So far I've only found an ARB Air Locker for the front of my '06 Tacoma. Does anyone know of any other lockers or limited slips available for my Tacoma?

Also, I thought I had the 7.5" front differential. I did a search for TRD accesories for my Tacoma. I found a Toyota dealer that sells the ARB for the front (ARB part #RD-111 for 3.91 ratio and up, #RD-121 for 3.73 ratio and down), and according to the description, it says that the front has an 8" ring gear.

Is this the same 8" that's in the rear, and would lockers/limited slips and ring & pinion gears for the rear interchange?

 

Get the ARB.

 

I don't know of a single person who ever regretted putting in an ARB - can't say that for ANY other option ...

I don't know about the new Tacos, but none of the previous IFS trucks have interchangeable front and rear diff parts...

 

The ARB would be nice.

However, I would rather have my air supply and locking method independant of each other. And I already have a nice portable compressor. Plus, I have found out that it's much easier to repair wires than air lines, and wires won't "leak" like air lines will.

I would prefer a Detroit Electrac, Eaton Elocker, Auburn Ected, or Detoit Truetrac. So far I haven't seen where these are made for the '05 and newer Tacoma front. Have these sites I went to not been updated or applications for the '05+ Tacoma just not being shown, are are other lockers/limited slips just not being offered yet for my Tacoma?

 

I have heard of ARB seals leaking, which prevented the ARB from locking or not staying locked. Some applications of the earlier models were known to break (Ford 8.8", for example, which had to be redesigned).

I would rather not have to deal with air operation, if possible.

 

The only option you listed with toyota application is the truetrac. I can tell you from experience that the LSD is not worth the money to put it in. It truely sucks.

If you don't want airlines, then you are looking at either a limited slip, lunchbox, or spool.


Everyone's heard of ARB seals leaking. Almost no one has actually seen it.

I have a buddy who worked in the industry for a while. Every single ARB leak they saw as a result of bad installation. I know a number of folks with ARB's, and they've had them in for 100k+ miles, with zero issues. I've had my front in for 30k with no issues.

There were a few models that broke. None of those were for the toyota minitruck. The ARB is stronger than the rest of my driveline put together, including my engine.

But, if you don't like the air lines, that is cool.

Again, you are looking at some sort of auto locker, like a detriot, a lunchbox, or a spool. No one but ARB makes a selectable locker for IFS toyotas.

 

I second AxleIke's post. I have ARB's front and rear for maybe 15k miles now. I DID have a bad airleak after installation and it wouldn't lock. TOTALLY due to an installation issue and was fixed easily.

First, airlines are just as easy to repair as wires - maybe easier even as you don't have to strip them.

Second, if an ARB locking mechanism were to fail, it fails "safe" - unlocked. If you're taking an '06 IFS Tacoma places that having the front locked is life and death, you're more hardcore than anyone on this board!

Trutrac is not a locker - it's a limited slip, and is just aggravating in an IFS front. Every time you lift a wheel, it's an open diff. You'll read about how you can get them to work if you apply the brakes, but it's really difficult and distracting.

ARB - hit the button and it's locked, hit it again and you can steer - and you know EXACTLY how the truck is going to behave in either situation.

 

I know the Truetrac isn't a locker. But it is said to be the best limited slip made, and still is better than what I have in front now.

As an industrial electrician and instrument tech (I work on pnuematic instrumentation), for the most part I can repair wires successfully easier than air lines. Air lines can leak, and leaks aren't always easy to seal. A wire might just need a little electrical tape. A leaking air line would need more than that.

I carry wire splices and lugs, etc., with me anyway, and the tools to fix wiring as well. Places to buy wire and things to repair wiring can be bought at more places than air tubing and things to repair air tubing (I've even seen a convenience store have crimp on wire connectors).

Anyway, if the ARB is the only choice for a selectable locker, then that's fine.

 

go arb. i've got one. it rules. dont do a ▓▓▓▓▓ty job on your install, and you'll have problem free selectable locking at your fingertips. get the compact compressor, and use that for the lockers. your other compressor for tires. keep it simple.

the front 8" of the newer toys arent the same as the rear 8" diffs.

 

Do some more homework.

ARBs suck. They are expensive, they can fail, you can steer and you can turn them off.

I have never seen a well installed ARB fail, leak or otherwise. I owned 3. The only problems I had were problems I made.

LSD in front means half the benefits and all the drawbacks of a locker.

Keep wishing for those things you would prefer, you can't get them, so maybe you can't prefer them.

 

Why does a Truetrac have "all the drawbacks of a locker"? Please explain that.

From what everyone else has said that has one, you would never know it is there until you need the extra traction. They work smoothly and seamlessly, front or rear.

The newer Truetracs have a 3 pinion design that transfers 50% more torque to the wheel with traction and is stronger, versus the older 2 pinion design.

I've heard the newer design described as being 90% of a locker, when it comes to traction. Yes, it does sometimes take a stab on the brake pedal to help it transfer torque. But it does work well for a limited slip, and is the only limited slip I would pick.

Although it looks like the ARB is the way to go in this case, and despite the fact that it's the only selectable locker in this case, I still can prefer an electric activated locker, and have the right to do so.

 

Nobody is denying you the ability to make your own decision but it sounds like you had your mind made up when you started the thread. My only advice would be to do some more research on individual experiences using the TrueTrac rather than taking the info/figures found on their website as gospel. The one guy I know who has had a TrueTrac up front in a 3rd Gen 4Runner recently swapped it for an ARB.

BTW, I have had front and rear ARBs in my 4Runner for 4 years and 60K miles...no issues.

Time to let this thread die since it seems you have already made your choice.

 

There are several instances where open diffs are superior to limited slip or locked - just about anything offcamber for example, especially if it's slick. The wheel that ISN'T spinning helps hold you from sliding sideways. With a LSD or locker, you slide downhill. On high traction surfaces in 4WD, that bias that makes it usable offroad will interfere with your steering.

Oh - and as for the other options (Electrac, ECTED, etc) go on just about ANY Jeep forum and search - they are ALL much more problematic than ARB's.

 

i love my ARB. get one installed and you will not regret it.

 

Your talking about running an airline to an IFS setup, the air line nor pumpkin move, how will it develop a leak? I loved my ARB, and is the only locker I would spend money on...

LSD's suck.. pure and simple... work when you dont want it to (snow/ice) and dont work when you want it to (trail)... just because its the best LSD outthere doesnt mean its a worthy product... I have spent $$ on LSD's and it was a waste...

You will not regret an ARB, no how no way... have it installed properly and use it trouble free..

 

Snow/ice on the road is one time you only want an open diff.. .LSD's are VERY unpredictable.. half the benefits of a locker, and all the problems.. I like that quote...

 

They have been lying to you.

Until about 2 months ago, i had one of the new model detroit trutracs in my truck. Offroad, it was completely invisible. When i needed traction the most, it was never there.

As for the brake biasing part, i cannot speak to the front. For the rear, i put my ebrake on ALL THE WAY. Then, when it still would not lock up, I applied brake pressure and gas until the engine could not over come the brakes anymore. It still DID NOT LOCK UP.

There is the internet hype on LSD's, which i fell for, and then there is reality, which i got the hard way.

As for the electric locker, there currently is not one on the market for toyota IFS, 7.5 or 8 inch. Someday maybe, but to be honest, if you are set on the electric front, don't waste your money on the LSD. It will perform EXACTLY LIKE YOUR OPEN DIFFS.

 

The OEM dodge unit on my dads cummins is a helical style and works better than some of the other LSD's I have seen, even with the huge amounts of tq the cummins puts out, it will maintain a decent amount of rear traction on snowy fs roads, but as soon as one tire looses traction its an open diff... Helical only work decently (all relative) when there is fwd momentum and both tires are spinning and alternating traction... even then its a crap shoot... He is already planning a ARB for the front because he knows the LSD wont do anything if he really gets stuck when hunting.. and this is a guy who doesn't wheel, and thinks large tires and offroading are pointless...

And why would you want anything other than a selectable in the front axle....

Based soley on the line in your sig about your locker mod (which we ALL know what it is) I would guess your new to the offroad world, and to accepting advise from those of use that have tried the cheaper and weaker methods...

ARB, ARB, ARB... the only elocker I would run is the OEM one.. .and I still prefer the ARB I had in my 95 and 92 to my OEM elocker in my 07... Not so much I would yank it and install and ARB.. I have run the ARB in the snow, mud, dust, sand, etc and NEVER had an engaugment issue.. its locked as soon as you flip the switch... And if you are worried about the air line you can get different fittings and run a much stronger higher quality line than the ARB blue one, one that has fittings like your brakes... so unless you worry about break line leaks you'll be fine...

As far as the compressor you already have, you dont have to get rid of it. The ARB compressor is small and not really suited for airing up tires... so you can hard mount your current compressor or have 2 systems, the ARB is small enough it can easily be hidden under hood and forgotten about, just flip a switch.

Nobody here works for ARB nor makes money on the sale of them (other than vendors.. and they arent in this thread).. we tell you go with an air locker because its the best, no doubt... there are no drawbacks to it, other than price.. .but its more than worth it... You dont buy an ARB for a locker, you buy an ARB for an open diff, that will get you where you need to go...

 

Let me add one last thing.

While it may seem like everyone here is just being a dick, and ignoring your posts about wanting the electric. We aren't. I assure you, if there was an electric selectable locker for the IFS trucks, many, many people would have them.

If you do end up going with the LSD, at least you will know what you are getting into. I thought my LSD was going to solve all my offroad problems. It didn't, and i was extremely frustrated with it.

My point is this: These forums are SUPPOSED to be for this. They are a place for people to ask questions, and hear from real life experiences with the products you are looking to spend your hard earned cash on.

What it comes down to is that this is your truck. Everyone here owns or has owned vehicles equipped with airlockers. We are telling you hands down that they work very well and are 100% reliable. We are telling you, from personal experience, that LSD's are pretty non functional.

In the end, you will be happy to have all the facts, no matter what choice you make.

You can make a very informed decsion, and isn't that what it is all about?

 

Because sometimes it's nice to have automatic operation? Something that I won't have think about actuating when I need it? Something that is simpler, cheaper, with fewer parts to go bad?

I'm certainly not new to the off road world, and I'm not new to lockers or limited slips (although the rear locker in my Tacoma is my first selectable).

And not everyone knows about the rear locker mod. I didn't, although I had already figured that there was a way to modify it. I'm sure there's new people that come on here that don't know. I put that in my signature so that maybe someone new will read that and be interested in doing the same thing.

A little background: I've owned 2 Lock Rights (front of a '78 Ford Bronco and rear of a '94 Mazda Navajo 4wd, which is the same as a same year 2 door Explorer), a Detroit EZ Locker (front of the Navajo), and 2 No Slips (rear of the Navajo after the Lock Right wore out and front of the Navajo after the POS EZ Locker failed), one Ford Traction Lock limited slip (rear of the '78 Bronco), and one Dana Trac Lok in the rear of an '06 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited (which worked surprisingly well).

The one I owned the longest was the rear No Slip in the Navajo, which I had for about 80,000 miles before I totalled the Navajo.

I drove the Navajo from Florida to several western destinations, where I off roaded, going as far as Washington State twice. I rockcrawled in Moab, going on the Fins & Things and Top Of The World trails. I've also been to the Daniel Boone National Forest in Kentucky several times, and rockcrawled there, as well as driving on other challenging terrain.

I've also driven several Chevy 4wd trucks and experimented with the factory automatic wheelspin actuated locker that comes in them from the factory (even managed to damage one in a truck owned by the company I worked for).

I'm a natural born experimenter, so that's typical of me.

I've owned several 4wd vehicles, such as a '70 Chevy truck, a '78 Jeep Wagoneer, '79 Subaru Brat, '78 Ford Bronco, the '94 Mazda Navajo that I owned for over 8 years, and the '06 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited that I traded on my Tacoma (which is my 7th 4wd).

I've said all of this to make the point that I'm by no means inexperienced when it comes to lockers, limited slips, 4wd vehicles, and driving off road (which I've also done with 2wd vehicles).

Anyway, in this case it looks like the ARB will be the best option. However, I'm gonna wait until I have the money for lift, tires, and gears, as well as the locker, so that I can do it right the first time.