Greetings,

My brother is purchasing a 1997 Tacoma 3.4L, SR5, 5-Speed, X-Cab, 4WD. I have been reading that Toyota began installing a factory e-locker in Tacoma's as early as 1996. Is this true? And if so, could this truck be equipped already, and if not, is it easy to add the e-locker?

Thanks,

yotanut

 

Possible to have it yes. Depends on the package it has, the way to tell is look for the button on the left side of the steering wheel (Diff Lock). As far as adding one No you cannot. The factory E-locker is in the 8" V6 third member and the Tacoma's came standard with the new 8.4" rear end. In order to swap over to the facotry E-locker you would have to locate a complete Rear end that had one in there since it is a different size. This is actually not that hard to do if you locate a complete assembly and you can find them pretty easily on Craigs and E-bay.

 

Or you could just buy an ARB, Aussie, Lockright, etc... If you want a selectable locker you'll have to go with an elocker (complete axle and 3rd mem. retrofit) or an ARB. Both will be on the pricey side, but if you can find an elocker equipped axle out of another Taco, it will probably be cheaper than the ARB.

The advantage to the ARB is that you won't be risking buying a used axle that may or may not have problems, and you'll get an air compressor (which is what actuates the ARB locker) and that's just nice to have to fill up tires, airbeds, etc..

I went with the ARB and I love it.

 

Mine doesnt have the elocker, but do they come with a limited slip or is it an open diff?

96' tacoma 4x4 v6 5 speed

thanks

brett

 

Just a regular 'ol open diff. The '05+ Tacos have LSDs in the front.

 

IIRC, only 05-08 TRD Sport came with LSD. After that, it comes with something called "auto-LSD" which simulates an actual mechanical LSD system using the rear brakes. Lame, IMO.

BTW, it's in the rear, not front.

 

i've never seen a 95-97 with an elocker from the factory. most always the locker comes with the trd package from 98-04 4wd's. one way you can tell like said above is the button on the dash left of the steering wheel, says "rr diff lock", but the guaranteed way of tell is looking at the rear differential it should have a motor actuator on the side of the third unlike normal 3rd members.

05+ trd sports come with LSD's. and TRD off roads come with e lockers. and they're all in the rear axle.

 

Didn't know that, thanks.