TACOMA: Limited Slip Questions

kspencer03 · #1 (**permalink**) 06-08-2005, 10:13 PM

Does anyone know what type of Limited Slip the Sport Models have? (Clutch or gear) and has anyone done any off roading in the Sports? What was the experience like, many problems with traction?

demoncleaner · #2 (**permalink**) 06-09-2005, 08:48 AM

Toyota lists the LSD as mechanical, ie. its a traditional LSD, not the newer brake actiavated style that Nissan uses. Not sure if gear or clutch. Works great off road and love it in the snow. Rarely need to use my 4wd, but when you do you'll go 99% of the places the TRD Off-road will. The rear locker on the Off-Road is better for true extreme off-roading, like crawling, or near stuck mud. But its gotta be turned on and off and used at slow speeds. For most users, the LSD rear works great and its always 'on'. It blows away an open diff in the rear. Example, taking off on my gravel road to get on highway... two wheels moving you forward rather than one spinning away.

matt30 · #3 (**permalink**) 06-09-2005, 12:05 PM

The LSD is clutch type. 4runners and Sequoias use a geard center diff.

And Toyota does have the brake style LSD, it's called TRAC and it comes with the VSC package (VE or VC, I think).

MarkM · #4 (**permalink**) 06-09-2005, 03:00 PM

This topic gets very confusing to me.
Can anyone answer this question?
If you have the TRD Off Road which comes with a lockable rear diff., what happens when you order the VSC with the LSD combo? Do you get both features at different times? Does LSD work in only 2wheel drive or does it work in 4wheel drive? I know these are technical questions, but I'm still not sure how all this technology works together.

BlangKang · #5 (**permalink**) 06-09-2005, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkM

This topic gets very confusing to me.
Can anyone answer this question?
If you have the TRD Off Road which comes with a lockable rear diff., what happens when you order the VSC with the LSD combo? Do you get both features at different times? Does LSD work in only 2wheel drive or does it work in 4wheel drive? I know these are technical questions, but I'm still not sure how all this technology works together.

From toyota you can only have a LSD "OR" a locker when talking about diffs. (and open diff) But you can have both. A locker will out preform a LSD any day off road, you can still use a locker at almost any safe speed. And you have 100% traction a 100% of the time when it's on. Soon as a LSD looses a foot it shoves all the power to the wheel that needs it most(the one thats spinning) so if you pitch a tire in the air with LSD your pretty much stuck in most cases. But the biggest help with trucks and off roading is a simple as you. A good drive can go more places

Dieseler · #6 (**permalink**) 06-09-2005, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkM

This topic gets very confusing to me.
Can anyone answer this question?
If you have the TRD Off Road which comes with a lockable rear diff., what happens when you order the VSC with the LSD combo? Do you get both features at different times? Does LSD work in only 2wheel drive or does it work in 4wheel drive? I know these are technical questions, but I'm still not sure how all this technology works together.

The VSC/LSD combo is electronic brake manipulation, has nothing to do with the differential. So yes, you can get the locker and the have the quasi LSD benefits from the VSC option. I believe VSC is disabled when the locker is engage, and I think it turns off when in 4wd as well.

As far as how it works.... the VSC uses your ABS sensors to relate wheel speed to vehicle speed. Wheelspin is detected when the wheel is turning faster than the vehicle is traveling. When this happens a number of things can be done ( not sure about Toyota specific here, just in general) Either the brakes can be applied to the spinning axle, or power output can be reduced. I've driven vehicles that had each system. The eletronic LSD takes this a step further and differentiates which wheel is spinning and applies the brakes to that partiucular wheel. Since Open differentials transfew power to the wheel with the least resistance, power is transfered from the spinning wheel to the wheel with more traction.

Personally I don't like electronic traction control. If I need to keep my wheels from spinning I let up on the throttle. I also like simplicity, less to break, less expensive to fix when things do break.