FAQ Axle - Gears - Lockers GX470 Upgrade Thread (5 Viewers)

[Jstawgn]

I thought the locking sequence is lock center, lock rear, lock front. Once the center lock is engaged, VSC is disabled, so my guess is that VSC isn't compatible with lockers.

VSC have ability to brake each individual wheel. OEM setup is exactly like you mention because locking a diff will make VSC behavior unpredictable. ATRAC on the other hand only manage side to side and only work on low speed so no risk of spin out of control.
My elocker is not wired like OEM where it would only lock in low range and with CDL locked. OEM is the safest. Mine is more fun and can be dangerous. I can accidentally lock it at any speed. It does not care low range or center diff locked or not. I experiment with it one time thinking I would need disable VSC when I engage the rear locker. This is with center diff open and high range. I was able to drift and donutbon snow almost like RWD car with no stability control. The VSC just got confused and do nothing.

Based on that experience I would almost guarantee if you put auto locker in the rear diff it would behave almost exactly the same.

 

[fastlane1000]

VSC have ability to brake each individual wheel. OEM setup is exactly like you mention because locking a diff will make VSC behavior unpredictable. ATRAC on the other hand only manage side to side and only work on low speed so no risk of spin out of control.
My elocker is not wired like OEM where it would only lock in low range and with CDL locked. OEM is the safest. Mine is more fun and can be dangerous. I can accidentally lock it at any speed. It does not care low range or center diff locked or not. I experiment with it one time thinking I would need disable VSC when I engage the rear locker. This is with center diff open and high range. I was able to drift and donutbon snow almost like RWD car with no stability control. The VSC just got confused and do nothing.

Based on that experience I would almost guarantee if you put auto locker in the rear diff it would behave almost exactly the same.

That is what I wanted to hear. Thank you. Ideally id like to do an 8.2 swap but they arent always available close by. Im also not sure what the stock axle assembly will bring $ wise. Mechanical lockers in the rear of a heavy vehicle are pretty easy to deal with and not all that noticeable during normal driving. They do allow one wheel to overrun the other. I like that they are always ready and dont require driver activation.

 

[James C]

Don't do it. Autolocker will defeat the stability control. I say this because I can do donuts on snow when I engage my rear elocker. I don't even lock my center diff. Stability control rely on rear wheel speed differences. When you Lock the rear it trick the stability control to think everything is happy and would not interfere or unable to brake the rear wheel individually to correct a slide.

I am a big fan of stability control for dailly driver. Airbag and safety belt might help in a crash. Stability control help reduce the chance of crash significantly.

Interesting thought, as I was also thinking about doing an autolocker in the rear. I was hoping the center diff and weight of the GX would make it a good candidate for one, and that tossing it in an 8.2 would take care of the weak 8" issues.

Are you saying that VSC kicking in would cause an autolocker to lock, thereby disabling it, or that a traction loss scenario would lock up an autolocker and therefore not let VSC do its job? I spend a lot of winter in the mountains and really appreciate the GX's handling on snowy roads, and I don't want to compromise that too much.

@Mr mmg - do you have any experience with this in your Prado?

 

[GXO]

I frequently use CDL+rear locker and still have ATRAC up front. The system is "stupid" (too old) to know any better.

 

[Mr mmg]

I've had no issues wrt VSC with the aussie locker in. Everything still works. If any slip is detected, the VSC kicks in (on tar) and the rear locker does not lock up. When I hit the gravel I engage CDL and then VSC is off. I can still hear the clicks of the locker (especially around a roundabout). Iv'e had it in for years now with the original 8" diff and I've wheeled alot in the rough stuff.

 

[dcg141]

I'm new to the GX and any electronic 4 WD system. I undertand that VSC can only be turned off when you are in low range with ATRAC engaged. My problem with that is I use my rigs to get into areas where I do single track trail maintenance. I can have long sections of mud on access roads where I need momentum and some speed. So I use high range on those muddy roads. VSC trying to engage in mud is going to be an issue for me.

 

[fastlane1000]

I've had no issues wrt VSC with the aussie locker in. Everything still works. If any slip is detected, the VSC kicks in (on tar) and the rear locker does not lock up. When I hit the gravel I engage CDL and then VSC is off. I can still hear the clicks of the locker (especially around a roundabout). Iv'e had it in for years now with the original 8" diff and I've wheeled alot in the rough stuff.

This is good to hear. Have you done anything to strengthen the 8" like a solid pinion spacer? Are you running stock gears? What size tires? Thanks!

 

[CO_Hunter]

Here is a pic of the inside of the 8.2 third housing. Not sure if this helps answer any questions or not.
I like the regear, I am about 400 over stock at 75 rpm and fuel economy doesn’t seem to have changed much but it has not been driven all that much since the swap. I’ll update my original post in this section as I get more information.

I thought about doing the solid spacer when I swapped but after talking to Ben at Slee I decided to go crush sleeve. He said they had never seen a properly installed crush sleeve fail.

 

[Lifted]

I found this for sale from an ‘07 Tacoma. Would this work? I thought i read the whole thread but dont think I saw this one mentioned....
condition: excellent
make / manufacturer: Toyota
model name / number: 8”
As a set, complete Toyota 8” rear axle assy with e-locker and 4.10 gears and matching 4.10 front IFS differential. Fits 02-09 4Runner and 07-14 FJ Cruiser.

 

[fastlane1000]

I found this for sale from an ‘07 Tacoma. Would this work? I thought i read the whole thread but dont think I saw this one mentioned....
condition: excellent
make / manufacturer: Toyota
model name / number: 8”
As a set, complete Toyota 8” rear axle assy with e-locker and 4.10 gears and matching 4.10 front IFS differential. Fits 02-09 4Runner and 07-14 FJ Cruiser.

The front would work but the rear of the Tacoma is set up for leaf springs instead of coils and control arms.

 

[Lifted]

The front would work but the rear of the Tacoma is set up for leaf springs instead of coils and control arms.

ok thanks. The guy is saying it will fit a coil spring

 

[fastlane1000]

I am getting ready to tighten the Carrier Bearing Preload or CBPL on my '05 with 148k. I have read through multiple jobs on gearinstalls.com and none seem to mention loosening the cap bolts before tightening the preload. The torque spec is mentioned (70ft/lbs) to tighten them but nothing mentioned about loosening them first. Any tips here? He does mention it takes around 80 ft/lbs just to get the adjusters turning which leads me to believe the cap bolts are not loosened first. I bought this tool off Ebay so I wouldn't have to make one. Here is the link to it:

Toyota 4x4 Carrier Bearing Preload SST | eBay

Here are a couple links to his instructions:

toyota carrier bearing preload

CBPL refresh

Also I just use the Toyota FIPG to reinstall the 3rd member right? Any need for a conventional gasket?

Thanks!

 

[GXO]

I use FIPG. You just have to loosen the lock tab. The tower caps stay put.

 

[JLee]

That is what I wanted to hear. Thank you. Ideally id like to do an 8.2 swap but they arent always available close by. Im also not sure what the stock axle assembly will bring $ wise. Mechanical lockers in the rear of a heavy vehicle are pretty easy to deal with and not all that noticeable during normal driving. They do allow one wheel to overrun the other. I like that they are always ready and dont require driver activation.

Many yards will ship. Mine came from Indiana and I had it shipped to NH for about $250.

 

[Jstawgn]

@Brake Weight you can. I use 2016 Tacoma 4.3 on my GX. I reused GX axle tube and remove the whole ADD assembly.

 

[theferg]

So, as far as just swapping in an e-lock diff into the GX rear. Can the 8.2 diff just be swapped in with the same simple housing modifications as older years?--notching the housing and redrilling/tapping a couple diff stud locations? And then re-using the GX470 axle shafts? --Like on this page Retrofit Electric Locker. That seems a helluva lot more cost-efficient for getting an 8.2 in there (depending on the price you pay on the diff and if you can do the work yourself, of course) If so, then relatedly, what years did the Tacoma get the 8.2 e-lock rear?--is it the same 2010 change-over? Could open up a bit more possibilities in finding an e-lock diff....

 

[co4wheel]

So, as far as just swapping in an e-lock diff into the GX rear. Can the 8.2 diff just be swapped in with the same simple housing modifications as older years?--notching the housing and redrilling/tapping a couple diff stud locations? And then re-using the GX470 axle shafts? --Like on this page Retrofit Electric Locker. That seems a helluva lot more cost-efficient for getting an 8.2 in there (depending on the price you pay on the diff and if you can do the work yourself, of course) If so, then relatedly, what years did the Tacoma get the 8.2 e-lock rear?--is it the same 2010 change-over? Could open up a bit more possibilities in finding an e-lock diff....

No.

 

[James C]

I think the bolt pattern is different.

 

[GXO]

Correct... different bolt pattern. Strangely...460 and 470 rear axles are the same except for a small lip on the 460 for the rotors.

 

[DRANGED]

Correct... different bolt pattern. Strangely...460 and 470 rear axles are the same except for a small lip on the 460 for the rotors.

and 460s are 8.2s right?

No lockers in 460s? i thought the touring had a locker option, with all the other 5th gen computer-trickery (Crawl control, terrain select, etc.)