LSD on 2WDs. When to use it?

[woodyc]

When should you use the LSD on the 2WD models? I have an 06 2WD sport and the manual says you should only use it when one wheel is spinning and it cautions you that if left on you will heat up the "brake actuator". It also says to stop the vehicle before engaging. We were in Moab last week and I used it for a few steep sandy sections but was afraid to just leave it on. Anyone out there have experience using this feature?

 

[4Runner8]

what does LSD stand for and would an 03 have it???

 

[sheik]

Limited Slip Differential. It keeps power going to the tire(s) that have grip.

I'd be inclined to follow the manual personally, I wouldn't want to find out they were right.

 

[CJ3Flyr]

LSD or limited-slip differential... On the T4R we have open diffs. The brakes work in conjunction with the wheel speed sensors to provide "limited-slip like" performance. If you're parked on a hill with one side of the vehicle on ice only one wheel spins. With limited-slip some of the power is directed to the wheel with traction and the vehicle proceeds up the hill.


On the 4Runner the electronic brake trick is 2-fold: It pinches the brake on the spinning wheel to redirect the power to the other side and reduces the power output of the engine in an attempt to maintain traction. Sometimes you want/need to spin the tires. The LSD button found on the 2wd models eliminates the power reduction aspect of the system. If you're about to "power through" some mud, a snow bank etc you'd want to push the button to ensure normal power output rather than power output controlled by the TRAC system. IIRC earlier 2wd's may have a button that says TRAC but it does the same thing.

The "if left on warning" is iffy... If the LSD is continuosly activating it will overheat. If it's 'on' but not engaged it's not making extra heat. You can hear it working so you know when it's engaged. I am not sure about how the 2wd annunciates but on the 4wd the slip light also activates when the system is being used.

4wd doesn't have the button. By locking the center diff or pushing the VSC off button (08-09models) you defeat the power reduction aspect of the TRAC system.
:cheers:

 

[woodyc]

Does that mean that if you're driving on a dirt road with LSD on it won't activate unless you hit a section with poor traction? Or should I only use it in obvious sections where I know traction will be an issue?

 

[CJ3Flyr]

Does that mean that if you're driving on a dirt road with LSD on it won't activate unless you hit a section with poor traction? Or should I only use it in obvious sections where I know traction will be an issue?

I would only use it in sections where traction is suspect. IIRC it shuts itself off above some certain, modest speed like 20mph. You can turn it on and drive down the road and see what speed causes it to reset to the default mode.
:cheers:

 

[woodyc]

Thanks. The manual says it is useable below 62 mph. I don't want to burn anything up so I'll follow your advice and only use it in obvious poor traction situations.

 

[4Runner8]

is there a button for it??? i dont have one i dont think?? but i do know when in my sig pic i had to floor it up that mound to get up then park and put brake on to take pic but the first try my wheels were spinning when i didnt have my foot on the gas. is that it. also it didnt really help at all? edit (changed sig pic)

 

[woodyc]

is there a button for it??? i dont have one i dont think?? but i do know when in my sig pic i had to floor it up that mound to get up then park and put brake on to take pic but the first try my wheels were spinning when i didnt have my foot on the gas. is that it. also it didnt really help at all?

Yes there is a button on the lower left side of the dash. It says " Auto LSD". Sounds like something from my youth!

 

[4Runner8]

sorry i guess 2003's werent equipped with em cause i aint got one. i got a button on the left of my steering wheel for "trac off" but nothin else

 

[CJ3Flyr]

sorry i guess 2003's werent equipped with em cause i aint got one. i got a button on the left of my steering wheel for "trac off" but nothin else

Jackpot! Trac off is like LSD on...

 

[4Runner8]

explanation please!!!

 

[sheik]

explanation please!!!

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?t=52

 

[CJ3Flyr]

explanation please!!!

Look at the link and my response in this thread, post #4.

 

[4Runner8]

why would they label the button trac off if when u use it it actually gives u traction. and when i didnt really know what it was i would push it when stopped and start to drive slow then ti would turn off automatically so i thought it had no use

 

[CJ3Flyr]

why would they label the button trac off if when u use it it actually gives u traction. and when i didnt really know what it was i would push it when stopped and start to drive slow then ti would turn off automatically so i thought it had no use

Marketing and semantics… The change to “LSD” is better labeling than the original “Trac off” for the U.S. market. There’s not a difference in function. Without being a geek and understanding that the acronym TRAC is an acronym for a system that reduces power to maintain traction the label TRAC off is very misleading. If you were getting stuck why, in a million years, would you consider pushing a switch called TRAC off? Get my point?

Most Americans would recognize auto-LSD as automatic limited-slip.


IMHO something gets lost in the translation from Japanese to English and that explains some of the switchology and the semi-crappy owners manual.

:cheers:

 

[4Runner8]

awesome im gonna try next trip off roading, im gonna find another steep incline that i know i cant make it up, see how far i get, then try again this time pushing my trac off button to see if it helps. thanks!

 

[jeober]

The LSD button found on the 2wd models eliminates the power reduction aspect of the system. If you're about to "power through" some mud, a snow bank etc you'd want to push the button to ensure normal power output rather than power output controlled by the TRAC system. IIRC earlier 2wd's may have a button that says TRAC but it does the same thing.

CJ3Flyr:

It's been a while since last winter, AND my brain is certainly not getting any stronger...

but I had evaluated this with my 2wd and I think I remember that the LSD button on enabled the throttle butterfly traction control function, not disable. I find the throttle override and momentary loss of power annoying.

Could this be the case?

 

[CJ3Flyr]

CJ3Flyr:

It's been a while since last winter, AND my brain is certainly not getting any stronger...

but I had evaluated this with my 2wd and I think I remember that the LSD button on enabled the throttle butterfly traction control function, not disable. I find the throttle override and momentary loss of power annoying.

Could this be the case?

Hmmm, that doesn't sound right. Maybe I am confused and it is right but I am pretty sure TRAC off and Auto-LSD is what it takes to get you cool parking lot donuts The normal, no dash lights condition is the one that is going to interrupt power output when the wheels spin.

 

[4Runner8]

well when i had my old tires the day before i got new ones i peeled out but it didnt really work so my friend told me to put it in low and press the trac off button and it smoked the back passenger only haha