I am looking to put a rear diff in my 96 4runner. i dont do any serious off roading but i dont like the one tire spinning on me all the time. also i am in northeast ohio and we get alot of snow so added help wouldn't be bad. i am not looking for the best available but something that will work.
thanks
b

 

sounds like you want a limited slip rear. you can either get one out of a mkiii supra for cheap from the junkyard, or you can get a detroit true-trac. there's also the auburn, but it's expensive and i don't know much about it

the downside to the supra limited slip is that it uses clutch packs that can wear out, and you have to grind down the ends of your axle shafts a bit. the true-trac uses gears so there's nothing to wear out. i think either is a good choice, though

 

Depending on the price I may want to get one for a 92 pickup. Do they make LSD or e-lockers for this type of axle?

 

It would be for a 2wd 92 pickup.

 

I think a Supra LSD can be made to work.

 

with the detroit trutrac is the installation easy? also what size would i need i have the 4runner with 3.4 v6 so that is the 8" correct. also what are the differences between the lsd and a locker?

 

you'll definitely want somebody to install a truetrac who has experience, since the gears in the differential must be set up again. the supra one can be done at home more easily, but you'd still want to be mechanically inclined.

as for the 2wd pickup, if it's the typical 7.5" rear end detroit makes a truetrac for it(same as 7.5 ifs front), you could use a limited slip from a mkii supra for that as well, installation is similar to the 8" limited slip(mkii had a 7.5", mkiii had an 8")

the main difference from a locker and limited slip is that the limited slip allows a lot more wheel spin and is less noticeable on the road. lockers tend to be noisier and can cause a lot undesirable effects like torque steer and chirping your tires. however, lockers are better offroad since they lock the wheels together when they engage much more positively than a limited slip

 

i keep hearing that offroaders burn through LSD's? I don't know, I have the TRD e-locker... What about an ARB? Gonna run about a grand, tho.

 

you have the e-locker already in your truck? that's the equivilant of an arb, but doesn't need a compressor(uses a motor to engage it, instead of pressure)