Pyral
Member
The back story on this is that my long term plans were to retrofit the stock elocker (with the 4.30 gear ratio?) on the rear, and maybe do something with the front diff later on. Now my oil pan RTV gasket is failing, and fixing that gasket is now the next big project. Replacing that gasket requires pulling the front diff out, and so while its out and easily accessible I might as well do something with the front diff.
I've already done some research. I could either do a limited slip differential by someone Truetrac, or a l̶u̶n̶c̶h̶b̶o̶x̶ air locker from someone like ARB. Both have their strengths and weaknesses.
The limited slip differential would be far less expensive to do, it doesn't require miles of vaccuum tubing or additional wiring, and it will help get traction in inclement weather* (I'm coming back to this). It is also a bit simpler to maintain that an external system. There are a few cons, first there's no way to control it its totally automatic and so you cant turn it off like a l̶u̶n̶c̶h̶b̶o̶x̶ air locker , the 2nd downside is that it could theoretically lock the wheels as you turn and make it hard to steer. Also I mentioned that its better in inclement weather like snow, and it is but you have to drive carefully otherwise the wheels will both spin out (sort of like how people would weld diffs to do drifting).
Now onto locking diffs. The upsides is increased capability, ability to control when its locked, sounds cool to say twin lockers, and more predictability. Downsides are cost, and if you are rough on a IFS locker you will break something. You also have to have space to fit a compressor under the hood, on my 3rz non ABS 4runner that is easy.
Anyone have anything else to add?
Edit: I accidently used the term lunchbox locker in this post. I thought this was a term for any lockable diff on an ifs vehicle, whoops. Further research into this term got even more confusing, so I'm not using it and will put in quotes the correct term. What I mean to say was air locker.
I've already done some research. I could either do a limited slip differential by someone Truetrac, or a l̶u̶n̶c̶h̶b̶o̶x̶ air locker from someone like ARB. Both have their strengths and weaknesses.
The limited slip differential would be far less expensive to do, it doesn't require miles of vaccuum tubing or additional wiring, and it will help get traction in inclement weather* (I'm coming back to this). It is also a bit simpler to maintain that an external system. There are a few cons, first there's no way to control it its totally automatic and so you cant turn it off like a l̶u̶n̶c̶h̶b̶o̶x̶ air locker , the 2nd downside is that it could theoretically lock the wheels as you turn and make it hard to steer. Also I mentioned that its better in inclement weather like snow, and it is but you have to drive carefully otherwise the wheels will both spin out (sort of like how people would weld diffs to do drifting).
Now onto locking diffs. The upsides is increased capability, ability to control when its locked, sounds cool to say twin lockers, and more predictability. Downsides are cost, and if you are rough on a IFS locker you will break something. You also have to have space to fit a compressor under the hood, on my 3rz non ABS 4runner that is easy.
Anyone have anything else to add?
Edit: I accidently used the term lunchbox locker in this post. I thought this was a term for any lockable diff on an ifs vehicle, whoops. Further research into this term got even more confusing, so I'm not using it and will put in quotes the correct term. What I mean to say was air locker.
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