hi yotatech, first poster long time thread reader. i am going to build a dual independant twin lever e-brake system for my 93 4x4 pickup with a rear detroit truetrac the idea being that if i elevate one of the rear wheels while wheeling i have the option to apply the e-brake to elevated wheel with zero traction in order to get the most amount of torque possible to the one with traction kinda sorta like a locker but better (my opinion so please dont turn this post into a debate) im planning on using a twin pull stick levers like in most passenger cars. i used to have a detroit locker in the rear it was great off road but it got a little annoying when running around town (sf east bay area=parkinglot) and a lil scary at times on the ice at my hunting/getaway cabin at 8900' elev near donner pass ca, so i swaped it out for the truetrac a few years back. i love the truetrac and feel its much superior on-road and almost as good off-road as my old locker was, till i would elevate a wheel. so thats my reason why for trying to fab this up. also i am considering a gm style rear disc conversion since i run 35's on a 17inchrim. so if anyone has any ideas, info, or built/attempted to build something similiar i would love to hear it . p.s sorry about the bad grahmer and spelling (ex jock
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I come from wheeling lifted '80s Subarus. They had decent gearing (1.6:1 Low range) and true 4WD. BUT, being independent suspension, and no aftermarket, there are no lockers available.

It's a little easier platform to start with in this regard. They have front ebrake, so the ebrake is pretty strong. And 2 cables running right up into the cab. So all you have to do it mount a second handle, and connect each cable to it's own handle.


I now have a lifted Subaru brat which will be getting the same treatment, as well as a very strong aftermarket front LSD. It works quite well offroad, just have to baby it a little as that tire begins to regain traction.


On a toyota, I would be concerned that the stock ebrake/drum is not strong enough to be as effective. Next hurtle would be running 2 separate cables into the cab, which might require some junkyard hunting. Then mounting your handles (shouldn't be too hard).

 

In theory it should work I mean on competition crawlers they have a set up like that so the can lock one tire and spin the opposite so they can turn on a dime and that's with the diffs open.

 

Use cutting or steering brakes. You can use a single lever-push to apply left brake, pull for right brake or dual levers. You can do this with your rear brakes just move the splitter ahead of the turning levers
Very common on sand rails and rock buggies. It worked great on my Baja bug.

But personally I think your rear 'locker' is broken and just acting like a stock open differential if you think you need to go this route

 

maybe you could use line locks that way you it would be eaier to route into the cab by just having wires and they would be buttons, and you could put leds above the buttons so it would be pretty obvious it was on if you forgot for some reason and still be able to use your factory ebrake handle for having fun in the snow