Was looking at the rear diff in the '92 wreck that I just brought home and noticed an electrical connection to the 3rd member that my '95 does'nt have. '95 is 5 speed and '92 wreck is auto, is this an auto tranny sensor?? What is its purpose?
Thanks

 

It's an ABS sensor. It checks if the rear tires have locked up or not.

 

Is the ABS totally different then between '92 and '95 models??
On my '95 I can see the ABS unit on the fenderwell near the master cyl and the 2 rear ABS sensors are near the outer axle ends right behind the brake backs.
I don't see any ABS gear at all under the hood of the '92.

 

i just clipped the wires off when i put my diff into my rig. i think you can get a blockoff plate if you're really concerned with it, but since the sensor does the same thing....

 

The 92 ABS system is on the passenger side frame engine bay.
I think they changed from a single sensor to a double in mid 94.
They were finding that when wet that the diff ABS sensor was not sensing what the wheels were doing on a open diff.
The diff ring gear could turning slow and the wheels turning opposite of each other causing slide, With the sensors at the wheels it will help release the brakes so the wheels sync up.

If they just used a factory locker it would have made things better in all ways.

 

During the period from about '93 through '95, Toyota phased out the 2 wheel ABS (senses the ring gear speed only at the rear diff) and went to full 4 wheel ABS, where each wheel's speed is sensed independently. That's why your '95 has sensors on the wheels and the '92 has wires coming off the diff. 4 wheel ABS is obviously better; all the 2 wheel ABS did is attempt to keep the rear wheels from locking up, and did nothing for the front.

A factory locker would make no difference - Toyota wisely prevents the factory locker from locking above about 10 mph, and I'm pretty sure it only locks if the transfer case is in 4-Lo. Helps keep idiots out of trouble that way.

 

Yes, I see it now. Looks like the system uses hydraulic pressure supplied by the power steering pump. Never seen one that wasn't all electric before.

 

I have a '95 with the diff sensor. You had a choice of "rear ABS" or "4 wheel ABS" I have the "rear ABS" that only works in 2H.