My sister has an 02 4runner with the factory diff locker. Unfortunately I doubt it will ever see offroad use but she does take it up to Mt. Hood to go snowboarding. I was thinking about the possibility of bypassing the low-range-only lockout but got to wondering if this may be dangerous on snow covered (paved)roads. My thought is that under power, going up the winding roads, if the rear diff is locked and both tires are being driven, the rear would slide all over the place. Seems like an lsd would be better for these circumstances. Any thought?

 

You are ENTIRELY correct. A locker on the snow/ice, particularly on pavement, is a recipe for a quick trip to the ditch.

 

isnt the '02 just a center diff locker??

 

thats was my thought too..

 

Ah, if it's a center locker, then it's a different story...

 

Hmm, I may be mistaken with the year. It's the previous gen (96-02) 4runner "sport" (read:fake hood scoop) 4x4 with the "rr lock" button just to the left of the steering wheel.

 

ya thats the Rear Locker. its not good idea to use that in the snow...

 

...plus, unless shes done the elocker mod, it wont engage unless its in 4Lo...

 

thats why he started the thread

 

As stated above, using it would be a huge mistake. I however have used mine, but these were un paved roads, deep snow, And I was blazing the trail. And when I didnt need the extra I switched it right off. Not to mention I was aware of what a locked up diff would be like.

 

It's a trade off. You get much improved traction, right up till you lose traction, even a little bit (and it's usually on a corner,) then it's rear end drift time. If you think that's fun, try having traction aids in both ends on ice and snow...

 

crap.

ive got a lock rite in the rear, and ill be going to school next 4 years in the appalachains....what should i do haha?

 

I just put a lock-right in the rear of my '01 and have used it in the snow the majority of the time and its been just fine.

 

Just learn to be smooth.

 

not to hijack the thread, but what is everyone's opinion on locking the center diff in snow?

 

Ill aggree that a rear locker makes the vehical behave diffrently. but i like the addtional (go) traction it offers and after driveing with it for a while im used to its behavor to the point that i can drift the corner if i want, spin it out, or take it as normal. (its all about the skinny peddle)

 

I do it all the time. Just remember, all the pre 2001 4Runners didn't have the "AWD" that you can use on the pavement, so by locking the center diff it's just like driving a pre '01 in 4WD.

 

You guys make me laugh... he wasn't asking whether YOU drove around with your locker on in the snow, he was asking whether his sister should. Based upon his saying "I doubt it will ever see offroad use" about the vehicle in question, I am betting that his sister is not really savvy about what a locker is and how it will affect handling. Thus, the best thing for him to do is to NOT bypass the safety system. Yes, there are times when a locker and the snow *can* be a good combination, but for your average layman, as he is describing, the unpredictablilty and learning curve is not likely to be worth the risk.

 

Well put.

 

Thanks! I hope it helps you make a decision. I didn't want to see your thread wander off into "me too" land without you getting some information out of it first.