help me "detune" my rear end!

[carl johansson]

Yikes! . I can't believe some of you actually would open this thread.
essentially i bought a 95 in excellent shape - but it had been built to to "high" of a level. The guy was going for rock crawler - i need capable dependable 4 wheel drive / road capable. I have to drive several hundred miles on pavement, thenm go out andf drive nasty 2 tracks, sandy washes strewn with boulders, and goat tracks. I need good capability - but above all else reliability!

The thing came with a 'lock right" (powertrax) permanent locking setup for the rear end - and that is just not cutting it - it makes it unpleasant to drive around town and anywhere on pavement. The herky jerky, grabbing and clicking certainly have to eventually be a reliability issue as well.

As i understand it the rear end was regeared as well for 35 inch tires - which were out of the quesdtion for me - so i stepped down to 31 inch and it has helped drivability as well.
As i recall the rear gears were "Sierra Gears" and i believe it was a 4:59 ratio to help compensate for the huge tires.

So I see 2 reasonable options. 1. put it back to a stock open rear diff. or go with an engagable unit. in my mind, after looking at ox locker and ARB - I think ARB is the best bet.

But now here is where I need help - because i know absolutely nothing how all of these components work together.
so should i go find a used rear end and just swap it out? what about differences in ratios - would that be a big issue. I guess i wouldn't mind going back to something like a 3.72 or 3.59 - improve gas mileage and high speed cruising - the granny gears give me plenty of low end for the off road stuff.

Is it even possible to find an e-locker or ARB rearend - used but not abused? If so - anyone have any leads?

Or should I bite the bullet and go new - and if so - who is the set-up guru on adjusting lash etc?

carl Johansson
fresno Ca

 

[Tornadom]

Hey Carl.

For 31" tall tires, you really should be running 4.56 gear in the axles. I know it sounds absurdly low, but that is what Toyota installed from the factory on my 1990 4Runner, V6 5spd. So, if indeed your gears are 4.59 or thereabouts, I would leave them just how they are.

As for the locker, yes they are very annoying on the road. If your travels do not take you into a lot of places where you have a wheel off the ground, then I recommend a limited slip differential such as the Detroit True-Trac. It will provide power to both tires, but is smooth enough to be run in the front axle. It is a helical limited slip differential, very similar in design to the limited slip differential found in front wheel drive cars such as the Acura Integra Type-R. That being said, it will also provide you with most of the traction of a locker (about 65-75%), unless you are in a situation with a wheel completely off the ground. In those situations, setting the parking brake a couple clicks can trick the differential to powering both wheels again.

Where are you using your 4wd? I am familiar with most of the trails in Central CA.