Factory Rear Locker Override

[DMNHNTR]

Has any one put an override on the factory rear locker to be able to use it in 2 or 4hi on demand and not have to use it with crawl control? I've seen members on here do it with A-Trac and ABS for uninterrupted fun.

Searched for the topic to no avail. if its been discussed please direct me and I will leave this alone.

 

[Cndnmax]

FYI, it works without crawl control. The only requirement is 4lo.
There is a mod that will let you trick the vehicle into thinking it’s in 4low and let you use all the gizmos. Idk where that thread is but It should be the same as the one you mentioned.

 

[Yfz54]

Its called either the Blue or grey wire mod depending on the vehicle. I looked into doing it on mine but you have to put in an additional switch that tricks your truck into thinking it's in 4lo and you end up with a flashing 4lo light when you have the bypass switch activated.

 

[Whippersnapper02]

Locker mod.

 

[llDemonll]

Why? There shouldn't be a time where you're traveling fast and need a locker...

 

[BobsTrail]

The locker mod mentioned above may be the best and safest way to do it, just ignore the light or think of it as a reminder that it's engaged.

I'm not sure it's really needed, I rarely use mine and when I do I need to be in 4L anyway.

It would have been fun yesterday in 2h when I was trying to get it loose in a turn in snow messing around with a guy in a ZR2. His Duratracs really hung on.

 

[Bumbo]

Why? There shouldn't be a time where you're traveling fast and need a locker...

Aside from desert running where you might prefer a “looser” rear end and steering with the throttle or general shenanigans… I agree

I still prefer if Toyota didn’t nanny all the systems as it creates a hurdles, but I can understand why they do it, trying to protect the consumer from themselves… I am sure they know a large portion of their market base might not fully understand when and why to use half the stuff their trucks are equipped with.

 

[elnip]

Locker mod.

Linky? I haven't found anything yet searching the forum.
This was one of the first mods I did on my '98 Taco and it is still
this way today.

 

[STLDAVE]

Linky? I haven't found anything yet searching the forum.
This was one of the first mods I did on my '98 Taco and it is still
this way today.

https://www.toyota-4runner.org/540503-post8.html

 

[elnip]

https://www.toyota-4runner.org/540503-post8.html

Much appreciated!

 

[borfoo3]

Why? There shouldn't be a time where you're traveling fast and need a locker...

Sand Dunes

The real ones

 

[Crocket]

Sand Dunes

The real ones

Aside from desert running where you might prefer a “looser” rear end and steering with the throttle or general shenanigans…

Or perhaps snowy/icy roads. In slippery conditions 4Runner will have at best 2 driving wheels and 2 slipping wheels (while in 4wd mode). Locking the rear would effectively make it a 3wd vehicle in slippery snow/ice conditions, no?

 

[Ogre75]

I wish I had a locking rear diff. I would definitely do this mod. I came from a GMC HD that had the eaton locker and I used it all the time. Comes in great for slick boat ramps.

 

[Bumbo]

Or perhaps snowy/icy roads. In slippery conditions 4Runner will have at best 2 driving wheels and 2 slipping wheels (while in 4wd mode). Locking the rear would effectively make it a 3wd vehicle in slippery snow/ice conditions, no?

My goal on snowy/icy roads is NOT to break traction because it's difficult to recover if you go into a slide. I would never run with a rear diff locked.

Ideally you would want a limited slip differential in the front and or rear if you wanted to put power down to the road like a locker would off-road, but for on-road driving.

Similarly the Limited transfer case in H4F / AWD mode is basically a mechanical limited slip differential which is ideal for snow driving. Unfortunately the other trims don't operate the center unlocked which would only exacerbate the problem as it would promote scrubbing around turns and make it harder for the tire to keep traction.

 

[Thrasher_S]

Aside from desert running where you might prefer a “looser” rear end and steering with the throttle or general shenanigans… I agree

I still prefer if Toyota didn’t nanny all the systems as it creates a hurdles, but I can understand why they do it, trying to protect the consumer from themselves… I am sure they know a large portion of their market base might not fully understand when and why to use half the stuff their trucks are equipped with.

"This is the makes my runner sound cool by chirping the tires when I turn button. The steering feels stiffer, but I just power through."

 

[Crocket]

My goal on snowy/icy roads is NOT to break traction because it's difficult to recover if you go into a slide. I would never run with a rear diff locked.

Ideally you would want a limited slip differential in the front and or rear if you wanted to put power down to the road like a locker would off-road, but for on-road driving.

Similarly the Limited transfer case in H4F / AWD mode is basically a mechanical limited slip differential which is ideal for snow driving. Unfortunately the other trims don't operate the center unlocked which would only exacerbate the problem as it would promote scrubbing around turns and make it harder for the tire to keep traction.

Agree with you there regarding front and rear LSDs. Unfortunately 5th gen 4wd 4Runners don't come with them, only some of the 2wd versions if I'm not mistaken. Not sure how much it costs to get one aftermarket, but I'm guessing not cheap, probably comparable to an aftermarket locker.

 

[Grug556]

Why? There shouldn't be a time where you're traveling fast and need a locker...

Come on man, dont rain on the parade. Whats wrong with a rocker on full driving down the highway in dry pavement at 100mph :biggrin2:

 

[Bumbo]

Agree with you there regarding front and rear LSDs. Unfortunately 5th gen 4wd 4Runners don't come with them, only some of the 2wd versions if I'm not mistaken. Not sure how much it costs to get one aftermarket, but I'm guessing not cheap, probably comparable to an aftermarket locker.

The cost to install an LSD is the same as installing a locker, but the LSD part is generally less than a selectable locker by about half. If I was to get one installed I would buy a mechanical Torsen LSD or similar because I don’t like clutch based systems or ones that require friction modifiers as they can wear out over time.

Truthfully I never had a problem running open/open diffs on-road in the snow with an unlocked center transfer case (H4F). The only time I would do differential work is for lockers / off-road capability.

 

[baldrik78]

I bet you could turn some baller donuts with a locker in 2wd.

 

[DMNHNTR]

I really appreciate all the feedback. I personally have driven multiple vehicles with this type of set up and it makes a huge difference when traveling down dirt roads especially with loose dirt or moon dust (Moab roads). I do not want to be in 4Lo or need 4Hi while driving at a normal speed on these types of surfaces. There is a reason even the Ford Raptor has this option. As much as I would love to have a Raptor it just does not suit my everyday needs like my 4Runner. You guys are correct that this would not be beneficial on snow or ice where you need the open diff for traction and not breaking loose as easily.