2006 LX470 Locker Questions

[Joe Bob]

I just got back from a 4x4 trip from Downieville to La Porte. My unlocked '06 LX470 did okay, but when faced with muddy rock and soft snow I kept getting out performed by 2 rear Locked Tacos. We all were running ko2 tires (1 taco on 34s and 1 on 33s, my LX is on 33s). I have had more experience driving technical routes, but I would say our driving abilities were not the limiting factors here... I think it was their lockers. I attached a photo of our rigs for visual comparison.
Now that I gave you some background, here are my questions:

• What other factors would make the Taco out perform my LX?
• I'm leaning to the TJM Pro Locker, but there website says no match when I Inputed in my rig. Does TJM make a locker for an 06 LX470?
• What Air locker would you recommed and why?
• I've done all my own work installing protective gear like bumpers and such, should I do the installation or is a pro really needed?

Sorry if this thread is duplicative, but I couldn't get definitive answers for my specific rig.

thanks for your help!

 

[ikarus]

Other factors could be:
- tire pressure - I assume you were aired down?
- weight and weight distribution (Tacoma is around 4200 stock vs LX470 5600 lbs stock) Less weight in the bed, usually with stiffer suspension in the rear?
- shocks - too soft or improperly valved for your weight. I've noticed that on rocky climbs I bounce a little too much in the rear and lose traction. I need stiffer or adjustable shocks. But I'm not a suspension engineer.
- ATRAC - I know some people like it but I swear it often works against me and slows me down on climbs and technical sections. I usually lock the rear to avoid most ATRAC activation. I need to look into a way to turn it on/off.

Not sure on TJM. I think people like them - but I've really liked my ARBs front and rear lockers. Biggest downside is the air activation, since you introduce another failure point. Once I had an air hose pop off the diff, and another time I had a bad chuck on the compressor that leaked air and in both cases I lost my lockers until i fixed those small problems. Bulletproof otherwise. It's nice to have a compressor onboard too.

Same, I've done most of the work on my cruiser except for a few things - and gears and lockers is one of those. You can do it yourself but since I was regearing at the same time I just had Cruiser Outfitters do it. If I was regearing and adding lockers to a 4th or 5th car that could be up on jacks for a few weeks, I'd try it myself.



And don't forget the other option, ditch those all terrains for a mud terrain

 

[ga12r1]

Have you thought about doing Harrops? No need to worry about air with those.

 

[Joe Bob]

And don't forget the other option, ditch those all terrains for a mud terrain

Thanks for the reply! lol, Km3s might be my next pair of shoes.

 

[Joe Bob]

Have you thought about doing Harrops? No need to worry about air with those.

I'm liking the idea of air on-board and I am not excited about the lag on the diff engaging on and off and when switching directions. How would you convice me otherwise? Im looking for the most functional and reliable locker there is. Thanks

 

[sogafarm]

I just got back from a 4x4 trip from Downieville to La Porte. My unlocked '06 LX470 did okay, but when faced with muddy rock and soft snow I kept getting out performed by 2 rear Locked Tacos. We all were running ko2 tires (1 taco on 34s and 1 on 33s, my LX is on 33s). I have had more experience driving technical routes, but I would say our driving abilities were not the limiting factors here... I think it was their lockers. I attached a photo of our rigs for visual comparison.
Now that I gave you some background, here are my questions:

• What other factors would make the Taco out perform my LX?
• I'm leaning to the TJM Pro Locker, but there website says no match when I Inputed in my rig. Does TJM make a locker for an 06 LX470?
• What Air locker would you recommed and why?
• I've done all my own work installing protective gear like bumpers and such, should I do the installation or is a pro really needed?

Sorry if this thread is duplicative, but I couldn't get definitive answers for my specific rig.

thanks for your help!
View attachment 2318443View attachment 2318445

How did the 80 do on the same trail?

 

[ga12r1]

I'm liking the idea of air on-board and I am not excited about the lag on the diff engaging on and off and when switching directions. How would you convice me otherwise? Im looking for the most functional and reliable locker there is. Thanks

I wouldn’t try. If the Harrops don’t work for your use then that’s it. They work for me and I have yet to run into a situation where they have caused an issue. I may not run the technical terrain that you do.
Onboard air isn’t important to me either.
Just thought I’d present the option.

 

[Cola]

I'm liking the idea of air on-board and I am not excited about the lag on the diff engaging on and off and when switching directions. How would you convice me otherwise? Im looking for the most functional and reliable locker there is. Thanks

Love my ARB lockers. Two years with no problems. Instant activation. Air vs electronic is a personal preference, both have plus and minus but I dont think you'll be disappointed either way. But I'm with @ikarus on having a professional do gearing and lockers. Not too much room for error with tolerances and expensive if messed up to just to save a few dollars.

Also, I think it's unanimous between air and electronic lockers owners that either is way better than no locker. Atrac is great when used correctly and in the right circumstances, but nothing beats knowing you're triple locked, just ask @ga12r1. Both triple locked, mine with ARB, his with Harrops. Both take the same lines and enjoy the confidence of a locked rig. Either way, lockers are awesome

 

[Skidoo]

Back in 2008, I started with just upgrading the rear to ARB then broke the front diff about five years later on Gold Bar Rim and added a front ARB then.
The rear ARB started leaking gear oil back through the air line and coming out at the compressor. After redoing all the seals in the ARB twice gave up and switched to a TJM and have been very happy with it. A number of folks have this issue with ARB's and ARB sells "fix" that catches oil at compressor. A couple of years ago decided to change my gear ratios and went with 4:88 and also put a crawler gear set in low range of transfer case. I run 295 tires so the gearing gave it bit more pep. With the lower gearing in 4Lo, find I don't need lockers as much as I did before. Did the Taco have lower gearing, that can make a difference.
The Harrops are a good locker I would consider them.
The TJM US product guide shows same part number for all US 100 Series

 

[JunkCrzr89]

Not to detract from the obvious benefits of lockers, but your 06 has a poor gear ratio in the diffs with 4.10s. 98-02 model years had 4.30s, which is an improvement, but I’d bet you’d see significant improvements with low range gears in your t-case.

 

[lehiguy]

The stock electronic traction system is absolutely no match for a locker. Been there, done that. Why not swap in a Toyota locker form an earlier 100 series? You would have to swap the ring and pinion as the older ones that came with locker had a 4.30 gear set as opposed to your 4.10, or better yet, go to 4.56s for your tire size. I'm currently on the hunt for an '06 or '07 100 series and that is exactly what I'm planning on doing. Here's a link to the DIY harness that I have used before successfully. Toyota-4Runner.org

 

[Skidoo]

Not to detract from the obvious benefits of lockers, but your 06 has a poor gear ratio in the diffs with 4.10s. 98-02 model years had 4.30s, which is an improvement, but I’d bet you’d see significant improvements with low range gears in your t-case.

Actually the models with the 5 speed trans and 4:10 have an overall lower gear ratio than the 4 speed and 4:30. The 1st gear in the 5 speed is quite a bit lower than the 4 speed.

 

[I Lean]

better yet, go to 4.56s for your tire size.

There is no 4.56 gear set offered for the rear of 100's, that I was able to find. So you have 4.30 or 4.88 as your options around that range.

 

[dividedan]

+1 on weight, especially in mud/snow. I have found my pig of truck even triple locked struggles where lighter less built rigs do better.

 

[Skidoo]

To address your question about doing the install yourself.
I had my lockers installed, but when it came time to regear decided to do it myself. So did both front and rear diffs along with new seals in the ARB locker and I also did the crawler gear in the T-case and later did a friend's crawler gear. The hardest part of the locker install is setting the gear mesh, as the locker is the ring gear carrier, gear mesh needs to be reset.

1. You need to be a patient person!!!! REALLY. You will be assembling and disassembling the 3rd member multiple times.
   This is where most people fail. It takes a while to get gear mesh right, they get impatient and throw it back in before its ready.
2. Need a press in your shop. 12 ton is probably enough. Rigging up a fixture like shown below is a good idea. The 3rd member is an awkward shape to deal with loose, especially since you will be assembling and disassembling it multiple times.
3. Pretty good set of shims
4. Dial indicator and micrometers
5. Study ZUK's Gear Installs webpage This should be your primary source of information. Lots of examples of how to read paint.
   An option is to pull 3rd members and send 3rds to ZUK for locker install. This guy is the best diff expert I have heard of.
6. Did I mention you will be assembling and disassembling the 3rd multiple times. Reading the gear paint takes a little while to understand.
7. Not rocket science, just takes patience.

I clamped together a fixture like ZUK uses to hold the diff. (for a later project I welded it together)

 

[krice118]

You can have on board air AND electric harrop lockers.

weight is a big factor in mid. Also I’m not sure but does the ATRAC andVSC kick in and control the throttle when there is wheel slippage? Could be the car is cutting the theotttle

 

[Doctor Koko]

Q: What other factors would make the Taco out perform my LX?
A: Gearing. Stock gearing in the LX with 33's is not ideal, especially off road, in my personal experience. Other than lockers, I'm guessing the Tacomas don't have the stock gear ratio if they are running 33" and 34" tires.

I have both the LX and a Tacoma, and there are very few situations off road in which my LX won't dominate the Tacoma. None, actually, that I can think of, including mud, snow, muddy rocks, whatever. In the LX I have TJM air lockers front and rear, and a 4.88 gear ratio. As far as installing your own air lockers? Into the third member? I wouldn't. That's me. I had JT's in Washington do mine. I highly recommend them. I did have to send the front diff in as a core, and they sent the front and rear back to me and I put it all back in myself. It was a pretty big job for me, but kind of fun.

 

[greasem0nkey86]

This question wasn't asked and I'm not sure how much it would've helped in your situation, but was the Center Diff locked?

As ikarus asked as well, were you aired down?

 

[Joe Bob]

How did the 80 do on the same trail?

same... no lockers and was being out performed in the snow. And, it had the widest tires in the group.

 

[Joe Bob]

This question wasn't asked and I'm not sure how much it would've helped in your situation, but was the Center Diff locked?

As ikarus asked as well, were you aired down?

yup. i was aired down to 18 and center diff lock engaged.