Lockers

[CharlieS]

I've read all I can find on mud, and am looking to have lockers built. I don't trust myself to do this work and am going to have it done by a professional.

Can anyone confirm that I'm looking at ARB RD151 and RD152 for the 2016 Land Cruiser?

I can't afford extended downtime, since the LC is my only vehicle (others in the household, but everybody else is using them), so I need to do it in a way where a builder sends me assembled locked differentials and I can do the R&R over a weekend.

Does anyone have a 2008-2014 front and rear land cruiser differential floating around your shop that you'd consider parting with? I don't need differentials or gears, just the rest of the pieces.

I need the earlier ones because I'm regearing my 2016 to 3.91:1. The front on my '16 apparently wouldn't fit anyway because of the ring gear thickness (?), and I want them both to just be a swap in (rather than having the gears installed in my third member).

It is my understanding that I could also get the front clamshell from other vehicles (Tundra 4.7 4wd 07+, Sequoia 08+), but I'm going cross-eyed trying to figure it all out and scrounge up the necessary parts.

Also, I know there are strong feelings about lockers/no lockers, and I get that the LC/LX is plenty capable without them, but I plan to regear, and it makes sense to me to do it all "while I'm in there". I know lockers are expensive, but I feel like the additional cost is well worth the benefit. I like the old adage about it being better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.

 

[turbo8]

I have front and rear members from my 09 LX sitting in boxes from when I regeared to 4.88 and added lockers. They have about 240k miles on them.

 

[kcjaz]

I like the old adage about it being better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.

Must be why I drove around Colorado at LCDC with a spare alternator, starter, RLCA, ignition coil, spark plugs, one rear shock, gallon of antifreeze, assortment of hoses, serpentine belt, 2 qts engine oil, PS fluid, gear oil, PB Blaster, and box of misc nuts, bolts, washers. Not to mention a pretty good arsenal of tools. For the record, I did use the spare ignition coil and spark plugs.

 

[bloc]

If it will save you money/shipping the 100-series rear third member is the same part number as a 200. Might be able to find one local at a parts yard or something.
Consider having Zuk set yours up. And maybe ask him his opinion on 240k mile factory toyota gears. getting the thirds and gears from turbo 8 sure would be convenient..

 

[linuxgod]

If it will save you money/shipping the 100-series rear third member is the same part number as a 200. Might be able to find one local at a parts yard or something.
Consider having Zuk set yours up. And maybe ask him his opinion on 240k mile factory toyota gears. getting the thirds and gears from turbo 8 sure would be convenient..

Charlie has my old gears which had ~110k on them. I think he mainly needs the housing. Zuk is a good way to go for setup though

 

[bloc]

Charlie has my old gears which had ~110k on them. I think he mainly needs the housing. Zuk is a good way to go for setup though

Even better.

I’ll try to do the part number digging today to see which tundra fronts match.. those are very plentiful in yards.

 

[sdnative]

If it will save you money/shipping the 100-series rear third member is the same part number as a 200.

But the gear ratio is different though correct? 4.1 vs whatever the 200 is?

 

[TeCKis300]

If it helps to manage downtime, you could run it in either front wheel drive or rear wheel drive only by removing the corresponding driveshaft and locking the center diff. This could allow you to focus on modding a single end of the car and run with mismatching gear ratios.

 

[CharlieS]

Lots of good info. Thanks, everyone!

I'm buying Turbo8's differentials, and he's going to ship them to Zuk. I talked with Zuk and he's not doing ARB air lockers anymore, so I'm going to plan B with Eatons. Zuk is going to check out the gears on Turbo8s setup, and if they are good, use them, and if not, Zuk knows that I have linuxgod's low mileage R&P that I can send out to him. They're all 3.91:1 and I trust Zuk's experience to point me in the right direction.

This should make for a good swap out scenario, where I can do it all in a day/weekend.

Whatever bits I have left over can help the next 'mudder that wants to take this on. The 3rd member should be a good core, and there might even be a good set of 3.91 R&P depending upon the condition of everything once inspected.

 

[linuxgod]

Good luck @CharlieS. I hate working on my DD. Invariably things take longer than expected or go wrong, then I'm rushed to get stuff back in order. My wife picking up a used Mini as the city car/DD/teenager training vehicle has been a godsend.

@TeCKis300 that's a nifty idea, and helps mitigate the risk a bit.

 

[linuxgod]

Lots of good info. Thanks, everyone!

I'm buying Turbo8's differentials, and he's going to ship them to Zuk. I talked with Zuk and he's not doing ARB air lockers anymore, so I'm going to plan B with Eatons. Zuk is going to check out the gears on Turbo8s setup, and if they are good, use them, and if not, Zuk knows that I have linuxgod's low mileage R&P that I can send out to him. They're all 3.91:1 and I trust Zuk's experience to point me in the right direction.

This should make for a good swap out scenario, where I can do it all in a day/weekend.

Whatever bits I have left over can help the next 'mudder that wants to take this on. The 3rd member should be a good core, and there might even be a good set of 3.91 R&P depending upon the condition of everything once inspected.

I'd go with new bearings regardless, but I'm betting unless they were driven hard the OEM gears will be good, even with 240k on them.

 

[CharlieS]

Even better.

I’ll try to do the part number digging today to see which tundra fronts match.. those are very plentiful in yards.

Thanks! I'm going to go with the known quantity of Turbo8s stuff for my build. Much more straightforward for me.

 

[CharlieS]

I'd go with new bearings regardless, but I'm betting unless they were driven hard the OEM gears will be good, even with 240k on them.

Yup, Zuk is doing new bearings, seals, etc.

 

[CharlieS]

Good luck @CharlieS. I hate working on my DD. Invariably things take longer than expected or go wrong, then I'm rushed to get stuff back in order. My wife picking up a used Mini as the city car/DD/teenager training vehicle has been a godsend.

@TeCKis300 that's a nifty idea, and helps mitigate the risk a bit.

Yeah, it's definitely a risk. If push comes to shove, my wife or daughter will let me use their cars. I'm working remote currently, so if I don't get it together as quickly as planned, I have some flexibility.

 

[CharlieS]

But the gear ratio is different though correct? 4.1 vs whatever the 200 is?

Maybe, but I don't need the gears. linuxgod hooked me up, so that scenario would work for me, or anyone who is regearing.

 

[bloc]

For anyone that hasn’t seen it, Zuk’s site is a treasure trove of pics on how to set up a diff snd what matters with regard to bearings and such.

Overall site: Toyota Gear Install Harrop - http://gearinstalls.com/

Why he no longer sets up ARBs: ARB sucks air - http://gearinstalls.com/arb.htm

Why he uses OE bearings: Gear Install Toyota - http://gearinstalls.com/sucky.htm

But the gear ratio is different though correct? 4.1 vs whatever the 200 is?

Some are 4.3 and drop in to a 200 axle if you want to regear, such as @Teckis3000 did.
I plan to set up actual 200-series 4.3s with new bearings but will likely be using a 100-series housing and diff carrier since they are available locally.

 

[CharlieS]

Another good one for you brave DIY gear installers - tools: Gear Install tools Toyota - http://gearinstalls.com/gearinstalltools.htm

Treasure trove of info: Toyota Gear html table - http://gearinstalls.com/index1.htm

 

[bloc]

Another good one for you brave DIY gear installers - tools: Gear Install tools Toyota - http://gearinstalls.com/gearinstalltools.htm

Treasure trove of info: Toyota Gear html table - http://gearinstalls.com/index1.htm

I successfully used his site and generous help via email to set up some 3.73s in a diesel 4Runner way back in 2008. The guy is awesome.

Will be doing the 200 4.3s and trying to document it to post here. But it will be a slow process between building the jigs and everything else. I’ll really be looking forward to if he posts about building yours. Even if my front 4.3s will drop in the whole unit, there isn’t much on there about setting up the clamshell front diffs.

 

[CharlieS]

@bloc this one might be useful on the clamshell: 488 front 9" clam gear install - http://gearinstalls.com/Justin08_200seriesfront9.htm

 

[turbo8]

He is really good keeping you informed with what is going on with your build. He sent me way too many pictures!