Tercel Rear differential Q's

[IHblarp]

Ok so quick question for you all, I remember hearing some where that tercels came stock with a locked differential in the rear. Can anyone confirm or deny this? I have been working to get my tercle going and cant help but think it could use a bit taller stance and larger tires. If the rear axle is actually locked or even has a limited slip type differential i dont think i'll be able to resist giving this thing some extra ground clearance.

[Petros]

IT is not the diff that is "locked", but the 4wd lever locks out the drive train. IOW, it is a true 4wd, not a an AWD with the center diff. Simple, light weight and less expensive.

The rear diff is a regular open one, it has a ratio of 3.74:1 on '84-84, and they went to the much better 4.11:1 after that. If you are going to put larger wheels and tires you need to have the 4.11:1 ratio, so if you have a pre-'85 Tercel you should swap out the front and rear diff for the lower ratio ones, or get an '85 or later Tercel for your project car.

There is no LSD available for the tercel that I am aware of, but if you can find a rear axle from a RWD pre-'88 corolla GTS, there are three available (the same axle from the '88 and newer corolla all-trac also works but it had drum brakes instead of disks like the GTS area axle). Both of these cars are kind of rare, the all-trac is a little easier to find in wrecking yards. Also ht all-trac already has the 4.11:1 ring and pinion set, you would have to swap out the GTS set to match the front diff ratio on the Tercel.

This axle is heavier and it has a larger diff, but all the bolt up points look the same and it is the exact same width, so it can be adapted to the Tercel. You will have to have a custom drive shaft fabricated since the input flange on the larger rear axle is larger, so you have to put the rear flange off the all-trac or corolla GTS drive shaft on the Tercel drive shaft.

[skyerunner]

So, good info here. I have a pre '85 Terc and was looking at some 14" wheels with maybe 195/70/14's on them. It sounds like this will make it even more sluggish, so I should put in the 4.11:1 diff. How difficult of a swap is this & what would it require?

[takza]

The '83 with those tires will run at about the same rpms as the later cars with OEM tires on it.

.....

Edit...

The '83 with those tires will run at about 125 rpms lower than the same car with OEM tires on it.


Referencing a KNOWN AUTHORITY...

viewtopic.php?f=7&t=52

195/70/14 are 5% greater diameter than OEM

[keith]

The '83 with those tires will run at about the same rpms as the later cars with OEM tires on it.

I think you should edit that.