Diff lockers

doostaman · 11-22-06, 10:37 PM

Introduction, Had my RV90 since 03, after dring a MWB BJ73 for 18yrs, I am thinking about puting in a Detroit truetrac locker but have not found much literarture about these in Australia has anyone used one or know about them. Arethey used on both Diffs or rear only

billborric · 11-23-06, 12:55 AM

Hi,

I have a 98 Prado 3.4 with 165,000Km's which I have owned since new. I have been running a front Truetrac since about 10,000 Km's and absolutely love it.

As you know being an IFS front end, and with a vrey stiff sway bar, front articulation is good for an IFS but still limited. The Truetrac has made such a big difference I am able to tackle quite hard tracks to everyones amazement.

A couple of years ago we had a very large dump of snow one weekend and I did around 140Km's in fresh snow from 100mm to over 400mm in depth. The beauty of having the Truetrac in the front was that the Prado steered perfectly straight all day (except when braking).

Slippery tracks are no problem as the front wheels continually pull you forward. There is absolutely no push from the rear, so the rear just follows the front.

The only difference I noticed when I first drove the vehicle was that it self centred a little quicker than before. Next day I was used to it and it just seems like any other Prado now.

If you give it a bootful in the wet when turning a corner, the diff will actually lock up and the steering becomes quite heavy for an instant, but I prefer this to just sitting there spinning 1 front wheel maddly.

I have been 4WDing for 30 years and run rear diff locks in all my previous vehicles (I had the very first McNamara Toyota production difflock 1982), but the Truetrac in the front is definitely the best money I have spent.

--------------------------
Bill Borric
http://www.4x4galore.com

dhula · 11-23-06, 03:50 AM

Bill

Have you had any probs with front diff failure as there are reports of broken ring gears and the like

What do you think of the steering effort compaired to without the diff lock in front (try to think like a woman for this one as my wife drives the Prado thru the week so she has to live with it to)

Have you beefed up the rear LSD to perform better or just left it

and a final one - cost

(some pics of ya ride in the pics thread would be cool to)

JakeA · 11-24-06, 05:10 PM

I have been considering the idea of putting a rear truetrac because I do abot 80% on road and the rest of road, and the Truetrac seems like a good all around option. I've always read that is was not recommende for the front in full time 4wd vehicles. However what Billborric writes, opens the possibilities of putting front an rear truetracs.

Does the steerinf effect is quite light as you say? I'm pretty much in the same situation as Dhula.

TFS55 · 11-29-06, 04:30 PM

locker in the front diffs with full time 4wd?

Tapage · 12-04-06, 02:32 PM

did you have the part number of your front true track . ?

and also I thought all prados 90 and 95 are part time .. not sure about nres 120 ..

Deep Thought · 12-04-06, 03:19 PM

I'm not sure about the rest of the world, but in Australia they come as full time 4WD only. I believe that there is a kit that allows part time 4WD but I'm not sure who makes it.

Regards
D.T.

doostaman · 12-04-06, 06:29 PM

Does it matter if it is permanently in 4WD

ringpinion.biz · 12-05-06, 05:04 PM

part # 911a342
Readily available

I run one in my 4runner and have to agree that it works very well. We just had about 12" of snow last week and it performed well.

billborric · 12-10-06, 11:57 PM

Hi All,

My wife is only 5' 2" and drives the Prado OK, so no problems with slightly faster self centring.

Had the Truetrac in for almost 8 years and do some hardcore 4WDing and never had a diff or CV problem. I run good mud tyres and try not to spin my tyres unless absolutely necessary. Spinning tyres have no traction so prefer to back off and let the tyres regain traction.

From memory the diff cost about $1500 fitted.

The Truetrac is the only diff recommended for the front of a fulltime 4WD (apart from LSD's).

My Prado is full time 4WD.

Just left the standard LSD in the rear, but am thinking of having it shimmed for better performance. My brother just had his LSD shimmed in his 4WD Bravo and what a difference.

--------------------------
Bill Borric
http://www.4x4galore.com

11-22-06, 10:37 PM	#1
doostaman IH8MUD Rookie Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Hawker South Astralia Posts: 2	Diff lockers Introduction, Had my RV90 since 03, after dring a MWB BJ73 for 18yrs, I am thinking about puting in a Detroit truetrac locker but have not found much literarture about these in Australia has anyone used one or know about them. Arethey used on both Diffs or rear only

11-23-06, 12:55 AM	#2
billborric IH8MUD Rookie Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 3	Truetrac in front of Prado Hi, I have a 98 Prado 3.4 with 165,000Km's which I have owned since new. I have been running a front Truetrac since about 10,000 Km's and absolutely love it. As you know being an IFS front end, and with a vrey stiff sway bar, front articulation is good for an IFS but still limited. The Truetrac has made such a big difference I am able to tackle quite hard tracks to everyones amazement. A couple of years ago we had a very large dump of snow one weekend and I did around 140Km's in fresh snow from 100mm to over 400mm in depth. The beauty of having the Truetrac in the front was that the Prado steered perfectly straight all day (except when braking). Slippery tracks are no problem as the front wheels continually pull you forward. There is absolutely no push from the rear, so the rear just follows the front. The only difference I noticed when I first drove the vehicle was that it self centred a little quicker than before. Next day I was used to it and it just seems like any other Prado now. If you give it a bootful in the wet when turning a corner, the diff will actually lock up and the steering becomes quite heavy for an instant, but I prefer this to just sitting there spinning 1 front wheel maddly. I have been 4WDing for 30 years and run rear diff locks in all my previous vehicles (I had the very first McNamara Toyota production difflock 1982), but the Truetrac in the front is definitely the best money I have spent. -------------------------- Bill Borric http://www.4x4galore.com Last edited by billborric; 11-23-06 at 01:04 AM.

11-24-06, 05:10 PM	#4
JakeA IH8MUD Rookie Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Venezuela Posts: 9	I have been considering the idea of putting a rear truetrac because I do abot 80% on road and the rest of road, and the Truetrac seems like a good all around option. I've always read that is was not recommende for the front in full time 4wd vehicles. However what Billborric writes, opens the possibilities of putting front an rear truetracs. Does the steerinf effect is quite light as you say? I'm pretty much in the same situation as Dhula. __________________ PRADO VZJ95

12-04-06, 03:19 PM	#7
Deep Thought IH8MUD Rookie Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Sunshine Coast Australia Posts: 60	Full Time 4WD I'm not sure about the rest of the world, but in Australia they come as full time 4WD only. I believe that there is a kit that allows part time 4WD but I'm not sure who makes it. Regards D.T. __________________ LC Prado GXL-TD 95 Series. OME Suspension, ARB Steel Bullbar, Warn M8000 winch, Safari snorkel, K&N Air Filter, 3" Exhaust, DPChip, Homemade Roller Drawers, Rock Sliders. & No self righteous attitude.

12-04-06, 06:29 PM	#8
doostaman IH8MUD Rookie Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Hawker South Astralia Posts: 2	Diff lockers Does it matter if it is permanently in 4WD

11-23-06, 03:50 AM	#3
dhula IH8MUD Junior Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 99	Bill Have you had any probs with front diff failure as there are reports of broken ring gears and the like What do you think of the steering effort compaired to without the diff lock in front (try to think like a woman for this one as my wife drives the Prado thru the week so she has to live with it to) Have you beefed up the rear LSD to perform better or just left it and a final one - cost (some pics of ya ride in the pics thread would be cool to)

11-29-06, 04:30 PM	#5
TFS55 IH8MUD Junior Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 92	locker in the front diffs with full time 4wd?

12-05-06, 05:04 PM	#9
ringpinion.biz www.justdifferentials.com Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Washington Posts: 486	Front 90 series trutrac part # 911a342 Readily available I run one in my 4runner and have to agree that it works very well. We just had about 12" of snow last week and it performed well. __________________ JTS Diff Parts & Accessories ih8mud sponsor 866-349-6801 info@justdifferentials.com www.justdifferentials.com 99 uzj100 35's, uniball a-arms, fox shocks, 4.88, lockers, bullbar, drawers & more.

12-10-06, 11:57 PM	#10
billborric IH8MUD Rookie Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 3	Front Truetrac Hi All, My wife is only 5' 2" and drives the Prado OK, so no problems with slightly faster self centring. Had the Truetrac in for almost 8 years and do some hardcore 4WDing and never had a diff or CV problem. I run good mud tyres and try not to spin my tyres unless absolutely necessary. Spinning tyres have no traction so prefer to back off and let the tyres regain traction. From memory the diff cost about $1500 fitted. The Truetrac is the only diff recommended for the front of a fulltime 4WD (apart from LSD's). My Prado is full time 4WD. Just left the standard LSD in the rear, but am thinking of having it shimmed for better performance. My brother just had his LSD shimmed in his 4WD Bravo and what a difference. -------------------------- Bill Borric http://www.4x4galore.com

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