Is It Hard To Install A Diff Lock On My 4x2? - Tacoma World

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Is it hard to install a diff lock on my 4x2?

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by CarFactsyt, Jan 31, 2021.

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1. Jan 31, 2021 at 1:54 PM #1

   #1 CarFactsyt [OP] Member

   Joined: Jan 30, 2021 Member: #354521 Messages: 6 Gender: Male First Name: Anthony Vehicle: 2003 tacoma Prerunner SR5 3.4L

   Im not sure this can be done without switching major components. Dont get me wrong i love my truck but i know a diff lock would give that extra umph. Is it worth it? Any info would be great. Please and thank you.

   CarFactsyt, Jan 31, 2021 #1
2. Jan 31, 2021 at 1:57 PM #2

   #2 Kwikvette Well-Known Member Vendor

   Joined: Feb 27, 2019 Member: #284735 Messages: 86,536 Gender: Male Fresno County 4 run, 2 don't

   CarFactsyt[OP] initial post: ↑

   Im not sure this can be done without switching major components. Dont get me wrong i love my truck but i know a diff lock would give that extra umph. Is it worth it? Any info would be great. Please and thank you.Click to expand...

   Requires replacing the entire rear axle housing, and just running a switch up front to engage/disengage the locker. That's if you're trying to get a factory setup.

   Kwikvette, Jan 31, 2021 #2 CarFactsyt[QUOTED][OP] and whatstcp like this.
3. Jan 31, 2021 at 2:12 PM #3

   #3 CarFactsyt [OP] Member

   Joined: Jan 30, 2021 Member: #354521 Messages: 6 Gender: Male First Name: Anthony Vehicle: 2003 tacoma Prerunner SR5 3.4L

   Kwikvette said: ↑

   Requires replacing the entire rear axle housing, and just running a switch up front to engage/disengage the locker. That's if you're trying to get a factory setup.Click to expand...

   Thank you

   CarFactsyt, Jan 31, 2021 #3
4. Jan 31, 2021 at 2:15 PM #4

   #4 CarFactsyt [OP] Member

   Joined: Jan 30, 2021 Member: #354521 Messages: 6 Gender: Male First Name: Anthony Vehicle: 2003 tacoma Prerunner SR5 3.4L

   whatstcp said: ↑

   since you're a first gen you can find plenty of complete rear axle assemblies with a factory diff lock. You can also get an aftermarket one installed in your current diff that can be powered by air or just power. You can also get a lunchbox locker or detroit locker that are supposed to allow normal operation on the street but will lock up when wheel slip occurs. Basically, there is more than one way to skin a cat and a lot of options with varying pros and cons and also price points. Welcome to TW and lets get to researching which option is best for youClick to expand...

   Awesome info. This is my first truck, if you cant tell.

   CarFactsyt, Jan 31, 2021 #4 whatstcp[QUOTED] likes this.
5. Jan 31, 2021 at 3:28 PM #5

   #5 Appalachia Man Well-Known Member

   Joined: Mar 25, 2019 Member: #287854 Messages: 218 Vehicle: 03 Prerunner X-cab 2.7L Detroit Truetrac 2" lift OME 880's & Dakar's

   good advice from @Kwikvette and @whatstcp. i narrowed it down between tacoma e-locker or detroit truetrac. looked for awhile try'n to find a tacoma e-locker rear... but was either too late, rag'd out or to much $. finally went with the detroit truetrac. its basically a limited slip with helical gears. low maintenance, 80w-90 diff oil and great street manners. if you're looking for something for towing, hauling or light off-road its great! cost depends on your skill. i did 90% of the work myself, had a mechanic friend press the bearings and set backlash. got mine from summit on sale, total for everything was ~$575. the best upgrade for a 4x2! this is the model i got in my truck https://www.justdifferentials.com/Toyota-8-4-30-Spline-Eaton-Truetrac-p/tt913a541.htm lotta wheelers swear by them... rock crawlers dont care too much about em, they prefer full locked. eaton detriot truetrac, do some research... check it out!

   Appalachia Man, Jan 31, 2021 #5 CarFactsyt[OP] likes this.
6. Jan 31, 2021 at 3:44 PM #6

   #6 Ritchie Well-Known Member

   Joined: Dec 24, 2012 Member: #93649 Messages: 1,930 Gender: Male San Diego (North County) Vehicle: RC Step side Pre-runner 2.7 w/auto, 4WU 3 link, F & R Diamonds, ARB's F/R w/ Yukon 5.29's, Inchworm 4.7 Lefty, Deavers, ARB OBA, Schrockworks up front.

   Look at Marlin Crawler. Many Toyota parts available. Good luck.

   Ritchie, Jan 31, 2021 #6 CarFactsyt[OP] likes this.
7. Feb 1, 2021 at 1:44 PM #7

   #7 CarFactsyt [OP] Member

   Joined: Jan 30, 2021 Member: #354521 Messages: 6 Gender: Male First Name: Anthony Vehicle: 2003 tacoma Prerunner SR5 3.4L

   Appalachia Man said: ↑

   good advice from @Kwikvette and @whatstcp. i narrowed it down between tacoma e-locker or detroit truetrac. looked for awhile try'n to find a tacoma e-locker rear... but was either too late, rag'd out or to much $. finally went with the detroit truetrac. its basically a limited slip with helical gears. low maintenance, 80w-90 diff oil and great street manners. if you're looking for something for towing, hauling or light off-road its great! cost depends on your skill. i did 90% of the work myself, had a mechanic friend press the bearings and set backlash. got mine from summit on sale, total for everything was ~$575. the best upgrade for a 4x2! this is the model i got in my truck https://www.justdifferentials.com/Toyota-8-4-30-Spline-Eaton-Truetrac-p/tt913a541.htm lotta wheelers swear by them... rock crawlers dont care too much about em, they prefer full locked. eaton detriot truetrac, do some research... check it out!Click to expand...

   That's exactly what i am looking for, awesome. Im not looking to beat the truck up rock crawling but if need be make it through some trails and hauling. Great info thank you, Sir.

   CarFactsyt, Feb 1, 2021 #7
8. Feb 1, 2021 at 2:06 PM #8

   #8 CarFactsyt [OP] Member

   Joined: Jan 30, 2021 Member: #354521 Messages: 6 Gender: Male First Name: Anthony Vehicle: 2003 tacoma Prerunner SR5 3.4L

   Appalachia Man said: ↑

   good advice from @Kwikvette and @whatstcp. i narrowed it down between tacoma e-locker or detroit truetrac. looked for awhile try'n to find a tacoma e-locker rear... but was either too late, rag'd out or to much $. finally went with the detroit truetrac. its basically a limited slip with helical gears. low maintenance, 80w-90 diff oil and great street manners. if you're looking for something for towing, hauling or light off-road its great! cost depends on your skill. i did 90% of the work myself, had a mechanic friend press the bearings and set backlash. got mine from summit on sale, total for everything was ~$575. the best upgrade for a 4x2! this is the model i got in my truck https://www.justdifferentials.com/Toyota-8-4-30-Spline-Eaton-Truetrac-p/tt913a541.htm lotta wheelers swear by them... rock crawlers dont care too much about em, they prefer full locked. eaton detriot truetrac, do some research... check it out!Click to expand...

   Are you running stick or auto?

   CarFactsyt, Feb 1, 2021 #8
9. Feb 1, 2021 at 5:45 PM #9

   #9 Appalachia Man Well-Known Member

   Joined: Mar 25, 2019 Member: #287854 Messages: 218 Vehicle: 03 Prerunner X-cab 2.7L Detroit Truetrac 2" lift OME 880's & Dakar's

   CarFactsyt[OP] said: ↑

   Are you running stick or auto?Click to expand...

   auto. here is my thread, https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/1st-gen-tacoma-eaton-detroit-truetrac-lsd-install.601021/ this will give you a detail list of parts and helpful websites. in addition to the truetrac, also added old man emu coils, shocks , dakar leafs and cooper AT3. im very pleased with the performance, handling and off road capabilities of this truck. yeah im not gonna go run the rubicon trail in this rig (got jk for that) but at least i can conquer wet grass now

   Last edited: Feb 1, 2021 Appalachia Man, Feb 1, 2021 #9 CarFactsyt[QUOTED][OP] likes this.
10. Feb 1, 2021 at 6:51 PM #10

    #10 jbrandt Made you look

    Joined: Feb 12, 2011 Member: #51038 Messages: 17,613 Gender: Male First Name: Justin El Dorado, CA (NOT El Dorado Hills) Vehicle: '04 TRD Tacoma 4x4 DC Kings, J59's Total Chaos UCAs Custom skids Sticker mod

    Honestly, I’m not sure how “easy” it is to be able to find a complete rear axle housing from a 1st gen trd tacoma. That would certainly be the “easiest” way to DIY, since it’s just bolting up the new axle housing and figuring out some switches, but that honestly seems pretty unlikely to just walk in a shop and buy a complete axle for a 20 year old truck. Imo, I’d steer you more towards a limited slip, rather than a locker, and just bite the bullet and have a shop do it. Lockers are great for extreme traction off road, but let’s be honest, its a prerunner. You’d get more traction with an open diff 4x4 than a locked 2wd... LSDs dont need wiring or plumbing for air lines, they just sit there and do their thing. Best imo for street use or mild offroading. I do almost all my own work, and installing differ, and getting proper alignment on the pinion gears is critical, and not something I’d be confident to do myself.

    jbrandt, Feb 1, 2021 #10 CarFactsyt[OP] likes this.

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