Importance of Center Locking Diff/E-locker...

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YFZsandrider

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Hey guy, first post here. I recently sold my '93 SR5 pickup, and I'd like to feed my desire for the versatility of an SUV.

Ive read through the 3rd gen buyer's guide, and have a few questions regarding the usefulness of the center diff lock in 99+ models. Obviously, I'd really like to find a 3rd gen with a rear E-locker, but the concept of switching between AWD and 4WD with the center locker has me wondering if that's a more desire able option to shoot for in my search for a used rig.

Its turning out to be difficult to find a vehicle equipped with both('99-'00 Limited model with e-locker), so I'm wondering if I should just settle for either an E-locker, or get a Limited and plan an E-locker swap down the road.

Ultimately I plan on doing some mild wheeling, but will probably build the truck more for overland travel. I live in the Pacific Northwest, so driving on patchy snow and ice roads is limited to about one occurance a year, lasting maybe a week.

-I'm guessing the AWD mode wouldn't benefit off road ability much?

- If I plan for 33" tires, does the 4.30 gearing of a Limited model allow me to run that tire size with thinking about a re-gear?

- How expensive and involved is the E-locker swap?


Any advice and info is greatly appreciated! Thanks guys!!
 
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So let me see if I understand this correct.

You are looking for a 99/00 equipped with the multi mode t-case correct and a E-Locker?

I'll chime in on this because I have a 99 Limited. They are super solid rig man. I love the on the fly AWD mode. It makes crappy road conditions easy. Now the easy button is really nice also(E-locker)

If you look around they are out there dude. Also, with the 4:30's running 33's is not an issue. Hell 35's for that matter can be done but 5:29's and 35's pretty much go together.



Blue
 
Limited model WITH an e-locker is out there, but looking for both those options in the same truck is a bit difficult and is really limiting my options in a used rig.

I'm wondering if I should just bag the idea of a locking transfer case, and settle for an e-locker equipped truck,(which I'm finding a lot of), or am I better off picking up a '99-'00 Limited and look at swapping in an e-locker down the road? And what's the cost involved in that?
 
As far as I know a locked 3rd member should just drop in, or the axle with it should drop in, you just need to route the wiring (which may include drilling the housing for the wiring if you are swapping the 3rd member).

I've never had a locker on anything, but I can say that AWD is pretty nice as far as snow and ice goes. And the AWD is definitely better than 2WD offroad, but with the center diff locked (so 4WD) traction control is able to pull you through a lot of stuff. Obviously it's not as effective as a true limited slip or locker, but it definitely diverts enough power to pull you over obstacles if you choose a good path.
 
its nice being able to pick and choose what you want to turn on. i managed to find my 00 limited multi mode and locker 3 hours away from me, but it took about 6 months to find.. (4 years ago, paid around 8K for it with 130K.)

keep looking, you will find it. plus i think it would be better and cheeper to start on a good foundation with a multi mode and locker rather than having to install one later.
 
Ive spent weeks offroad and never locked the center diff. Granted, most of MI outback is sand so there is no need to lock the center, and I dont play on the rocks or in the mud.

The only times I have had a need to lock the center diff is when I have the rear driveshaft pulled and need to use the front drive train to get around.

I am not sure on the availability year to year, my 01 modulates the brakes via the ABS to control wheel slip and act like a pseudo locker. Seems to work when needed. But again, Im not an aggressive offroader.
 
Locking the center diff takes you out of the gimpy AWD and into proper 4WD mode. When that diff is locked the 4Runner will behave exactly like the part-time 4WD in your old pickup - with the diff unlocked, it just does a poor imitation of a Subaru. Multimode is nice on slick pavement, but that's what it's intended for. There's no reason to use it offroad unless you just like seeing how far you can make it before you engage real 4WD... if you want offroad capability, go for the elocker.

I have 4.30 gearing and 285/75 tires on the '99, and at 5000 feet it brings the suck. You're closer to sea level, but if you're planning on installing 33s, I'd budget for a set of 4.88 gears too.

There's two ways to swap an elocker in - get the entire housing, which will bolt right up but you'll want to be sure the gears match and the ABS or lack of it is taken care of OR swap an elocker third into your existing housing, which takes some basic fabrication to get it to fit and you'll still need to make sure the gears match the front. Either way you'll need to run power to the locker through a switch, you can do that by retrofitting the factory elocker harness, getting an aftermarket harness from 12voltguy or Painless Wiring, or getting some wire and a switch and having at it.
 
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My personal opinion is that multi-mode AWD is pretty useless. If the conditions are bad enough, I put it in 4wd. Done. That said, I am not a soccer mom, and I know how to drive in the snow/ice.

If I were you, I'd expand the search by looking for any 3rd gen with the rear locker. If it's got a plain-old 4wd transfer case, all the better. Less stuff to break down the road. I have a 5-speed and 4.10 gears and it's OK with 33's. Currently upgrading to 4.88 gears and 35's.

$.02
 
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Multimode cases are STRONG, and the AWD mode is a nice safety feature when its rainy or slick

If your going to run 33's you'll want to regear, if your going to regear you might as well get an ARB. The elocker is a nice stock option but I've seen too many fail to trust them.

P.s. I don't care if YOUR elocker is totally awesome, super reliable, always gets you laid, etc
I've seen them fail and the motor is expensive to replace, your going to want OBA anyway so just jump to the ARB and save yourself the headache
 
KidVermicious said:
Ditto for the multimode case, the actuator can go out and it's a Toyota-only part. A buddy went through two of them before he got sick of it and converted to a manual case.
Click to expand...

Touche', so the 99-00 J-shift multimode case would prob be the best route
 
AWD mode (called the Multi-Mode transfer case) is really intended for slippery conditions on the highway, and those who have it, love it in those situations. When you get offroad and start losing traction, it is best to lock the center diff to reduce wear on the center differential.

The e-locker is not super helpful in really slick conditions where all four tires have the same amount of traction, like ice, snow and sand. It is most useful when available traction side-to-side differs, like when rock crawling where one tire is compressed and the other is drooped, leaving little weight pushing down on that tire for traction. In that case, power will always favor the front wheel and rear wheel (since they are locked together) with the least traction. Locking the rear diff puts power back to that tire that is pressed hard into the ground, rather than favoring the one with no weight on it.

Not to confuse the issue, but Toyota also has a system they call ATRAC (traction control system on 01-02 4Runners) uses the ABS system to brake the spinning wheels to help with the transfer of torque. It helps too.

I chose an 00 model with a manual trans and a rear locker for wheeling, which means I have the standard non-Multi-Mode transfer case because that was available on automatics only. It works great for the type of wheeling I do where the suspension is articulating and the locker helps keep power to both rear wheels. But if I lived elsewhere where the roads were slick and there was no terrain that articulated the suspension (where the locker is helpful), I would go for Multi-Mode instead of the e-locker.

Here's what it comes down to:
Manual trans available 96-00. Only options are standard non-Multi-mode transfer case with the option of the e-locker.
Automatics 96-98; non-Multi-mode with e-locker option
Automatics 99-00 (Limited) - Multi-mode with e-locker option
Automatics 01-02 - Multi-mode with ATRAC (no e-locker available)

As you can see, you can't get Multi-Mode, ATRAC and the e-locker. If you don't see yourself needing a locker, I wouldn't pass up a clean, low mileage non-elocker truck.
 
I'm not sure why you would want the multi mode thing, it doesn't sound like it does anything beneficial, it has more electronics that can fail, and it surely won't help you out more than a locking rear diff.

I'd get a real T-case with a handle that makes it go into 4wd, and an E-locker.
 
My understanding is that AWD (multi-mode on our trucks) is superior to 4WD when driving on pavement through snow and ice covered highways.

I only have 4WD and once tried to keep up with an AWD Mazda SUV something. I nearly slid off the road losing traction while he drove on.

The locker is nice but it's a thing you rarely use, even off-road .
 
I personally like the multi-mode, especially in slick conditions. I'd take multi-mode over e-locker, as you can always retrofit an e-locker if you want it later.
 
paddlenbike said:
Multi-mode is great for skiiers/snowboarders. I wouldn't trade my e-locker for Multi-mode, but it has its uses.
Click to expand...

So is 4wd.... I still see no point in it. If the pavement is white, 4wd, if the pavement is black 2wd.

I live in Canada....it snows here every once in a while. :nerd:
 
BrianSD_42 said:
My understanding is that AWD (multi-mode on our trucks) is superior to 4WD when driving on pavement through snow and ice covered highways.

I only have 4WD and once tried to keep up with an AWD Mazda SUV something. I nearly slid off the road losing traction while he drove on.

The locker is nice but it's a thing you rarely use, even off-road .
Click to expand...

Honestly that says NOTHING of the usefulness of multi mode.

It says:

A: he/she had better tires

B: he/she is a better driver

C: you don't go very far off-road

No offense meant, but if you look at the actual facts, it's hard to compare 2 different drivers with different tires in different vehicles.
 
I looked for a while as well, since I DID want multi-mode Plus an E-locker. As you guys know, it was down to 99-00.. A few years later I found a 2000 limited with both.. Here they are hard to find, or hard to find in great conditions.. I also enjoy the ATRAC but didn't feel like buying another 3rd gen so I went 4th.

I have had great success with the Multi-Mode between Reno's snow/ice, and Lake Tahoe's everything in between.

Ultimately though, it's what your(OP) pocket/likes or dislikes are... I say, go out and test drive both and see which one makes you feel comfortable behind the wheel.
Good Luck!!! :yo:



PS: I just like the feeling of "Set it and forget it"
 
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