Installing rear diff lock in GXL

[peterpanner Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close peterpanner]

Hi forum members
New to Prado 150. Finally able to buy one. Was wondering if you can install/fit a rear diff lock to GXL such as is standard in Kakadu version (along other stuff that I thought was only vaguely useful like 17 speakers and a moonroof to see if your topload has fallen off.)
Seems to me that locking rear diff might be useful protection in a sticky off-road situation.

Any thoughts?
"peterpanner"

[talk2tiny Moderated member Find all posts View Profile Close talk2tiny]

I don't know if you can fit the factory kakadu one but you can certainly put an aftermarket one in. I've got the ARB air locker in the rear and it works a treat.

[VXWesty Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close VXWesty]

I reckon the ARB air locker would be a quarter of the price that Toyota would charge to put one of theirs in

VXWesty

[SOL Find all posts View Profile Close SOL]

What about E-locker?

SOL.

[williade Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close williade]

The Toyota OEM lockers use an external actuator, so the whole axle housing is different. It would be prohibitively expensive to retrofit one to a GXL.

Do Eaton make an E-locker for the 150? If so, that might be a better alternative to the ARB air locker.

[SOL Find all posts View Profile Close SOL]

Do Eaton make an E-locker for the 150? If so, that might be a better alternative to the ARB air locker.

Yes eaton does make the E-locker for the 150. I have just brought one and will fit it next month.
It also comes with a plastic trunk for a limited time. Opposite lock sell them.

SOL.

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

Traction control is good up to the point where your brakes start to overheat. One locker at least takes some load off the system. As Roo said there can be issues with the ARB lockers if they aren't used regularly as I found out a couple of 4wds ago. TJM do an air locker now that apparently doesn't have a rotating pressure seal, I haven't checked it out in detail yet. I was going to fit an eLocker into the rear of the soon to be acquired 150 but couldn't arrange it pre delivery so I will wait and see and maybe go for a TJM locker. Or not.

SOL you fitting the locker yourself? One strike against the eLocker is price. About $1500 plus fitting.

[Dusty74 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dusty74]

Traction control is good up to the point where your brakes start to overheat. One locker at least takes some load off the system. As Roo said there can be issues with the ARB lockers if they aren't used regularly as I found out a couple of 4wds ago. TJM do an air locker now that apparently doesn't have a rotating pressure seal, I haven't checked it out in detail yet. I was going to fit an eLocker into the rear of the soon to be acquired 150 but couldn't arrange it pre delivery so I will wait and see and maybe go for a TJM locker. Or not.

SOL you fitting the locker yourself? One strike against the eLocker is price. About $1500 plus fitting.

I would agree with the Roo in that the traction control is more than adequate. I've not had any issues with the brakes overheating whilst off road, so i'm curioius what sort of terrain you were driving when you had this problem. Don't get me wrong, I don't doubt you, it's just that I've gone pretty hard in my 150 with the exception of lots of mud.

I considered lockers at the start but bought other gear until I was certain I needed a set, so far I'm happy to go without.

Cheers,
Dusty

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Thsi has been covered a number of times before, but basically lockers over traction control will give you an easier and smoother ride through the rough stuff but don't nescessarily get you any further. This was really obvious at the QLD GTG watching a TC 150 followed by a locked 150 both going up a really gnarly hill, both did it easily, but the locked Prado did it just that bit easier.

Really I think its a $$ descision, if money is no issue then chuck the locker in, if money is a concern then hold off like Dusty said and see how you go.

Cheers Andrew

[mjrandom Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close mjrandom]

I may be wrong but I blame the early warping of the discs in my 120GX on some fun the weekend before. No big deal but both is nice and as Andrew points out it depends on $ and what you do and expect from the vehicle.

[talk2tiny Moderated member Find all posts View Profile Close talk2tiny]

I don't think it's needed with the traction control. Spend your money else where on other modifications like suspension and sliders.
The ARB air lockers can be troublesome as well. The reason for this is that the seal poohs itself on the mechanism.
The Roo.

Hey Roo, what should I be looking out for when the air locker poohs itself? It sounds like you've seen it before. Will there be an obvious sign (eg compressor just keeps running) or will I only know when I'm stuck somewhere and realise the back wheels aren't turning together?

[SOL Find all posts View Profile Close SOL]

SOL you fitting the locker yourself? One strike against the eLocker is price. About $1500 plus fitting.

MJ, Yep brother and I are going to do it. He already has the kit and has checked it out. Should be an easy job was the quote.
But he has done heap of lockers.

SOL.

[The Alberto Member Find all posts View Profile Close The Alberto]

I experienced the difference first hand between Lockers and Traction Control during my cape trip last year.

Traction control worked great, it got me there and back, but in certain circumstances, it was simply no match for the Lockers. As it has been said here before, no matter what the situation or terrain, the locked vehicles just did everyting so much easier putting much less stress and strain on the cars and the drivers. Travelling South on the OTT at Gunshot Creek, we took the left track, not a long climb but quite steep with a muddy approach and soft black dirt / mud for the majority of the hill. We lined up 6 different cars and only the locked ones got past halfway. Even the chipped 200 with over 800nm could not get past half with TC on or OFF. A Double locked 76 Wagon, a V6 Double locked Hilux Dual Cab and a double locked Petrol V8 LC100 made it - whilst a 120 Prado the LC200 and an MN Triton all relying on TC never had a chance.



Having said that, I have put my $$ into other mods first, lift, tryres etc. However my 150 will definately get lockers before our next cape trip that's for sure. From what I have seen, even with the seal issue the ARB airlockers are still a good bit of gear, but I think I am leaning towards the E-Locker at the moment.

[peterpanner Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close peterpanner]

Thanks for the info and discussion folks. I will work on other accessories for the time being. I am still a bit cautious in the rough stuff anyway. But, in time ...

[johnt1964 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close johnt1964]

I am a bit confused. I have recently sold my 120 Series GXL after a long and happy relationship and bought a 150 Series. The thread above talks about traction control assisting and reducing the need for a rear diff lock.

From what I have research, traction control does not work in low range - is this correct?

I got by with the LSD in my 120 Series, but it appears the 150 series just has a conventional diff which is why I am interested in a locking rear diff.

Has anyone had any expereiunce with the E-Locker diffs?

Any comment re ARB vs TJM air lock diffs?

Thanks in advance for any assistance you can give.