Hello,

I have built alot of cars and would say I know the ins and outs of posis, limited slips, and lockers....

I do however have a few questions, and am baffled.

With even the slightest slip, my 1997 5 Speed 3.4 liter, SR5 4 Runner rear wheels seem to lock up, act like a posi or whatever you want to call it. it clearly seems to me that it is not a one legger.....

It definitely seems to me that it is a limited slip differential, although the door jamb does not designate this on my truck.

Did they ever do factory approved dealer installs or anything? or perhaps the rear end was changed sometime before I owned it?

Is the factory toyota limited slip a cone type unit rather than clutches?

If in nuetral, the truck is shut off (not running) and the truck is jacked up when rotating one wheel will it turn the other wheel in the same direction or opposite direction.

Many GM limited slips would spin the wheel the opposite direction when in nuetral however once slipping the rear would engage and turn the other wheel.

The earlier GM posi type units such as a 67 Camaro in the same situation jacked up, in nuetral etc, would turn the oppposite wheel in the same direction.

I appreciate any and all thoughts, I dont want to order a locker (which I know is better) swap it in only to find out I had a limited slip in there which will suit the very light off roading my truck sees

thanks, Tim

 

toyota trucks/4runners have never had a limited slip as an option in the US(the only exception i can think of is the tundra?). check your axle code(it'll be something like G292 or G294 typically), it'll tell you what type of diff you have, what the ratio is and if you have a limited slip or not. for example, an 8" V6 style diff with a limited slip and 4.10s would be G295. never seen one from the factory though.

check here: http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/faq/vin/

 

Toyota put a limited slip differential (the cheaper friction plate type) on my '97 but it is Japanese model (Hilux Surf) of the 4runner. I know that the european versions also offered this but I do not think it was offered in the US, it certainly was not an option in the '97 US options and accessories book I bought off eBay. If you do have this differential it will have a sticker (LSD FLUID ONLY) on the rear of the differential and when jacked up both wheels will turn in the SAME direction when one is rotated. The general consensus on this optional unit is that the plates wear out and lose effectiveness. I have not found any info on the amount of torque slip designed into this unit but most differentials of this type have less than 40% torque transfer when new as anything higher than that affects the road "feel" during turns.

 

back when i got my rear diff regeared the diff shop told me i had a stock limited slip in there (the cheaper friction plate type like fingers stated above) this was quite a surprise to me as i had never heard of it before. it is possible i suppose that it came stock with some kind of limited slip that was never advertised or even talked about. probably because it doesnt work all that well.
my advice to you would be to get a selectable locker like ARB or retrofit an E-Locker in there. the performance will be a million times better off road than any limited slip can offer.

 

i think........there is def some type of limited slip in there.....

 

I think...definitely...

well, which one is it?

go do a burn out and then count the black stripes.

1 stripe = no LSD
2 stripes = LSD

I'd be surprised if there's anything there but it's not impossible. are you the first owner? If not it's possible the first owner had a TRD LSD or a true trac put in there.

 

I am pretty familiar with a limite slip diffs and mechanics in general.....

I am pretty certain, 90 percent sure there is an LSD in my truck

I am the third owner

I am 100 percent sure, that there is a limited slip of some type in this vehicle!

 

also I appreciate the way that you posted your response

I think...definitely...

well, which one is it?

go do a burn out and then count the black stripes.

1 stripe = no LSD
2 stripes = LSD

 

Eveybody likes burnouts right?

Especially the neighbors, I can just see you hollering back at 'em,

"No Linda, it's okay. I'm just verifying that it actually does have a limited slip there is no need to call the police!"

 

I second (or third) the statements that the trd limited slip units aren't very good. I bought two of them, and they worked GREAT for a while. By the time they had 40k on them they were pretty useless. (Or rather, the rear one.)

A selectable locker is nice, it certainly affords max trax, but it is hard on the rest of the components, and it's expensive. If you are a casual offroader it's a waste of money IMHO. The Truetrac is smooth, positive, and the price isn't bad. I really like it.

 

How long do you think TrueTrac's will last? I have heard 75-90K from the company that sold me mine (Drivetrain Direct). Apparently, they will just become like an open diff after they wear enough.

 

The way they work, I can't see how they can actually wear out.
They are gear driven, not friction materials.

 

Drivetrain Direct said the gear cogs wear out.

 

what do you think about a powertrax?

I think I may have to swap a pair into my rig

 

I could see a True Trac wearing out if you absolutely mobbed on it but otherwise they should last as long as most other geared components on the vehicle.

 

i have a LS, my buddy's 93 has a LS, his buddies 92 has a LS in it, all from the factory.