I am looking into purchasing another 4runner. I was kind of set on a 99-00 limited with the multimode 4wd and the elocker . I started looking at the 01-02 4runners. Is there any advantage of the center diff lock and the e locker? I plan on using my 4runner on the trail. Just seeing what people think the better setup would be for the trail. I do have a e locker setup on my current 4runner that can be swapped over.
2001-2002 4wd question
- Thread starter 3rdgenfan
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MONTYMTB
New member
jgue467
Senior Member
That would be sweet, center and rear lockers for trailing, mudding, etc! :cowboy:
TheDurk
Elite Member
The center locker doesn't make a rig better off road relative to ones without. Because the ones without are ALWAYS locked front-to-rear in 4wd. What it does is allow 4wd in unlocked or AWD mode, so all four wheels can be driven on hard surfaces, i.e. on the road.
What I don't know is how an e-locker plays with VSC/TRAC. I suspect it's one or the other. So your e-locked '01-'02 will be no better than any other e-locked rig. It will have an advantage ON-road.
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I know some people do the Andy mod to disable the VSC/TRAC. I guess what I am getting at is you can use the center diff lock for not so bad situations but use e locker for bad situations. Pretty confusing I guess.
jgue467
Senior Member
I agree, the center locker is better than no locker at all. When the center locker is engaged, it automatically disables VSC. I believe TRAC remains so the andy mod could be used there. I find the center lock useful every time i go thru some deeper mud at my deer lease, makes for fun plowing and i love seeing the mud fly from all tires!
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Technoplasm
New member
it disables VSC but keeps ATRAC, which is like limited slip front and rear. Once you get the feel for how it works it will give you an edge over normal open diffs, I really wouldn't recommend disabling it.
So is it possible to have the center diff engaged and the e locker? So you would have a trac and the e locker or is that to much going on there? My e locker isn't ties into my factory wiring cause I did a retro fit on my 99.
SnowLizard
New member
Ok, so the vsc/a-trac is considered an 'active' locker, if one tire spins it does one or multiple of the following...
A) applies brake to the spinning wheel sending power to opposite side of the axle (not to the other axle)
B) slows down the throttle
The downside to these...
A) not best/good in high slip areas (IE mud or snow or ice) as it usually applies engine brake
B) slow 'grippy' situations (rock crawling) as its too slow for the electronics
The rear locker fixes all of that, you can power through mud, slippery ice/snow banks or go slow on rock crawling.
My opinion
If you have the chance to put a locker in a 01-02, you would have THE best 4runner imo cause it is nice to have the vsc and a-trac when on pavement. You'll never regret having a 'newer car' cause the 01-02 do have a few more creature comforts that I wouldn't mind.
A) applies brake to the spinning wheel sending power to opposite side of the axle (not to the other axle)
B) slows down the throttle
The downside to these...
A) not best/good in high slip areas (IE mud or snow or ice) as it usually applies engine brake
B) slow 'grippy' situations (rock crawling) as its too slow for the electronics
The rear locker fixes all of that, you can power through mud, slippery ice/snow banks or go slow on rock crawling.
My opinion
If you have the chance to put a locker in a 01-02, you would have THE best 4runner imo cause it is nice to have the vsc and a-trac when on pavement. You'll never regret having a 'newer car' cause the 01-02 do have a few more creature comforts that I wouldn't mind.
Exactly why I started looking at the 01-02's for the nicer options. Found one local with 145,000 miles on it. Still waiting on a response.
Technoplasm
New member
You can use both. When you have the center differential unlocked, you aren't really in 4wd, you would be in AWD. AWD allows the wheels to spin at different speeds while turning without having to slip or scrub, but it still routes power to the front tires so that you can drive with confidence in rain and snow and avoid having your front end sway or lose control.
When you lock the center differential, you are in real/true 4wd. This allows for a true split of power between the axles, but is not to be used on the road because the ample traction doesn't allow tension to be released from the drivetrain like it would be in normal off road conditions.
The E-locker and the Center locker can be used at the same time, it would be just like having any other part-time 4wd vehicle in 4wd with a rear locker engaged. And as long as your install doesn't somehow disable the ATRAC functionality, that should work too without issue. This is ideal because you can lock the rear axle to a true 50/50 power split between the two rear wheels, while still having what is essentially a limited slip differential functioning in the front axle.
Time to do some research. Thanks for the info.
fblainen11
New member
The center lock doesn't improve any off-road ability anymore than the other 4wds. The center lock is necessary in order for the Multi-mode system to work.
Multi-mode means you have the ability to do AWD, like a Subaru, or 4wd like a pickup truck has full time 4wd.
I understand it is a bit confusing and the thread mentioned earlier helps some, but it can still be confusing. I didn't fully understand the differences until I bought my 01 and figured out how the system works.
Really and truly if you want the most off-road capable you want something with rear e-locker.
If you want the absolute most capable on and off-road go with the year they had Multi-mode and the rear e-locker.
Multi-mode means you have the ability to do AWD, like a Subaru, or 4wd like a pickup truck has full time 4wd.
I understand it is a bit confusing and the thread mentioned earlier helps some, but it can still be confusing. I didn't fully understand the differences until I bought my 01 and figured out how the system works.
Really and truly if you want the most off-road capable you want something with rear e-locker.
If you want the absolute most capable on and off-road go with the year they had Multi-mode and the rear e-locker.
