Can I swap the innards of my rear diff with a locking rear diff from another 4runner?

xx_independent_xx · Nov 18, 2013

I have a question, I have located a locking rear diff from another 4runner, is it possible to switch over the innards to my rear diff along with whatever wiring I need from the one I found to mine? As in are they the same ratios?
I feel like I worded that poorly....

Dous · Nov 18, 2013

What are you trying to accomplish exactly?

The ring gear and bearings are all the same, except for one of the carrier bearings is much larger.

But you can't swap the actual locking mechanism to your non-locking diff.

Snowy21 · Nov 18, 2013

I'm entirely too hungover to fully elaborate but....

I am assuming you want to know if the locker third member will fit into your non locking housing. In a word...kinda. You have to do some work to your housing, just do a quick search and you should get an idea if what's involved. And not all lockers are the same ratio, most 4runners got 4.30 and most tacos got 4.10, both are interchangeable

xx_independent_xx · Nov 18, 2013

I want a locking rear diff on my truck. Just seeing what possible routes are out there.

xx_independent_xx · Nov 18, 2013

Thank you, its something that's been on my mind since I spotted a few factory locking rear diffs at the salvage yard near here. I put the switch on my dashboard as a joke and to remind me...

Dous · Nov 18, 2013

Just get the housing and the diff, much easier than modifying your existing housing

Snowy21 · Nov 18, 2013

Dous said:
Just get the housing and the diff, much easier than modifying your existing housing

Yep, much easier. Both ways require some work but the new axle housing requires just unbolting the one you have now and bolting in the new one (plus wiring in the locker). Just be prepared to break a bolt or two and maybe a brake line depending on the rust.

white_n_slow · Nov 18, 2013

What they said ^^^

If you can get the whole axle housing, assuming it's from a 4runner, it will save you a lot of time.

kolelt · Nov 18, 2013

Curious why most people always want rear e locker ? It's awesome to have it but, I think I would prefer front e locker. More weight on front end and should grip better. Or am I wrong ? And isn't front one bit cheaper ?

Can u take this part http://m.ebay.com/itm/291017979216?nav=SEARCH&sbk=1

and take ur old exact part as this out and put that elocker in ?

steezemcqueen · Nov 18, 2013

kolelt said:
Curious why most people always want rear e locker ? It's awesome to have it but, I think I would prefer front e locker. More weight on front end and should grip better. Or am I wrong ? And isn't front one bit cheaper ?

Can u take this part 95 5 04 Toyota Tacoma 96 02 Toyota 4Runner E Locker Differential 4 30 Ratio | eBay

and take ur old exact part as this out and put that elocker in ?

No such thing as a front E-locker for these. You can do a ARB but thats pretty much the only option for a selectable locker in the front.

Usually the rear will give you more traction. The most common time when you need more traction is climbing up stuff. When you are climbing, weight is lifted from the front and transferred to the back thus the rear locker is more effective.

Also, the front CV axles on these are pretty weak. Lockers break them easily.

Curtis f · Nov 18, 2013

kolelt said:
Curious why most people always want rear e locker ? It's awesome to have it but, I think I would prefer front e locker. More weight on front end and should grip better. Or am I wrong ? And isn't front one bit cheaper ?

Can u take this part 95 5 04 Toyota Tacoma 96 02 Toyota 4Runner E Locker Differential 4 30 Ratio | eBay

and take ur old exact part as this out and put that elocker in ?

Not the same ring gear size the front is a 7.5" differential , the back is a 8" ... completely different diff. ARB is the only selectable for the front as stated. To put the E-Locker in the rear the easiest way is to swap the whole housing and wire it up. That being said notching the housing to accept a E-locker really isn't hard to do either.:beer:

kolelt · Nov 18, 2013

Curtis f said:
Not the same ring gear size the front is a 7.5" differential , the back is a 8" ... completely different diff. ARB is the only selectable for the front as stated. To put the E-Locker in the rear the easiest way is to swap the whole housing and wire it up. That being said notching the housing to accept a E-locker really isn't hard to do either.:beer:

I know you can't take a rear e locker and put infront. Was saying that it would make more sense to actually have front lockers rather then rear. But then again depends what you want to do.

Curtis f · Nov 18, 2013

kolelt said:
I know you can't take a rear e locker and put infront. Was saying that it would make more sense to actually have front lockers rather then rear. But then again depends what you want to do.

Gotcha , sorry read it quick! That's an age old debate right there. Some people swear by front locker , and some by the rear. IMO having a front locker will climb you up ledges and you can just "bump" the rear up fairly easy. But on the other hand rear is good in a lot of other situations as well. My suggestion ... lock em both up

Curtis f · Nov 18, 2013

its worth mentioning too that the front IFS cant handle a locker without upgrades quite as well as a rear on stock shafts.

TheeMikeB · Nov 18, 2013

Curtis f said:
its worth mentioning too that the front IFS cant handle a locker without upgrades quite as well as a rear on stock shafts.

If you wheel IFS be prepared to break CVs PERIOD. Yes the locker increases those chances but I would not let that change my decision to get a front locker.

I also would not spend $800 on CVs either. You can get the Napa Lifetimes for a little over $100. If they break, return it for another.

nevada · Nov 18, 2013

generally, if you can only lock one end, you want to do the rear.

a locked rear, and some good tires can take you a LOT more places than being open.
I think its more affective than being open in the rear, and locked in the front.

in fact, since locking the rear of my truck, I run a LOT of the trails in 2wd. I go a long ways before ever even needing 4wd.

TheeMikeB · Nov 19, 2013

nevada said:
generally, if you can only lock one end, you want to do the rear.

a locked rear, and some good tires can take you a LOT more places than being open.
I think its more affective than being open in the rear, and locked in the front.

in fact, since locking the rear of my truck, I run a LOT of the trails in 2wd. I go a long ways before ever even needing 4wd.

Yeah I could never imagine anyone locking the front and leaving the rear open. That would be just plain dumb.

white_n_slow · Nov 19, 2013

TheeMikeB said:
Yeah I could never imagine anyone locking the front and leaving the rear open. That would be just plain dumb.

I have heard the argument than in an IFS rig with less articulation in the front, you are more likely to lift a front tire than a rear tire, making the truck essentially rear wheel drive only. By this logic, if you lock the front, you're maintaining 4wd and since the rear articulates so well, it is not in quite as much need of traction help as the front.

I believe even the Aussie locker website makes this argument for locking the front. While I can see the logic there, but I still don't agree with it. 1) front locked only = broken parts 2) you want the locker when you're climbing, and the weight is transferred to the rear.

Snowy21 · Nov 19, 2013

TheeMikeB said:
Yeah I could never imagine anyone locking the front and leaving the rear open. That would be just plain dumb.

Its a Jeep thing...Need I say more?

But if you want to get technical, TJ guys lock the front first because of the crappy Dana 35 c-clip axle in back vs a more reliable Dana 30 front

TheeMikeB · Nov 19, 2013

Snowy21 said:
Its a Jeep thing...Need I say more?

But if you want to get technical, TJ guys lock the front first because of the crappy Dana 35 c-clip axle in back vs a more reliable Dana 30 front

Wow I never knew that.

On the "Jeep thing" I wheeled with a guy last week that had a sticker on his truck that read. "I got your jeep thing and now it burns when I pee"

Can I swap the innards of my rear diff with a locking rear diff from another 4runner?

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