I am thinking of installing a factory rear locker on my 1996 SR5 4Runner with 3.4l V6 with manual transmission. I couldn't get up a steep loose stone and dirt hill when I was out in Utah. I'm heading back out there later this year. I did a lot of off roading while out there and I think a rear locker will help. I'm going to look for one in a salvage yard in my travels. Does anyone know where one is located? I pretty mechanical, will I be able to remove and install one myself? What should I pay for a used one? What should I pay to have it installed if I go that way? Any problems with putting one in my described vehicle? Thanks in advance for any help!

The locking and non locking carriers are different, you either have to modify your housing to accept the E-locker, or by a housing designed for the E-locker.

FYI, the e-locker will probably have a different gear ratio than what you have now.

Search on carparts.com. You are probably 4.1 and they are almost all 4.3 so you will need to regear your front as well. They say they are 4.1 on the search but most are 4.3, they are listed wrong. I wouldn't spend more than $500 for a complete locking axle with third member. Get an aftermarket switch from Low Range Off Road.

Ok so, here are your options for a OEM rear locking installation:

First, you have to find out your stock diff gear ratio.
There 3 ratios - 3.9, 4.1, and 4.3.

You will not find a locking 3.9 diff on a 4runner. They were never put on 3rd gens. So if you have a 3.9 ratio on your truck, you will have to swap out the front diff also. There is a locking 3.9 available from toyota, that does fit on a 4Runner axle, but you will have to look in Toyota Tacomas till 2004. But they are not just rare in the junkyards, even Toyota may not stock it anymore for US market.

You are left with the other 2 ratios. It may be hard to come by one, but I recommend 4.1 as it is good for offroad and still good for highway speeds.

Second, once you pick a diff, you have a 2 options: Either use your original rear axle housing or find an original one. Usually when you buy the diff from a junkyard it comes with the correct housing.

I recommend finding an fully assembled rear axle housing with the locking diff as it has everything, including rear drive axles, brakes and drums etc. Price range should be $250 - $500.

Once you find the goods, you can start installing. Make sure you pick up as much from the wire harness as possible, and buy also the little ECU and dash button!

Removal and installation is not hard. Just remember your safety.

Once you start running wires, two things:

1: even though there seems to be installed wires in the truck, do not believe that they go anywhere. Trace each individual wire that it goes all the way to where it is supposed to go.

I had a problem with one ground wire. The stock connector had a pin with a ground wire going from the rear left seat to the front, and I connected the diff wire to it. But when I switch on the rr diff button, the motor turns, but the dash light starts to blink.

It turned out the the harness running in the left rocker panel, has a rubber cap on the other connector at the end of the harness. I pulled the rubber cap, and installed a new pin in the connector and connected to ground and it worked.

2: The rear axle housing sometimes has ASB sensors for each wheel. If you do not have a ABS on yours and the newly bought housing has them, the drive axles inside will have different design. You will see it when you get to it.

The overall time to do the install, if you have everthing ready is like less than a day of work.

Anyway I can't think of anything else right now.
More when you get the job.

Here are the links with all the stuff, hope they still work.

http://4runners.org/writeups/elocker/
Retrofit Electric Locker
Outdoor Recreation Network - Off-Highway, Jeep, and 4x4 Fun