New LC Differentials (4 Viewers)

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

Let's play guess that differential size!

1000027299.jpg



1000027307.jpg
 
Is it just me, or is everything on the LC 250 more light duty compared to the GX 550? Not only the diff size, but look at the width of the drive shaft, shocks, pan hard bar, link connections. Holy crap did they neuter this thing to make some MPG’s.

The only thing better on the LC 250 is the Michelin spare tire :rofl:
Neither of those photos are of an LC250, in case you were curious.
 
First photo is a 2024 Tacoma TRDOR with the 8.2" that we saw on the Land Cruiser prototypes in SLC (and will be in the production vehicles as well).

Second photo is a 2024 Tundra TRDOR with the 9.5" that we find on the GX550.
 
First photo is a 2024 Tacoma TRDOR with the 8.2" that we saw on the Land Cruiser prototypes in SLC (and will be in the production vehicles as well).

Second photo is a 2024 Tundra TRDOR with the 9.5" that we find on the GX550.
The banana skin spare tire in the Taco gave it away. :banana:
 
The 2025 Toyota 4Runner Is Getting a Rugged Trailhunter Off-Road Trim, Too - https://www.thedrive.com/news/the-2025-toyota-4runner-is-getting-a-rugged-trailhunter-off-road-trim-too
Welp, the 4Runner is getting a Trailhunter trim, too. If it includes the same diffs as the Taco, why would anyone even bother with the LC250?
Only MT Tacoma got bigger diff. This is because toyota does not have BD21 in 4.30
BD24 with 4.30 are available from 1GR powered LC300.


Trail hunter and pro with Hybrid would still get same BD21 8.2 diff.
 
Only MT Tacoma got bigger diff. This is because toyota does not have BD21 in 4.30
BD24 with 4.30 are available from 1GR powered LC300.


Trail hunter and pro with Hybrid would still get same BD21 8.2 diff.
I'm not certain that this is correct - you posted this originally: New LC Differentials - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/new-lc-differentials.1328526/post-15285841




Different interpretation from here: 2024 Early Technical Information - https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2024-early-technical-information.818439/
"The rear differential size is 9.5" (or 9.7"?) (Hybrid and TRD M/T, same as 2022+ Tundra), the Non-Hybrid A/T and non-TRD M/T is smaller (8.2")"

EDIT: I see now all the interim discussion in this thread. Thanks!

Heaven forbid Toyota actually post updated and comprehensive technical information to the public on their website (outside TIS)
 
Last edited:
I'm not certain that this is correct - you posted this originally: New LC Differentials - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/new-lc-differentials.1328526/post-15285841




Different interpretation from here: 2024 Early Technical Information - https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2024-early-technical-information.818439/
"The rear differential size is 9.5" (or 9.7"?) (Hybrid and TRD M/T, same as 2022+ Tundra), the Non-Hybrid A/T and non-TRD M/T is smaller (8.2")"

Heaven forbid Toyota actually post updated and comprehensive technical information to the public on their website (outside TIS)

9.5. Is GX550/manual Taco

9.7 is LC300
 
I'm not certain that this is correct - you posted this originally: New LC Differentials - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/new-lc-differentials.1328526/post-15285841




Different interpretation from here: 2024 Early Technical Information - https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2024-early-technical-information.818439/
"The rear differential size is 9.5" (or 9.7"?) (Hybrid and TRD M/T, same as 2022+ Tundra), the Non-Hybrid A/T and non-TRD M/T is smaller (8.2")"

EDIT: I see now all the interim discussion in this thread. Thanks!

Heaven forbid Toyota actually post updated and comprehensive technical information to the public on their website (outside TIS)

I was so excited to hear that during Tacoma release, but what we been finding lately is that is not the reality.

From leaked spec sheet that been deleted it was found only MT equipped Tacoma gets 4.30 gear wirh 9.5" diff. The rest use 3.538 8.2" diff.

From marketing stand point, it would backfire badly if they make something that suppose to be cheaper with more expensive drivetrain. It already somewhat backfires on LC250.
 
9.5. Is GX550/manual Taco

9.7 is LC300
Do we know what the differences are between 9.5 and 9.7? Is it just a gear ratio difference that results in a larger ring gear or are there internal differences? It seems odd to retain two that are effectively the same size.
 
Do we know what the differences are between 9.5 and 9.7? Is it just a gear ratio difference that results in a larger ring gear or are there internal differences? It seems odd to retain two that are effectively the same size.

Need to compare actual part numbers as well between them.

I'm curious to know as well.
 
Do we know what the differences are between 9.5 and 9.7? Is it just a gear ratio difference that results in a larger ring gear or are there internal differences? It seems odd to retain two that are effectively the same size.

A great deal of information will flow on specs soon. I too am fuzzy on the 9.5 vs 9.7”. I think it may come down to measuring standards and/or ratio change impact on the ring gear measured OD. I’ll work on that.
 
A great deal of information will flow on specs soon. I too am fuzzy on the 9.5 vs 9.7”. I think it may come down to measuring standards and/or ratio change impact on the ring gear measured OD. I’ll work on that.
Probably not worth a ton of thought/effort. Just seems so close and shared in the same GA-F system that it would make sense that it's just a ratio difference. I think we can probably just check the PN for the gasket to see if they're the same whenever the parts system populates with all the part numbers.
 
Checked it… the 9.7 gasket has a different PN and slightly larger pattern than the 9.5.
Thanks! That's really odd. I get the idea of updating the 9.5. But why keep two nearly identical diffs? And why not make them at least interchangeable? The flexibility may be valuable in a supply shortage for example. And it means different housings for the same basic size in the same platform.

Anyone have a guess about why you'd do it that way?
 
Anyone have a guess about why you'd do it that way?
That's bad engineering, from an engineer (albeit not mechanical). I actually ran into that at work last week when someone spec'd two nearly identical materials for the same project. Just pick the more robust of the two and be done with it! :)

I'm sure they had some reason....cost/supply/manufacturing bandwidth/expected production volume, but in a vacuum its a strange choice.
 
Let me add that the 9.7 is different from the 9.5 that has been in service for decades. We will likely need to actually look at the 9.5 that is installed in the Taco/GX550 to see if it’s compatible with the 9.5 that we know.

As for why… IMO it’s about control. Toyota wants to control not only appearances, but what is easily utilized and shared between vehicles and platforms… every generation is worse with them.
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top Bottom