Do all 120 Prado's have a rear LSD? Mine fails the "both wheels spin same direction" when jacked up test

[MisterCruiser]

I'm researching my options with regards to my faulty / noisy rear diff which has up/down play at the pinion shaft.
Deciding whether to get it rebuilt, buy a 2nd hand or buy a new aftermarket one.

I'm leaning towards a 2nd hand unit.

Anyway, if going 2nd hand, are all 120 series rear diffs the same? Are they all LSD type? My Haynes manuals seems to say all 120's have LSD rears! Mine has no electronic actuator physically attached and obviously no rear diff lock switch in the cabin.
So, am I correct to assume mine should be the LSD type.

However, if I do the test below in the Roughtrax 4X4 link below, "guide to to tell if you have a LSD or not", my rears wheels when both jacked up spin in opposite directions? Note: I'm doing this test with the transfer box lever in the normal "H" road position.
Am I correct in saying this only proves that my rear diff could have a broken LSD allowing the wheels to spin in opposite directions as if there is no LSD, but that the rear diff is actually an LSD type, just broken?

How can I tell if I have a rear Limited Slip Differential (LSD)? | RoughTrax 4x4

A. Unfortunately on many models the data given by Toyota does not always confirm what type of differential is fitted, more often it just states “with” or “without” LSD which isn’t that...

roughtrax4x4.com

I have to remove the rear diff as it's faulty anyway, when I have it removed is there any way to tell if it's an LSD by looking at it once removed? Does it have physical parts that I could see that a non LSD wouldn't have?

 

[AndyCook]

Sometimes there was a LSD oil only sicker on diff, but could fall off.
I don’t know details. But I believe the vehicle code on plate in engine bay can give info on diff type. You will have to do some googling though to find out more, sorry.

 

[AndycruiserguyLomas]

But I believe the vehicle code on plate in engine bay can give info on diff type.

This is true, where it says axle type. get the code and google it.

Which model LC is it? If it's an LC3 it should have a diff locker, LC4 and 5 had some electronic traction control device ( can't remember what it's called) to provide loose surface traction.

If yours is not a UK market spec 120 it might have an LSD but its not something I've heard of.

 

[MisterCruiser]

Mine is a 3dr, LC3, I believe it's an Ireland original vehicle, probably same model the UK got?
Mine definitely doesn't have a physical actuator bolted onto the rear diff, unless a previous owner has swapped parts around. My 90 series Colorado has an electronic actuator on the diff and a switch in the cabin so I know what I'm looking for regards the actuator. My 120 doesn't have a switch in the cabin either for a electric actuator.
There is no sticker on my diff, well not one I can read anyway.

I checked the plate, here's the info on it:
"KDJ125R-
C/TR/A/TM 8R4 / FE10 / A03A / R150F (Is the "A" referring to the axle? So "A03A"? It must be as when I google A03A it's bringing up Toyota diff info.

Thanks for the tip regarding this code. What do you make of it, is the A03A supposed to be a LSD diff with no electric actuator?

 

[MisterCruiser]

Just reading a bit more from google, I think the "A" equals Open Diff. I'm just getting this info from other folk on a forum of some sort when I google the code so it's not gospel. I assume Open Diff in turn means a Non LSD type. My Haynes is incorrect then as it states all 120's have a rear LSD type diff and give a LSD oil spec for it.

Does anyone have an official Toyota chart or source that the "A03A" can be deciphered against, please?

 

[MisterCruiser]

According to this chart none of the letters or numbers in the "A03A" code relate to whether or not the diff is a LSD type or not.

 

[AndycruiserguyLomas]

A03A indicates 2 pinions, this tells you that it is an open diff, therefore as you say, the wheels will spin in the opposite direction when turned off the ground.
"B" indicates a 4 pinion, which is locking diff, ( same as my Collie) , the "C" indicates a 2 pinion LSD .

The internals of the LSD are obviously different to an open diff so I don't know if a LSD would go straight in, this would be sourced from a JDM Prado model but I don't know if there's a variation in the half shafts.

If it was mine, and was a keeper I'd have it rebuilt with new ring and pinion and new bearings and have it done by a specialist builder.

Hope this helps.

 

[MisterCruiser]

That helps greatly, Thanks for the info. So we can deduce from the "A" 2 pinions that mine is an open diff, and therefore confirms how my rear wheels spinning in opposite directions when jacked up is correct.

I don't want to fit an LSD type in it's place, I just want to keep original but obviously I needed to know what type is fitted if going down the 2nd hand route.

It seems difficult enough to get a crowd to rebuild it, a lot of the gear box places are telling me they don't actually rebuild diffs, one crowd gets them build by some other place. And another crowd told me they don't do a whole lot with diffs, he said they require more tooling and are that bit more complex than the gear boxes and so his advice was if the diff is one that didn't give trouble, he put the Landcruiser diffs in this category, that he'd chance buying a 2nd hand one.

I'm based in Ireland by the way if anyone wants to recommend a diff rebuild place.

I'm also considering a good 2nd hand one as I won't be doing many miles on this cruiser so it should last a good number of years.

So, did most 120's come with rear open diff's like my one, then? Mine is an LC3 with a rear open diff. Can I assume all LC3's rear diffs are the same?

 

[AndycruiserguyLomas]

As far as I know and may be corrected all UK spec LC3's had cloth trim and locking rear diffs. LC4's and 5's had electronics to help out. The LC3's were sought after at one time for off roading having a simple rear locker.
Yours having an open diff may be something to do with the domestic market that you're in.

 

[Tractionman]

IIRC, although I couldn't swear to it, when I was looking for my lc3 I particularly wanted cloth and the locker, and some lc3 I looked at had leather and traction control instead.
Maybe there is another lc3owner who could confirm or not, as I'm pretty sure another member has the leather and no locker version ?

 

[MisterCruiser]

I removed the diff today, it has 41 teeth and 10 teeth so I believe that's a ratio of 4.1

If I just make sure the 2nd hand one I buy in the breakers has the same 41 teeth and 10 teeth then can I be sure I have the correct one?

Here's some pics: