2WD LOCKER questions!!

[awpsome]

2WD LOCKER questions!! SHIFTED to truetrac!

UPDATE: I picked the detroit truetrac for my application. best decision ive made on my truck ever since.


Before i start, please keep negative comments to yourself..
Thank you!


I live in Hawaii, so no snow or any of that. Ive currently been reading every thread on this even back dated to 2006..
I have a 97 4runner 2wd, yes a 2wd, 4runner that does 98% on road DAILY driving.. Ive been itching for a 4wd runner forever but there is to much sentimental value to my current 4runner.
Ive tried off roading it before but got stuck numerous times way to easy. Only way out was with buddies and tow straps and winches..
Currently looking to maybe get a locker for my 2wd so i have a better chance at mild off roading. I dont do any rock crawling or anything too crazy, just mild off roading. Going to the beach here and there. some sandy areas..

heres my current setup if it makes a difference.
97 4runner sr5 2wd
v6 3.4L
almost stock everything.
ive got 32" tires no lifts stock suspension
automatic.
let me know if you need any other info.


reason i want a locker, if i feel like going to the beach on certain days when i have the time and my friends cant always come out i want to have some reassurance ill be able to get in and out of those mild sandy spots.. most of the time some sand here and there and dirt roads; like i said im not doing anything major..

so mainly what i wanted to ask is what locker should i be looking at? ive heard of aussies, lockrights, arb, elocker, detroit lockers.. etc..

only thing is too i know arbs go for 1000$+ which is way out of my budget that im looking to spend.
so basically lockright or the aussies go for around 200-300$ doesnt sound to bad. and looking at videos they do quite well. which would you guys recommend and why? for my applicaation of mostly daily driving on road and occasional mild off road?

im assuming the detroit truetrac type? or a detroit locker type? slightly different?

thank you everyone!

 

[echo4tango]

I use to have a detroit locker in a 2001 ford ranger and it was two wheel drive as well. I loved the detroit locker but I got stuck just as much with the locker as I did with out it. however it sure made some mean rooster tails when both tires were spinning trying to get unstuck.

I lived in kailua HI for many years and know that you should just buy a 4x4 because without it your still gonna get stuck in that 2wd even with a locker.

 

[J-money$$$]

its not worth it if your drive on the road that much.

 

[LINY4Runner]

With the amount of road driving you do, it's better to have a selectable locker. Problem with that is with the amount of road driving you do, it's hard to justify the price of a selectable locker.

I would go with a Detroit Tru-Trac in your situation. It's easy enough for street applications (I can drive on dry pavement with the Tru-Trac in the FRONT!) and cheap enough to justify. And it'll take your 2wd to a whole new level...trust me, I blew my front diff and I was running 2wd with locked rear for some time on mild trails and it rarely slowed me down

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

With the amount of road driving you do, it's better to have a selectable locker. Problem with that is with the amount of road driving you do, it's hard to justify the price of a selectable locker.

I would go with a Detroit Tru-Trac in your situation. It's easy enough for street applications (I can drive on dry pavement with the Tru-Trac in the FRONT!) and cheap enough to justify. And it'll take your 2wd to a whole new level...trust me, I blew my front diff and I was running 2wd with locked rear for some time on mild trails and it rarely slowed me down

LSD in the rear of my 4Runner = best decision I ever made

 

[awpsome]

Thanks for all the replys guys!
Yea I'd still have to keep getting a 4wd out of the question just because I don't off road as much, no time to, and I'm only looking at small dirt road stuff.
But liny how's that truetrac differ from another regular locker? And that one is all mechanical too right? No clutches to replace?

When you do parking lots and u turns how's it handle? Any clicking noise?
Thanks!

 

[awpsome]

LSD in the rear of my 4Runner = best decision I ever made

Hey what's up!
Read your sig as well you got 2wd and the truetrac?
So wait truetrac is more like an LSD? Not a locker?
How's it handle in parkig lots and u turns and all that?
Most importantly how's it handle on off road?

Thanks!

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

Hey what's up!
Read your sig as well you got 2wd and the truetrac?
So wait truetrac is more like an LSD? Not a locker?
How's it handle in parkig lots and u turns and all that?
Most importantly how's it handle on off road?

Thanks!

Basically, it always applies torque to both wheels. it allows both wheels to spin at different speeds, though. It applies power to wheels that have low traction.

Basically, gettin on freeways around big banked turns is a blast. Handles way better on and off road. Those moments where one wheel in the air mean nothing more than fun.

Google them, YouTube them.

Sorry, reply is short because I am on my phone

 

[awpsome]

Thanks for the reply.
Hmm I was looking at prices those truetracs go for around 450-500?
Damn how much better, if you know, is it compared to a regular Aussie/Detroit locker?

Sounds like the truetrac is much better for on road stuff? How strong is it offroad compared to a auto locker?
Haha sorry for all the questions! I really appreciate the feedback and help.

 

[J-money$$$]

Thanks for the reply.
Hmm I was looking at prices those truetracs go for around 450-500?
Damn how much better, if you know, is it compared to a regular Aussie/Detroit locker?

Sounds like the truetrac is much better for on road stuff? How strong is it offroad compared to a auto locker?
Haha sorry for all the questions! I really appreciate the feedback and help.

Aussie lockers and detroits are way different. An aussie locker is about $300, same with a lockright. and you can install them yourself with no special tools. A detroit is a full carrier replacement locker so its stronger and costs around $600. These need to be professionally installed. That also goes for the truetrac. It is a full carrier replacement and will need to be set up at a diff shop. You could expect to pay right around $200 for the set up given you remove the third member and take that to the shop.

Here is the deal with limited slip diffs, they will apply power to both wheels AS LONG AS both wheels have Some traction. The reason they are not used in rock crawling generally is because if one tire looses all traction ie: A tire in the air: will cause the limited slip to free up and will just spin the free tire. This happens in weird places sometimes.

A locker will give power to both wheels no matter what, but the auto locking feature allows you to turn corners without the inside tire chirping , WHich will happen with a spool. I know that my lockright is okay to drive on the street, but not great.

hope that helps

 

[awpsome]

I thought the truetrac was the same just bolt on no special tools?
But hmm im not planning to rock crawl so it's either a trutrac but I kinda get iffy on the fact that it can't 100% lock. Although Im pretty sure that should be fine. Man now I'm confusing myself...

Hah so basically truetrac not bolt on?
How much does it cost from where? eBay has them 450-500 ish.
For those with the auto lockers. How noisy do they get?
And if at all noisy, how daily drivable are they? Cause the trutrac seems to get the best rating for daily driving. But still lock good.

 

[brian2sun]

Jason is right that the TrueTrac requires pro installation because the carrier is replaced and that requires the backlash to be reset. The Aussie and the Lockright do not replace the carrier, so they don't require setting up the entire diff afterwards. This makes the labor (and the parts cheaper) with the Aussie/Lockright.

You pretty much have a choice between great road manners, but not 100% lock-up (TrueTrac), ok road manners and 100% lockup (Aussie or Lockright), or great road manners and 100% lockup (ARB or elocker).

Hah so basically truetrac not bolt on? Not a bolt on, ~$200 for a pro setup with the diff in hand or ~$3-350 if they have to deal with removing the diff.
How much does it cost from where? eBay has them 450-500 ish. That's about right.
For those with the auto lockers. How noisy do they get? I have ARBs, but auto lockers are tolerable, but you'll hear it on sharp turns and it may skip the tires here and there when you're on the gas and turning.
And if at all noisy, how daily drivable are they? The TrueTrac is almost unnoticeable, the Aussies/Lockrights you'll notice sometimes, ARBs and elockers you will never notice on road.
Cause the trutrac seems to get the best rating for daily driving. But still lock good. Yes, but like Jason said, if you lift a tire, it's won't fully lock up.

It sounds like the best option for you (since you're 98% on road) would be the True-Trac or save your $$ up until you can get an ARB or retro-fit an elocker.

 

[J-money$$$]

I thought the truetrac was the same just bolt on no special tools?
But hmm im not planning to rock crawl so it's either a trutrac but I kinda get iffy on the fact that it can't 100% lock. Although Im pretty sure that should be fine. Man now I'm confusing myself...

Hah so basically truetrac not bolt on?
How much does it cost from where? eBay has them 450-500 ish.
For those with the auto lockers. How noisy do they get?
And if at all noisy, how daily drivable are they? Cause the trutrac seems to get the best rating for daily driving. But still lock good.

I have a lockright, I used to daily drive it, and it was do-able. Its pretty noisy when it ratchets. and locks up randomly and bangs. I can hear it with the windows up just fine... And im running 140w oil to make it a little quieter. But i love it. and it worth it to me because i go wheelings usually twice a week

And Limited slips dont ever truly lock up. Its really complicated how they work. Think of it sorta like a partially engaged clutch. It allows some slippage.


I think the biggest deal for you will be airing your tires way down. Like 10 psi. That will help more than most people realize

 

[awpsome]

Thanks for the replies!
I'm learning a lot and at the moment I really want the trutrac but it's just wayy more then I thought.

Thinking about how little I go off road, if this is even worth it at all for me haha
I want rear lock but it costs to much for how little. And even if I get more into it seems like 2wd has a low ceiling to how far I can get haha
hmm any motivational thoughts?

 

[awpsome]

My last question, sorry!

So if I decide Aussie or lockright. Which one do I buy?
7.5"? 8"?
Does having stock gears matter? Is there a specific I need to look at?

Thank you!

 

[J-money$$$]

My last question, sorry!

So if I decide Aussie or lockright. Which one do I buy?
7.5"? 8"?
Does having stock gears matter? Is there a specific I need to look at?

Thank you!

7.5 is for the front diff which you dont have. buy and 8. and it needs to be for a v6 toyota 8" diff. Gooduck.

 

[LINY4Runner]

you're gonna be looking for the 8" V6/Turbo diff

 

[awpsome]

Thanks guys!

So if I install one of the Aussie or lockright am I able to have the ability to easily convert it back to stock if I can't stand the cliking an ****?

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

Thanks guys!

So if I install one of the Aussie or lockright am I able to have the ability to easily convert it back to stock if I can't stand the cliking an ****?

It's easy if you think that removing the carrier and axles, then partially taking the diff apart is easy for you.

I don't like to do that everyday especially with gear oil smelling the way it does.

I met a guy with a T100 just prior to regearing. He had a Powertrax Lockright... my god that **** was LOUD. It was embarrassingly loud IMO. He said he liked it offroad, but all other times pissed him off. He especially disliked turning on road. Either the tires chirp a lot around corners (dry) or he loses the back end completely (rain/snow/mud)

I love to haul ass offroad, so I went with the Posi. It may not be a legitimate lock while out, but it drives 100% better on road and I do 90% on-road driving as it is. Still kicks ass offroad.

I've only been stuck once since I got it, and that wasn't because of the posi. If anything, I'd have been stuck more without it.

Just my .02

 

[awpsome]

Nice. That's good info considering I do a lot of on road as well
how much total you spend on that truetrac to get installed and everything?

Truetrac is also a LSD right? Just confirming.