Rear axle differences between early and late 3rd gens?
 

I am in the process of cleaning up a 97(...I think) e-locker, ABS rear axle to swap into my 01 and have noticed some differences. I also want to make sure I've noticed ALL the differences so I don't run into any issues when I get my new diffs and swap the axle in.

1) Brake lines - my 01 has two brake lines to the rear axle, I guess for ABS/TRAC, while the 97 only has one. I'm planning on swapping as much of the bracketry for that from the 01 axle to the 97 axle, but I know I'm probably going to need to figure out how to attach some of the brackets. I am hoping I can just take all the brake lines off the 01 axle and they'll bolt right in to the 97.

2) Parking brake - the junkyard I bought the 97 axle from cut the parking brake cable. Are there differences between the years or can I just take all the park brake stuff off my 01 axle and bolt it on the 97?

3) ABS - again, the junkyard cut the ABS sensor cables. Will my 01 sensors work with the 97 axle?

4) This one is kind of a long shot and I am expecting that this isn't gonna work, but can I simply unbolt my axleshaft/brake/etc assemblies from the 01 (open diff) and stick them in the 97 axle with an e-locker? The 97 axle's backing plates are absolutely trashed and I don't know the condition of the bearings. Can I use late model 3rd gen seals in an early model axle housing?

Thanks for any input yall can give.

I put a 97 whole rear axle (no locker) into my 2001 which had bad bearings when I bought it. I figured out the brake lines but never got the trac and abs to work properly. The sensors fit but its my impression they are not compatible. I ended up pulling the abs fuse which is no problem for where and how I drive. I thought about changing out the individual side axles to see if that would solve the problem but recently got a 2002 whole rear axle which I am going to put in. My suggestion is if you want the locker just modify the axle housing to fit the locking diff

Ugh, if the sensors don't work that alone is like $400 in parts, which makes a strong case for modifying my 01 housing.

1) As I remember, there is one brake line mounting point on the drivers side upper control arm boss that will have to be drilled for a nut and bolt on the older housing.

4) Yes. Axles and backing plates are the same. Brake parts (shoes, brackets, adjusters) are different, but that’s ok, doesn’t matter. To me, the later model adjusters work better

I don't see why you cannot put in the 97 housing with the locker and then pull each side axle off the 2001 and put them in the housing. The sensors would match the axle shaft and that would solve your backing plate. Just untested as far as I know

Yeah, I think I'm gonna see about just swapping shafts/backing plates. Is there a difference between early and late model seals, or are they the same part and I'm thinking of the redesign Toyota did?

wow, 2000 to 2001 makes that much difference ? I swapped in a 98 elocker into my 2000 and only thing I had to do was make a harness for the elocker ( mine was a non -elocker) and also switched out all the axel/bearings/brakes from one to the other.

Guess I lucked out

good luck, I learn something every day about these 4runners

I think/hope the biggest difference is the brakes. The 01-02 model years have an electronic master cylinder that doubles as stability and traction control (separate brake lines to each corner) and it sounds like there are some minor mechanical differences in the park brake linkage.

There is also apparently a difference between the axle seals, ABS ring, and bearing retainer, but I'm still unclear if there's actually a MY split or if Toyota redesigned all those components and the 01-02 parts supersede the 96-00 parts.

Bump for the saturday night crew.

Looking at the parts diagrams, the axleshaft part numbers are different for 1997 and 2001. Anyone know what the differences are?

I'm gonna try to order every type of seal Toyota sells to see what will work, assuming my 01 axles are compatible. I have no idea if they're the right length, diameter, spline count, etc.

2x different types of axles I have run into. when I first got my truck in 2017 it had one of each, lucky me.

<a href="https://imgur.com/JceZ64M"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/JceZ64Ml.jpg" title="source: imgur.com" /></a>

the bearing are different zoom in you can get part numbers

<a href="https://imgur.com/dWyCEfA"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/dWyCEfAl.jpg" title="source: imgur.com" /></a>

you can see one has a rounded lip on it. that fits flush on the rounded alxe type.

<a href="https://imgur.com/HHoBicA"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/HHoBicAl.jpg" title="source: imgur.com" /></a>

the outer seal part numbers but they are different these things. they are very subtly different and no they do not interchange, tried it no go.

rounded type of axles outer seal is 9031348001
the square seals 9031354001

<a href="https://imgur.com/xo9LOiy"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/xo9LOiyl.jpg" title="source: imgur.com" /></a>


edit: I think if I remember the last time I pulled axles at pick n pull the 01,02 trucks have square types, the older trucks had round type axles but I have no idea where they cutoff?
please double check the part numbers those are from my notes and... you know I'm crazy nutts so please confim... maybe double check vs Timmy vids?

GREAT post, thank you for the info. I actually just ordered 2ea of both of those part numbers (as well as 90310-50006 "Axle Shaft Seal (Left, Right, Rear)
Seal, Type S Oil.", whatever that is).

So just to make sure I'm understanding, you got an axle that had an old style shaft/bearing/seal on one side and new style shaft/bearing/seal on the other? If so, that would indicate that the housings are the same and can accept either type of seal & bearing, or at least the earlier housings are compatible with later bearings and seals. Has that been your experience?

Obviously I'm going to take a bunch of pics and measurements when I get a chance to tear into all this stuff, I just have limited time to do the work and want to make sure I have all the parts I need on-hand.

ETA - camelback shows the same part number for the non-elocker axle housing for 1997 and 2001 (42110-35711)

insert facepalm here


90313-54001 and 90313-48001 are the dust seals between the axle flange and the hub, which has a model year break at some point.

90310-50006 is the oil seal inside the hub, and it's the only part number Toyota offers for any 3rd gen model year ....which rides on the new style 42423-20010 retainer ring for 3rd gen MYs that is causing all the leaks. Duh.

I guess we'll see what retainer rings are on my axles....

According to post #8 in this thread from Yotatech, it sounds like the wheel speed sensors should be identical:
Anybody retrofit e-locker rear on 2002 4Runner with ATRAC? - YotaTech Forums

Planning on adding a 4.10 locker to my '01 auto in fall. So far, have everything I need including a locker housing. Keep us updated on the progress.

Will do. I got a tracking number from ECGS today, so hopefully the diffs will be here by the weekend.

Well, near as I can tell, the axleshaft/brake assemblies are totally interchangeable, or at least later assemblies will work in an early housing.

I put my 01 axles in the 97 housing (with the new-style seal) and with the "grease test" the seals look like they're riding in the same place on the 01 retainers as they are on the 97 retainers.

I reused my 01 ABS sensors with the 01 axles, and got no ABS lights. The 97's ABS sensors looked like the same part to me.