I'm shopping for an aftermarket clutch plate-type limited slip rear differential for my 1st generation 4runner (1988). Options seem very limited. The only unit I can find is the Auburn LSD. Many options seem to exist if my rig was newer (e.g. TRD, and Detroit have units for Tacomas and Sequoias). I seem to recall Downey sold one for my rig when they were still around. Does anybody have any leads?

Thanks

 

How come your preference for a clutch style LSD? ... You hoping to modify it to make it more grippy?

Curious

I have a TrueTrac (gear style).. Strong as hell and works great (for what it is). I currently run it in my front axle where i think it works the best.

 

Well, first off, understand that I am quite new to this idea of aftermarket LSDs. The 4-runner I am currently "building up" will be no rock crawler. Inevitablely it will spend the vast majority of its miles on pavement. All I want is that little extra for those times I'm grinding around in the desert or the occasional slick mud. My understanding was the disk-type LSDs were the best on-road/off road compromise, but I could be wrong. Does your TrueTrack gear style ride well on dry pavement? I suppose the all-or-nothing on demand lockers would work best for me, but I'm not prepared for that expense (and associated) modifications. Any advice welcome, John

 

I liked my front TrueTrac, but did not use the front drive on pavement all that much:
- http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/TrueTrac.shtml

I have a gear type LSD in my VW and it works great.

Another option is the Supra LSD:
- http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/tech/supra_lsd/

 

I see. If I put it in the front I can enjoy 1) full differential on pavement simply by unlocking my hubs, 2) greatly improved off-road traction when in 4WD, and 3) Enough slip when I encounter dry traction in 4WD (like gravel). Never thought of it like that before.

The price and instillation of the Front-axle TrueTrac are appealing too.

 

Just to put in my 2 cents and give more of an idea of what you're looking into. I have a trd (eaton) lsd in my rear diff with 4.88's and 33"s and i love it. Gives me traction when i need it and doesn't bark the tires when i'm daily driving it. The difference between having it and not, are night and day.

 

It is, in fact the tdr (eaton) lsd that I originally wanted (for rear application). But I can't seem to find a seller that says it fits on anything but Tacoma, Tundra, or T100. Do you think such a unit will fit in the stock rear axle of my 87 4-runner? I confess I'm only looking at websites now, I suppose I could pick up the phone and call some of these suppliers.

Thanks for your input (mightymouse and 4crawler), I'm learning a lot here.

 

pretty sure mine came from a taco but i sourced it from a toyota guy here in mo. so can't be sure on that one.

 

Part of my earlier sourcing problem was relying too much on vendor websites to match their product to my rig solely on make and model. With a little research I determined my stock IFS front axle to be a 7.5 inch, 27-spline, 4:10. Based in these spec's, I see now that National Drivetrain sells a TrueTrac (Eton) gear-type LSD to fit my front axle for just over $400, they also sell one that would fit in my rear axle for about the same. I can't afford both, so I'm thinking of going for the front one. Thoughts? Advice?

 

Eaton makes Detroit... so you have a Truetrac?

Clarify?


To OP, I had the Truetrac in my rear axle for like 4 yrs as a DD. And my truck still is a DD, one of helluve one now too, doing 200 freeway a week .. I'm running a locker now tho.

The Truetrac is invisible. You might notice a tiny bit of pushing through corners with heavy accel but nothing to talk about.

Being a full Dif replacement, it's friggen indestructible and being a gear drive, it wont wear out. Best LSD for a toy IMO and in my experience.

As far as the night n day comment, a locker is night n day performance, this more like afternoon and dusk difference lol. It will HELP but LSD's are nothing amazing with a stock suspension, they require tire contact and you tend to lift tires a lot with a stock suspension.

Hence why i said it works best in the FRONT axle of my rig since with much greater wheel travel, the tires stay in contact with mother earth so the LSD is rarely one wheel peels. Typically only in very slick wet/mud conditions (with full tire contact).

 

For the lsd in my rear diff it's a clutch type lsd and as far as i know was labeled a trd lsd for toyota. The trd unit as i'm told and found through research was made through eaton and sold through toyota. Then again i could be wrong, it's happened before. No matter though i'm happy with it!