 in and drove the truck another 150,000 miles. While the locker is stronger than the TruTrac; I put my TruTrac through hell and it never broke using < 32"-34" tires.

Thank you UltraE05,

I believe I'll meet my Maker and one day I will have to give an account. I was confessing to my Priest and asked: "Why is it I'm more concerned with not letting my own father down than my Redeemer?"

He answered: "By all accounts your father was a remarkable and very good man. That which you loved the most in you Dad IS the Christ you saw in him. Don't let you Dad down and you will be fine with your Redeemer."

I'm 61 years old, my dad lived till he was 95. On Iwo, as a Lieutenant he lead his men across the narrowest part of the island getting a Navy Cross for his effort. Only 3 men survived out of his company. I believe those men have been waiting 70 years to share a beer with my dad. While we all miss my dad I think the USMC is rocking the clouds to have one of their last finally rejoin the unit.

Berk - Which Tacos have the 8.4" open diff? 2WD? 4WD?

 

Every model that does not have the e locker has the 8.4. The 8.0 with ATRAC and e locker may actually be more what you're looking for, as it's extremely capable without modification, and plenty strong. TRD offroad models are not lifted or obnoxious looking, just a higher trim package and the most capable stock model available.

Sorry for your loss and happy you had such a man for a father

 

never had my system overheat.... the vacuum assisted trac will overheat before the electric assisted one.

 

re Over-heating the brakes...

IF it ever does (and hasn't with me, even driving in A-TRAC for 3 hours), the OFF ROAD TRD has a locking differential as a back up.

As for the 8" diff being 'weak'... well, no failures on my three Tacomas or any other stock diffs of my Tacoma friends.

When I talk about TRAC working, I am comparing it to me previous two Tacomas without traction control, and the TRAC limited slip (in H4) by working on all four tires really makes a noticeable advance in off road ability. In fact, TRAC in H4 can out climb the truck in LOW RANGE 4WD. Only with the locker or A-TRAC can the truck go beyond where TRAC in H4 takes it.

So, I know TRAC works when compared to open differentials only.

I don't have any opinion on non-Toyota after-market equipment, just on what comes with the OFF ROAD 4WD TACOMA. With what one pays for that, who has money for more? But seriously, you don't need to add more for nearly all types of off road driving. Only the BFG Rugged Trail tires are a weak point and the lack of a real breather on the rear differential.

 

ARB's. No more problems.

 

Mr Berk is correct.

You have a range of choices that depend on what truck you purchase.
First two choices are
1. Buy TRD Offroad truck
2. Buy non-TRD Offroad truck

If you buy TDR Offroad than you are stuck with factory locker and somewhat better that Original Tundra traction control (AKA Electronic Limited Slip)

If you buy NON-TRD Offroad truck you choices are almost endless.
Here are some with Cons and Pro's which are my opinion and not all people will agree.

LSD's
1. Eatons Truetrac
PRO's:
Gear driven so you can use Synthetic gear lubricant.
It shift power very well and smooth which makes ideal for slippery conditions.
Combined with Electronic traction control makes for locker almost like experience.
Cons:
Its truetrac so it works by multiplying power, if one wheel is on pure ice or in the air you are screwed unless you have Electronic traction control running.



2. Kazuma TRD LSD
PRO's
Expensive.
Can be installed by Toyota and you keep your factory warranty for rear diff np.
Con's
Very week LSD, it will work ok when combined with Electronic Traction control.
Requires special oil



3. Factory LSD that came on TRD sports until 2008
PRO's
Almost locker like action, with or with out electronic traction control.
Its very strong and works with out help from Electronic traction control.

Con's
Requires special oil