Solid locker is called a spool. No moving parts other than a ring and pinion. These are for competition only and will break things and make you crash on the street. TRD locker is good for the back. Try the TTORA board. Alot of guys there do the solid front axle conversion and put Dana's in the rear also, so you will find people selling axle assemblies. They do go quick though. ARB's are not tough on the front diff cause they are only on when you turn them on and act as an open diff when not used. Ratcheting lockers like true-trac are supposed to be OK but they are harder on drive train because they stay locked until you corner on the street and then they break loose and ratchet in the corner. ARB's are expensive, but by far the most popular and most respected name in lockers. Also lockers are bad for street snow driving and thats another reason to go ARB in the front. Do a search on the TTORA board on lockers and you will get more info than you will know what to do with. All first hand experience. I also see several people parting out their Taco's on the TTORA board. I would worry about the rear before the front.
Thanks for the great info Eric! ARB's have been the best choice for pre-Comas' and our current trucks then. Something that I was not aware of. I had ARB's on an '85 of mine & loved them. OK, I'm an 'Old-Timer'. Great post! [img]images/graemlins/40BEER.gif[/img]
Great post by you too Hunterr! Please fill out your profile (you don't have to give us all) just about your ride. But you do deserve another star. Thanks for all your help! Bray. [img]images/graemlins/40BEER.gif[/img]
Keep in mind that it's not as easy as just plugging in TRD rear axle into a non-TRD rig. There is an ECU that controls the locker and from what I understand wiring that whole mess together can be a bear. The folks who have done it seem to be split between whether it was worth it or whether they should have just gone with the ARB in the rear.
Once you learn the "manners" of the "auto" lockers, like the LockRight, you can drive around their quirks, so that is not a bad way to go and is cheaper than the ARB.
For the front, I can't recommend enough that you go with a selectable locker (ARB) if you don't have manual hubs. With ADD and a LockRight, there are some undesired side effects with the driveshaft spinning and added drag. I had the first ARB RD90 in a private vehicle installed in my truck in the ARB shop and I have NOTHING but praise for that thing. Other than an axle shaft here and there that I probably would have broken anyway, I didn't have a single problem with it. All of the advantages of a locked front diff, none of the disadvantages. Now it's serving proudly in a buddy's rig in Arizona [img]images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]
I am not a fan of the Detroit's in Tacoma's, I have seen too many go up in smoke when an axle shaft breaks, but other than that, you buddy is right. Lockers will add more off road ability to your rig than ANYTHING else, tires, lift, whatever...
I personally was the type that would get the tires and lift first. Because I like the looks! Then I would save my money to get the things I needed for better off -roading later.
But I have kinda changed my feelings about that now. I had a 99 reg cab , I lifted it and put Mud Terrains on it and hit the trails. That was the extent to my off road mods. I had a blast... but I didn't realize what I was missing.
Now with my new truck...it has the TRD Locker. I have went up some hills and through some holes and just sat back and laughed at how easy it was. These were things that my old truck couldn't even touch!
And keep in mind I am running an ALL TERRAIN tire too!
It wouldn't be 1/2 the truck it is without that locker baby!
I dont know search under 04, tacoma , then call the guys they know alot and they can tell you if it fits or not there number is on the www.truckperformacne.com page good luck.
Here's another question from a newbie. The owners manual and ugly ass sticker on the door say's not to exceed 5 MPH with the locker engaged. How are you supposed to have any fun in the mud at 5 MPH? Or is this supposed to keep the average guy out of trouble? Or will it break? Thanks in advance. Jake
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