Powertrax GripPro LSD vs. Speedmaster LSD

Hey all. I’m planning my next upgrade and thinking I’ll be going with an LSD. I know the powertrax GripPro is popular and holds up well. I’m just a little turned off by seeing several reports of some of them being too small that the axles splines won’t slide in. I’m worried about getting my truck in the shop torn apart and then not being able to continue with the install of the axles won’t slide in.

Does anyone have experience with the Speedmaster Wormgear LSD? It seems to be a similar design but is about $270 more. I haven’t heard much about them in tundras, but I’ve read good reviews for other applications. I could end up paying more in labor if the powertrax doesn’t work, vs spending more upfront for the speedmaster. Any feedback is appreciated.

 

Buy the unit through the shop doing the install. If there is a problem, then they will have to cover the added labor. Personal experience with gears and lockers.

 

I’ve purchased the Speedmaster and Powertrax LSD for my TRD Pro and neither one of them worked for my truck. I heard from a fellow member that the fix for this is to clean up the stock splines on the stock axles by shaving off a small bit until the axles slide in.
I made the mistake of having my installer tear everything apart only to realize at the end that the axles wouldn’t slide in. In order to save time you will need to just pull out one of your axles and try to slide it into the new LSD. If it doesn’t fit then you’ll know right then and there.
I sent the Speedmaster LSD back for a full refund and kept the Powertrax. I’ll need to find time to find someone to work on my axles at a later time.

 

Powertrax next to the Speedmaster

 

Definitely stay away from the Powertrax for the time being. I’ve personally seen several people have the axle not sliding in issue.

Never heard of the other locker.

 

Interesting read about the Powertrax. I installed mine and although was tight had no issues with inserting axles after lubing them up. I was one of the 1st to run PT in the 2nd Gen when they came out. Maybe the manufacturer botched a batch or my splines were well worn giving up some tolerance.

I flog it every chance I get and it still works awesome. One of my fav mods to date

 

If I had your typical install situation I probably would do it this way. In my case the installer would be a Toyota mechanic would does work at home as well. We have a good relationship, and he’s not a dedicated gear shop per se with vendors and such. I usually just buy the parts and he installs them at a fair rate, and his work is high quality and I prefer to have him do it. He is very reasonable, and part of the pickle is I don’t want to tie up his lift while I wait for a replacement LSD unit or something.

After reading this it seems like a crapshoot, so I may as well get the more affordable and tested powertrax and hope for no issues. I have no interest in the auburn style like I used in my previous truck since they don’t hold up. I’m curious if trucks with more miles and more worn out splines have an easier time sliding in. I’m at 55k miles, how many are on your truck?

 

I'm not sure where the PT issues are coming from. I swapped to 5.29 Nitros and tossed the Grip Pro in at the same time. 20k miles and the best decision I've ever made. Great for towing and I rarely, if ever, have to rely on 4x4 offroad.

I'd call the companies directly to inquire. You'll get mixed signals from anecdotal experience.

 

Hey Keith is there a LSD that you would recommend if someone was looking to buy one in the near future?

 

seeing as how my experience is first hand, and not anecdotal, I would unfortunately stay away from the Powertrax until they recall their improperly made units and replace them with properly made units.

until then, the only choice is the e-locker.

 

Is there a Eaton Truetrac for the Tundra? I just put one in my Jeep and it performs amazingly.

 

My install shop does a lot of work with Motiv and called directly. They would not replace the unit, stated they know of the tight tolerances, and to simply hammer the shafts in and they'll be fine. My shop refused to do that and had to shave something ridiculously minor off the splines to address the issue. Cost me a few hours in labor, but knowing I can get the shafts out again was worth it.

 

It must have been a production issue. I know a few with the PT and we installed all roughly the same time about 2 years ago with no issues. Some production issues and a bad batch must be on the shelves currently.

 

Spending 1500 bucks on an e-locker isnt in the cards for me right now. I also want something that’s always at play on the street for me without having to engage it. I’m not a big off-roader so I don’t need the benefits that go along with the locker. Seeing as people have had fitment issues with both the powertrax and the speedmaster, I may as well take my chances on the powertrax. I’ll buy it through a reputable dealer in hopes they may exchange it if it doesn’t fit.

 

I’m at 11000 miles on my truck. I wish I had a seamless install and be able to say this was money well spent, and that this was a great mod but no. The best mod on my truck is my HP Tuners tune lol.

 

get it through Summit Racing. They will give you up to 90 days, maybe even more if you call them to return it for a full refund. That’s what they did for me.

 

Yeah that’s where I was planning to get it. Them and Jegs have good customer service, and usually a coupon code is available. They really went up in price in the last year, but so did most things unfortunately.

 

Just curious what is the price of the LSDs? and What is the advantages of going with LSDs over say EATON Harrop E-locker?

 

I want to say the LSDs are usually a few hundred cheaper than a locker, like $500-$700 range but it's been awhile since I've looked at prices. The benefit of a LSD is that it's always active and at the same time less invasive on your driving and handling. A locker will guarantee both tires spin at the same speed, which is great for maximum traction but you have to intentionally enable it and on corners it will chirp the tires (like 4wd). The flip side is the LSD is not guaranteed to make both tires spin at the same rate, but it will make sure they both spin (where as a stock open diff will do the one wheel peel). Because the LSD isn't fully locking the two tires together and does allow some differential in speed, it means in corners it can be less (or not at all) noticeable, which is also why it can be always operating and not be detrimental to onroad performance like a locker.

Generally speaking a locker is strictly for off-road use, and a LSD is somewhat beneficial off-road but mostly intended for onroad use.

 

Thank you for that. I thought tundras have a auto lsd button but have not found it being useful offroad, not sure how much it helps on road if any?
I wonder if one can have a rear locker and mechanical LsD at the same time?

 

The traction control system is better than nothing, but yea it's not anything special and really only functions by neutering the truck to try and move since it has to apply the brakes and reduce power. Which personally I think is next to useless or even detrimental onroad so it won't let you get full power if it senses a tire slipping.

Selectable lockers have a lot going on, and so do LSDs (probably more so in that case). The locker of LSD replaces the entire differential carrier assembly so you can't mix the two together, and I've never heard of a dual LSD/locker. And with that said, LSDs are still beneficial offroad since both tires will always be spinning. But a locker is a lot more predictable and you'll be guaranteed each tire is spinning at the same rate. There's a reason serious off-road vehicles and buggies don't use LSDs, but the tundra also isn't a serious off-road vehicle so your call.

 

Got my Powertrax LSD on summit racing. Install shop didnt say there was any issues during install.

 

I see, since I already off-road my truck a lot, and have a locker, I guess I will have to rely on the useless "auto LSD" nanny in the winter time on road. I do love the assurance of locking the rear during off-road tho.

 

I have been contemplating swapping out my Auburn for a Powertrax. I like the worm gear style LSD’s but the Auburn was the only thing available at the time. It’s been in there for a while but it still works so I can’t justify swapping it out; I just hate that Auburn wants us to use Dino 80w90 when there are so many superior synthetics out there. About due for another oil change.

As for the factory AutoLSD, it has its uses and it works quite well once you figure out it’s strengths and it’s limitations. On dry dirt or loose pack, it easily negotiates a ditch twist in 2wd by transferring power to the wheel with traction where the factory open diff would be sending it all to the wheel without traction. It’s also great for taking off on slick patchy roads when you don’t want to engage 4wd. You still have to be gentle on the throttle but it helps. Off road, it does help a fair amount but it’s no locker. The biggest issue most drivers have with it is that you have to be patient for the system to work and do it’s thing instead of just romping on the gas pedal on full send. The AutoLSD tries to find the best traction available in a situation; since the coefficient of friction is higher between static surfaces than between slipping surfaces (tires gripping a surface vs spinning on a surface), it tries to keep wheel speed down in an effort to get better traction. This also keeps the brakes from overheating and the driveline parts from breaking. In mud, however, you want some tire speed to clean out the lugs so you hold down the ALSD button for 3 seconds and it will allow some whee spin - but still not enough for gratuitous tire violence.

But my biggest gripe about the system is that it doesn’t really help in everyday driving like a traditional LSD does. Turning on to a road with a bit of gravel close to the shoulder - which is very likely where I’m at - can easily cause the inside tire to spin and the traction control to cut power for a second while traffic is making haste towards your bumper. If you had taken a second to engage the ALSD before pulling on to the road, it would limit this, but that requires forethought. And then you have to turn it back off once you get going. Same thing for winter driving when there’s only a couple inches of snow or icy patchy roads and you don’t want to engage 4wd. I find myself in those situations often so I opted for a mechanical LSD and it has worked as expected.

Now, turn on the AutoLSD with a mechanical LSD off road and it makes for a much more noticeable and aggressive LSD than either setup could hope to be by biasing more torque to the wheel without traction. There’s a saying in the off-road world about limited slips : you won’t notice them much on the road, and you won’t notice them much off-road. This provides noticeable traction. It almost feels like a lunchbox locker engaging. The one weakness of this setup is deep mud where roostering all four wheels is required; you won’t get locker-Esque performance in this situation without anything short of a real locker. That being said, I’ve climbed muddy rutted two track roads deep enough to drag the diff through the mud using the AutoLSD to augment the auburn. Very little wheel speed got me through on a set of AT tires.

 

Lucky you, I’m jealous

 

Guess I got lucky

 

If its any consolation @Silver17 I had my GripPro installed in May/June. The only issue/delay was getting the shim kit on time.

 

Good to hear. I think it’s not that large of a number of them with issues, it may just be a few trucks axle splines are a little heavier than what they got their original specs from. Gonna hope for the best and place the order real soon.

 

My PT Grip Pro was installed with 5.29’s in May. No issues.
If timing makes a difference for “lot numbers” or the like, I did purchase the diff in early January. About a week after I ordered gears. Got the diff, from Amazon of all places, in a few days. Gears arrived around Mothers Day…

 

I’ve since ordered and received my powertrax. I am just waiting to install. I was trying to weigh if it was worth it to regear or not. I’d like to but don’t have money to burn at the moment. I’m only on 33s right now.