locking rear dif

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Depends on how much you want to spend.

A spool is $200 or less plus install, at the other extreme an ARB about $700 plus install. All kinds of hard and soft lockers in between. The Aussie is reasonable and seems to decent. It's hard to beat the good old Detroit though.
 
Don't quote me on this, but i have been hearing that for the complete ARB rear locker setup with air compressor will set you back around $1500, including labor.
 
Thai said:
Don't quote me on this, but i have been hearing that for the complete ARB rear locker setup with air compressor will set you back around $1500, including labor.

The locker is like $729 now? Maybe $200 for the comp, 3 hrs tops at $75/hr (high end), that's ~$1155. Now that's based on YOU pulling the 3rd and carrying it in, and YOU installing the comp. Maybe 3-5 more labor hrs if you have the shop do it all.
 
i have been VERY happy with my ARB lockers. i have yet to engage the front but have used the rears often. there have been several obstacles that i couldn't get over unless i engaged the rear locker. they are easy to use and make me feel a lot more confident knowing they are there.

dan
 
dsams said:
i have been VERY happy with my ARB lockers. i have yet to engage the front but have used the rears often. there have been several obstacles that i couldn't get over unless i engaged the rear locker. they are easy to use and make me feel a lot more confident knowing they are there.

dan

Dan, you got one hell of a 4runner!!!:)
 
thai,

thank you. I do love my 4runner. my truck is a direct result of research and insight from this forum.

dan
 
Dsams - how does the TRAC and VSC play with the ARB lockers? Are these systems still active? Also - with your coilovers, I take it you removed XREAS... How much difference between XREAS and coilovers?
 
boston,

yes to both questions. the TRAC and VSC are still active and are part of the locking options. what i mean by that is the first thing i lock when i go off-roading is the center diff. (the stock locker from toyota) I then fire up the air compressor from ARB in case i need my rear or front lockers. when i approach what i feel is a difficult obstacle i lock the rear before going in. (this is what ARB reccomends in the owners manual) if i do start getting hung up i drop into 4 low first, and then if i need to lock the front. i've only locked my front twice and my rears countless times.

as to the XREAS, yes, i did remove it. all the XREAS does is resist pitch and sway. i prefer the drive of the DR set up to the stock. it is definitely different, but MUCH better off-road. on-road the DR's take the bumps much better, but the truck does have more 'bounce' than before. i also took off my rear sway bar.

if you are thinking of a lift, i highly reccomend the DR's. if you want to retain your XREAS, your only option is a spacer lift which will stiffen your ride. (i had the cornfed before the DR's)

hope this helps.

dan
 
Thanks for the quick reply!! I have an SR5, and I was leaning towards coilovers because I really didn't think spacers were the best option (cheapest maybe). AS far as TRAC and VSC, my only complaints about the system was that it uses the braking system to activate which isn't really distributing the power evenly where lockers do. I had ARB's on my Jeep (and a 4" spring lift) and loved it. Now I'm chomping at the to start the mods with this beast.

Thanks again!
 
Dan, you should be in 4-LO most of the time, not just when you approach a nasty obstacle. The only time i use 4-HI is while going fast over washboards or dirt roads. 4-LO gives you a lot more control when off-roading.
 
dsams said:
boston,

the first thing i lock when i go off-roading is the center diff. (the stock locker from toyota)...

... if i do start getting hung up i drop into 4 low first, ...

dan

Let me get this right? you first lock the center diff and then if in need you put it into 4 lo?

I thought you need to be in 4 lo to lock the center diff. Am I wrong?
 
you can lock the center while in 4 high. this is the first step i take when off-roading. this essentially turns your 4runner into a 4 wheel drive vehicle. if you read the owners manual, it explains that locking the center diff is equal to engaging the 4WD on other vehicles. if you encounter difficult terrain or severe uphills, then go to 4 low. (locking the center diff on the 4runner ties your front tires to the rear tires).

to engage the downhill assist, you have to be in 4 low.

thai,

what is the maximum speed you would go in 4 low?


dan
 
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Don't forget...locking the center diff does another very important thing...SHUTS OFF VSC (aka stability control). VSC is the part of the 4runner brain that dethrottles your engine (brings you to a stop/slow down your 4runner). This helps on the highway, but is not helpful while off-roading (esp. in muddy/sandy stuff and up steep inclines).

By locking the center diff, you are now relying solely on ATRAC (aka 4-wheel traction control) to keep you moving forward. ATRAC is always ON. ATRAC does not touch the throttle.

When i am in 4-LO, my speed is...as the slogan goes..."as slow as possible and as fast as necessary."
 
thai,

a few times when i have tried to 'rock' out of getting stuck, when i am going from forward to reverse (or the opposite) as i apply the brake so i can shift from 'd' to 'r' i get this incredible vibration that feels like it is coming from the front axle. do you know what that is?

my front locker is not engaged.

dan
 
Dan, i would slow down the engagement between D and R...take your time. Otherwise, i don't have enough experience in a 4th gen 4runner to tell you more.
 
thai,

i tell you man, it's weird. when i go forward and try to stop the truck from rolling back in the ruts, as i apply the brakes, it feels like i'm breaking the front axle. when i press the brake pedal, it shudders right away and gradually subsides as the pedal approaches the floor. i have never experienced this feeling in a 4WD vehicle before. i wonder if it has something to do with the center locker or the ATRAC. (my truck did this before the ARB's so iknow it's not that)

dan
 
dsams said:
when i go forward and try to stop the truck from rolling back in the ruts, as i apply the brakes, it feels like i'm breaking the front axle.

Could it be that you're are experiencing HAC (hill assist control)??? The "shudder" or noise that you feel is the system doing it's job to prevent you from rolling backwards into the rut??
 

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