Is an LSD right for me?

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WiscoProud

WiscoProud

10 Year
Joined
Sep 10, 2014
Threads
42
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269
Location
Milwaukee, WI
Website
wiscoproud.kinja.com
I have done a fair amount of reading on the various options out there. I wish I was able to have the factory E-locker, but my 04 obviously does not. ATRAC has treated me well so far, but it could be better. Here's the kicker. As I live in the northern Midwest, and go even further north for fun, I encounter a lot of snow and ice, so a lunch box locker is not a good option for me from what I've read. This is also my DD, so dealing with it could be irritating. I do think a selectable locker would be nice, but frankly $2,000+ for ARB or TJM just isn't realistic for me. This brings me to LSDs, specifically the Auburn LSDs. The cost is under $550, and the install has to be cheaper than an ARB, which saves me money. I figure the LSD with ATRAC would be a good compromise for the trail riding that I do. If I was a rock crawler, it would be different of course.

Is there anyone out there with one? I've had a S-10 blazer when I was in my teens with an LSD, and that ugly little truck was near unstoppable.

In any regards, I'm open to suggestions or comments.
 
I doubt the install cost is that much cheaper. You won't have the compressor and electronics to install, but you still have to setup the gears.

I think a Torsen type diff (Trutrac) would be a great in combination with ATRAC, but I don't think there is one available for the Hundy. I'm not sure about clutch-type LSDs like the Auburn.

For the record, I had a lunchbox style locker in the rear of my 80. I drove it in northern Utah weather for years and never thought it was detrimental.
 
For ice, I think ATRAC would be the optimal system. Find someone that will let you drive their pre-ATRAC, no locker, 100 to see if it's even worth it.

If I were in snow/ice a lot, I'd go for a VSC/ATRAC model.
 
I already have a 2004 with atrac. Atrac is great, but from what i've read only good for 8-13 seconds of sustained use. My concern is driving through deep snow, like on frozen lakes (not uncommon in the winter). I dont want to overtax the atrac system, when just a little more traction would be enough. I agree, A truetrac or torsen would be ideal.

As for the install cost, yeah the gears would need to be setup with both, but since the housing doesn't need to be drilled and tapped, no air lines or electronics need to be run, and no switches need to be installed; the install cost has to be significantly less. Not to mention all the extra stuff that is needed to run an air locker.

I had an oem locker on my Xterra which was nice the couple of times i used it, but i realized i dont need a locker for 90% of the things i do offroad. The added traction from an lsd might be ideal, with the assumption i can still rely on the atrac when things get real messy.
 
I say put an Aussie Locker in the rear and see what you think. Get somebody to help with the install (couple banana job) and you should be under $300 total. Really, with the all wheel drive a rear lunchbox locker behaves very well. Totally transparent on dry roads, outstanding off road, and only takes a more thoughtful right foot in icy conditions. If you don't like it put your factory side gears back in and call it a learning experience.
 
Hayes said:
I say put an Aussie Locker in the rear and see what you think. Get somebody to help with the install (couple banana job) and you should be under $300 total. Really, with the all wheel drive a rear lunchbox locker behaves very well. Totally transparent on dry roads, outstanding off road, and only takes a more thoughtful right foot in icy conditions. If you don't like it put your factory side gears back in and call it a learning experience.
Click to expand...

DO you have a link? I could not find an Aussie for a 100.:( I contacted LOKKA and they want $450 and the carrier needs to be removed from the 3rd member. But it is cheaper then an ARB:D
 
Hayes said:
I just assumed Aussie had a part for the 100. That sucks if they don't. That was the best ~$250 I ever spent on my 80.
Click to expand...

I was hoping you were going to tell me they had one.:( I agree a lunchbox style rear locker would make ATRAC almost tolerable.:rolleyes: Not sure why LOKKA pushes a front lunchbox that does not sound like fun at all, ATRAC or not.
 
Although the 100 Series rear diff is 9.5" like most Land Cruisers, the rear axles are 32 spline count which makes the locker selection more limited than other more common 30 spline axle offerings...
 
I was under the impression that our open difs plus atrac was supposed to act like a sort of electronic LSD. What if a LSD fights with your atrac!?


...via IH8MUD app
 
TwiceWithHair said:
I was under the impression that our open difs plus atrac was supposed to act like a sort of electronic LSD. What if a LSD fights with your atrac!?


...via IH8MUD app
Click to expand...


Atrac looks for a wheel turning faster then another. Any traction control device LSD, posi, lunchbox, or ARB would limit or eliminate the chance of this happening. Atrac should be happy because it does not need to do anything.
 
LandCruiserPhil said:
Atrac looks for a wheel turning faster then another. Any traction control device LSD, posi, lunchbox, or ARB would limit or eliminate the chance of this happening. Atrac should be happy because it does not need to do anything.
Click to expand...

That was my thought as well. The LSD would essential take over for the ATRAC in many situations. The guys on the Tundra Forums seem to love them, there are a number who are using them. Considering we share a rear end for some years, this is probably the best source of information. I thought about doing a lunchbox locker, but since its my daily driver, questionable handling in snow and ice, and my wife occasionally drives my truck, the added headaches don't offset the added traction for me.

One of the Tundra forums I went to said he had the LSD purchased and installed for $800. Considering ARB and TJM are around $2,000-$2,500 all in, this seems like a steal.
 
WiscoProud said:
That was my thought as well. The LSD would essential take over for the ATRAC in many situations. The guys on the Tundra Forums seem to love them, there are a number who are using them. Considering we share a rear end for some years, this is probably the best source of information. I thought about doing a lunchbox locker, but since its my daily driver, questionable handling in snow and ice, and my wife occasionally drives my truck, the added headaches don't offset the added traction for me.

One of the Tundra forums I went to said he had the LSD purchased and installed for $800. Considering ARB and TJM are around $2,000-$2,500 all in, this seems like a steal.
Click to expand...

Curious was a LSD or mechanical? When you say LSD I think of a friction plate or thorsen design not something mechanical like an Aussie, LOKKA, Detroit, or the likes.
 
I just saw the Auburn Pro the 9.5" rear in our trucks is currently on sale for $445 at JustDifferentials.com, with free shipping. Had I not just gotten reamed for spending more on tires than I told my wife I would, it would be on its way to me now.
 
TwiceWithHair said:
I was under the impression that our open difs plus atrac was supposed to act like a sort of electronic LSD. What if a LSD fights with your atrac!?


...via IH8MUD app
Click to expand...

A torsen diff (Trutrac is a torsen style) would work great with ATRAC. It wouldn't take over ATRAC, it would effectively make the ATRAC more aggressive by increasing the torque to the non-slipping wheel for a given amount of ABS action on the slipping wheel. I've read some reports from FJ Cruiser guys attesting to this.
Again, I'm not as familiar with how friction-type LSDs work, but I assume you will get a similar effect from the Auburn.

I wonder if we could develop a critical mass of interest to get Aussie to develop a unit for our rear axle. I believe they did the same for late model Xterras a few years ago.
 
If we want to get a critical mass of interest, I would recommend doing it for the Auburn ECTED Max differential, which is a E-locker which acts as a limited slip when not locked. I think this would be ideal, and Auburn already makes diffs for 100s. It would be more expensive than an Aussie locker, but being selectable is ideal.
 
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