locking differentals and traction control

[wes smith]

whats the main difference(pros and cons) betwen selectable and automatic lockers. any sugestions on what locker to get. i want to make my rig more trail worthey but not sacrifice onroad driveability



and also does any1 know how to disable traction control in 2wd and 4wd unlocked?

i have a 02 sr5 4x4 auto compleatley stock btw.

 

[CJ3Flyr]

The selectable ARB locker is by far the most popular option in the 4Runners. There's a little experimentation going on with the Torsen. In conjuction with the 4th gens ATRAC it seems to work well. You have ATRAC as well and that might be an option. http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?t=55256

I can't help you on the traction control thing with any specificity. Your '02 system functions in a very similar fashion to our 4th gen setup. You can click on the link in my sig to read about VSC defeat in the 4th gen. It may give you some direction...
:cheers:

 

[techno]

Check out this article on lockers, it gives a very good explanation of whats available.

http://www.fourwheeler.com/techarti...lockers_better_traction_4x4_trucks/index.html

If you want to make your ride more trail worthy, make sure you do tires and suspension before you start investing in a locker.

 

[Thai]

If you want to make your ride more trail worthy, make sure you do tires and suspension before you start investing in a locker.

IMHO, a locker is more important than a suspension lift...but i agree that tires is #1, locker #2, then maybe a lift.

 

[fourwd1]

X2
You can have tons of clearance, but if your wheels are spinning, your going nowhere.

 

[techno]

...or you can be fully locked and going nowhere because you are bottomed out or hung up on the front or rear overhangs and doing damage to stuff that you prefer wasn't damaged. Plus you're less likely to lift a wheel (and need a locker) if you got more wheel travel from a lift.

It's personal preference and depends on what kind of terrain you like to play in. They are both equally worth doing, but a lift before lockers is always my choice.

 

[Thai]

...or you can be fully locked and going nowhere because you are bottomed out or hung up on the front or rear overhangs and doing damage to stuff that you prefer wasn't damaged. Plus you're less likely to lift a wheel (and need a locker) if you got more wheel travel from a lift.

It's personal preference and depends on what kind of terrain you like to play in. They are both equally worth doing, but a lift before lockers is always my choice.

But, with a locker, you can approach an obstacle at a different angle that will minimize bumper damage...and this is due to the fact that suspension travel becomes much less important once you have a locker. And lets face it, a 4runner with a lift or not is not a vehicle with much suspension travel at the front. Disclaimer: exception being the extreme suspension mods.

My stock G can go through a lot more stuff than many heavily lifted vehicle for this very reason. Also, a lifted vehicle with a wheel dangling and barely touching the ground is not going to move much of anything, much less a 4500 lbs vehicle up a mountain!

 

[Pikeman]

Okay here is the great debate, if you get a quality suspension and your wheels are able to stay on the ground then you dont need a locker but if you are locked then who cares if a wheel is in the air because you will still go forward with the wheel that is still in contact. My 85 4 Runner was able to go forward simply becasue the extreme articulation it had so I delayed my locker. Now that I have a 3rd gen I need a locker even though I did do the suspension first with good tires(Thai might debate the tires becaseu they are Nittos) but next is a locker.

Choice of locker would be either factory E-locker conversion or ARB. Selectable is a lot nicer because there are times you dont want to be locked (ie. off- camber on ice on side of cliff)

 

[CJ3Flyr]

Okay here is the great debate, if you get a quality suspension and your wheels are able to stay on the ground then you dont need a locker but if you are locked then who cares if a wheel is in the air because you will still go forward with the wheel that is still in contact. My 85 4 Runner was able to go forward simply becasue the extreme articulation it had so I delayed my locker. Now that I have a 3rd gen I need a locker even though I did do the suspension first with good tires(Thai might debate the tires becaseu they are Nittos) but next is a locker.

So true... The older Defender 90's were amazing even with 2 open diffs. The axles would articulate like crazy and they'd just go...
:cheers:

 

[Pikeman]

Also if you search Petersons 4x4 and Off-road magazine I think last year they did an article on this very thing with two jeeps one factory Rubicon with lockers front and rear and one with suspension. I think the conclusion still ended up being personal preference they just were able to show the pros of both sides of the arguement.