Diff lockers and the SR5

So, I have taken a little break after the whole suspension and armor upgrade saga and now find my mind turning to the next wave of mods.

I want to add a locker to my rear diff. I am thinking about the ARB air locker. I have an SR5.

Anyone added a rear locker to an SR5? Any issues, considerations, lessons they can pass on? If you went the air locker route, where did the compressor go?

Muchos gracias in advance.

 

I think @PB FAB did it (remember what size rearend)

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/arb-install.527919/

 

I have an ARB locker installed on my Taco last year and it works very well. It can be used at any speed however I've only used in when I'm in low range. The air compressor is installed under the hood on the passenger side. I hav no regrets or issues to report as the locker works the way it was intended.

 

My sr was an 8.0 inch rear end. I would assume a sr5 is the same. I think only the trd off road and manual trucks have the 8.75 inch rear end.

The install was simple with the adjustable carrier bearing in the 8.0. I think the 8.75 uses shims.

I mounted an arb ckmta12 in the bed, but a smaller compressor just for the locker can almost be mounted anywhere.

Just for reference.
https://www.nitro-gear.com/Toyota-Tacoma-Nitro-Gear-Package-p/gptaco2016-8.75-select.htm

https://www.nitro-gear.com/Toyota-8-CS-8-Nitro-Gear-Package-p/gptaco2016-select.htm

 

Many people have added lockers to their Tacomas, either in the rear (non-TRD without the e-locker) or to the front diff.

ARB air lockers are by far the most popular option for Tacomas, however there is a company called Harrop that is making e-lockers for our trucks now. From what I gather, they're both in the same general price range. Harrop might be a little more expensive for the locker itself, but you don't need to buy an air compressor for it which is another few hundred bucks or so.

But the plus side to having the air locker is that the air compressor will also work to fill up your tires, which is nice. I have heard of people having issues with the ARB air lockers and having leaking seals that prevent the locker from engaging. But that's not a difficult fix. Some people prefer air lockers over electronic activated ones so they don't have to worry about having more electronics on their truck that might stop working, but honestly there are pro's and con's to each. Pick your poison, basically.

Then there are also "lunchbox" lockers, much cheaper but they are not selective and will engage when they sense that traction is needed. Can be squirrelly on a daily driver, usually more recommended for dedicated trail rigs.

 

Are you gonna do it yourself then or why are you asking for lessons?
If not, just pick a locker and let the shop worry about the install

 

I am going to have a shop do the install but:

1. I generally research all mods carefully

2. I have other ambitions for some parts of the truck (e.g. some space under the hood will have to go to a dual battery) so I have to make sure the mod won't conflict with a future mod.

 

Where did you put the compressor? Thanks.

 

You can find a whole axle from a wrecked OR or Pro and swap that in

 

I actually considered that (and still haven't ruled it out) but I lean toward the air locker for the reasons @eon_blue cites.

But, yeah, that possibility is one I am definitely weighing. And its pretty simple (well, relatively, I guess) to do.

 

Even the large air compressor- which takes up a lot of space - sucks for airing up tires. CO2 tanks will do it in seconds and you don't have to bolt and wire them to your truck

 

True. In general the biggest drawback to the air lockers to me is that they have more fail points (that was the assessment of the three places I have talked to about installing when we discussed trade offs).

 

Who wants to carry a large CO2 tank around on trails though? I know some people do but takes up a lot of space.

I'm still rocking a Viar88p, it's pretty small but fits in a small military surplus bag in the back of my truck. Takes a good 25 minutes to air up my 33s after a trail but it doubles as a beer break

A friend of mine has the smaller ARB single compressor and it fills up 33s from 15psi to 35psi in about 10 minutes.

 

I had an ARB in my Jeep and I know people love them, but I much prefer my elocker in my Tacoma off-road. Some of the things that went wrong with my ARB were:

1. blown seals in the ARB air compressor
   
2. blown air compressor fuses
3. leaking air lines to the locker

All of those things happened on the trail and made the ARB useless when I needed it. I'd look seriously at swapping the axle in from an off-road as there is less to go wrong on the trail.

 

Lol yeah and for those of us who don't drink and drive those 25+ minutes can be used to ponder all the other poor choices made in life.
CO2 Tank is only 10lbs and i can run air tools, saving time again when changing a tire for example

 

Good informative read

 

Na, small tanks - typical is 5lb (about 6"x15") or 10lb (about 8"x22"). Stupid simple and effective.

 

might want to look into what drinking and driving actually is, and what something called a legal limit is.

Nice unwarranted attitude btw, you've obviously got some repressed issues on the matter you like to take out on those that don't have it coming, so I'll leave you to deal with it.

 

Just a heads up, the forum hasn't positively tested an override for the factory OR/Pro elocker. Tricking the 4wd ecu to activate it has not proven successful. The factory ecu controls the elocker with a pwm signal. For now, i cannot guarantee that you will be able to successfully activate the elocker from an OR, after transplanting...

 

Yes, you can! Just wire it independently with a relay. It's just an electromagnet,two wires into the diff...

Then you get the added benefit of being able to use it in 2hi or 4hi