02' rear axle swap to put an elocker in. .

[stir_fry_boy]

Wanted to look into putting a rear elocker in my 02'. Having trouble finding the right info after searching, as most retrofits are older Runners. I know a couple of people have done it with the 01-02.

Help with parts would also be greatly appreciated.

I know I need the 3rd member, getting the whole thing from a 96-00' donor truck is not an issue, including locker.

Thanks in advance.

 

[s20004runner]

haven't done it yet, but I also want to do it near future so based on what i have learned.

1. you have to match the front diff gears. If you don't know, it's easier to pull both front and rear together.

2. 01-02 had electric add actuator - previous models had a vacuum add actuator. search on this issue. I forget what you were supposed to do.

3. you can find direct OEM like wiring set for about $100 somewhere. It should make the almost plug and play i believe. I saw it somewhere.

good luck!

Where you find the donor?

 

[LittleCaesar]

I'd PM Big Fish All Day, he did it with his 01. He may have some info on it but I have never seen a full DIY.

I have to ask Stir Fry how you are liking the 15? It isn't for me, but the Pro look is nice.

 

[infamousRNR]

i did it... 98 rear complete axel into my 2002. but mostly thanks to [MENTION=76627]nor_cal51501[/MENTION]

i had an issue where i had different diff ratios. haven't engaged my 4x4 for almost a year now. finally just got myself a front diff with 4:30 where my 2002 had a 4.10 stock

 

[BrandonF]

I had a 1998 Manual transmission without elocker. After looking at all of my options, I decided on a full axle swap. In my opinion, it's waaaayy easier than just swapping the 3rd, since you will have to modify your axle housing to make it fit. Being a manual, I have the 4.10 ratio which is quite rare to come in the elocker flavor. However, I managed to find one. I paid $500 for the whole elocker rear axle plus the factory ECU, switch, and all of the wiring. Granted, I did have to do quite a bit of modification on the wiring to make everything work but it wasn't that bad. I even managed to sell my stock non e-locker axle for $225 after I was all said and done. So, my entire elocker swap cost me a grand total of $275. :lmao:

And it's really easy to figure out your gear ratio. Don't believe that swapping your entire front diff for a donor unit is easier than counting the rotations on your rear diff to figure out your ratio…

 

[stir_fry_boy]

I'd PM Big Fish All Day, he did it with his 01. He may have some info on it but I have never seen a full DIY.

I have to ask Stir Fry how you are liking the 15? It isn't for me, but the Pro look is nice.

Love the Pro. It rides awesome on and off road. Thanks, I PM'd BigFishAllDay.

 

[stir_fry_boy]

i did it... 98 rear complete axel into my 2002. but mostly thanks to [MENTION=76627]nor_cal51501[/MENTION]

i had an issue where i had different diff ratios. haven't engaged my 4x4 for almost a year now. finally just got myself a front diff with 4:30 where my 2002 had a 4.10 stock

Can you expand on the parts required besides the complete axle? How did the wiring for elocker go? Did you use a donor truck and tear out the harness, axle and retrofit it?

Where did you get the front 4:30 diff?

 

[JWaldz]

i had an issue where i had different diff ratios. haven't engaged my 4x4 for almost a year now.

You're kidding?!?!? The difference between 4.10's and 4.30's is below the percentage "threshold" that would cause any problems. I wheeled quite a few times with no problems when I had the same issue before I eventually put in 4.88's. I'm not saying go balls to the walls, but you likely would have had no problems. It's not something you would want to keep like that permanently, but I sure as hell couldn't go a year without 4wd!!

 

[KidVermicious]

I had 4.30 in the rear and 4.10 in front for a while. It made for janky driving in 4wd.

 

[csp]

You're kidding?!?!? The difference between 4.10's and 4.30's is below the percentage "threshold" that would cause any problems.

What are you considering the threshold to be? IMO it should be less than a 2% difference. The difference from 4.30 to 4.10 is almost 5%.

 

[JWaldz]

What are you considering the threshold to be? IMO it should be less than a 2% difference. The difference from 4.30 to 4.10 is almost 5%.

hmmm, now you've got me thinking if I was thinking of some other application. Because I seem to recall that the difference should be no more than 2% max as well. Anyways, I ran those 2 different ratios for a little bit and never had a problem. Of course I would only use 4wd when I needed it and it was never on any dry pavement. Loose traction only.

What's the calculation to produce the percentage of difference between two differential gear ratios?

 

[jmsdad]

Did the retrofit (grind/drill/tap) to my 01 back in 2006. I found a matching 4.10 elocker 3rd member from a 02 Tacoma double cab Prerunner for $100 with the pig-tail harness...If you can get the whole rear axle, it's way easier. Even if you get the bare axle housing and 3rd, you'll come out with less things to do.

Modding the housing is not that hard ( I've done 6 so far) but I hated the grinding and cleaning out the grinding dust from the inside of the axle.

At the minimum, get a 3rd member, harness where it connects to the diff, or the connector with cut off wires, about 12' of 6conductor wire and a switch... I changed over to this switch about 3yrs ago


Toyota Electric E Locker Switches



I personally think the elocker harness kit sold by many of the vendors are a rip-off. I can wire an elocker for about $30-$40...

 

[TheFatGuy]

I had 4.30 in the rear and 4.10 in front for a while. It made for janky driving in 4wd.

Your lucky I ran this setup two months thinking to save up to do the front gears when one day offroading the front end EXPLODED.

For the harness I found on pirate4x4 I found a guy that sells complete harnesses that is plug and play
Toyota Elocker harnesses - Pirate4x4.Com : 4x4 and Off-Road Forum

 

[csp]

Formula for ratio difference as a percentage

Difference in ratios divided by smallest ratio.

4.30 minus 4.10 = .2

.2 divided by 4.10 = .0488 or 4.88%

 

[bishopTS]

why not a lunchbox locker like an aussie or detroit? my aussie was $230 took me like an hour and a half to install and has never let me down yet. i daily drive it and got a little over 50k out of my last set of tires.

 

[BrandonF]

why not a lunchbox locker like an aussie or detroit? my aussie was $230 took me like an hour and a half to install and has never let me down yet. i daily drive it and got a little over 50k out of my last set of tires.

Im still very tempted to try an aussie in the front diff. The problem is that these 4runners are already so ridiculously capable with just 33's, a rear locker and some armor!

 

[stir_fry_boy]

why not a lunchbox locker like an aussie or detroit? my aussie was $230 took me like an hour and a half to install and has never let me down yet. i daily drive it and got a little over 50k out of my last set of tires.

Can you help me understand the pros and cons to the lunchbox locker?

 

[csp]

Pros - they are cheap and fairly easy to install. The Aussie is very reliable.

Cons - they are noisy when ratcheting around a corner. They lock anytime they are under power. If you drive in snow they will want to put you sideways when locked if there's any crown to the road.

For a mostly on road vehicle they aren't really ideal. Offroad they are great.

 

[stir_fry_boy]

Well, axle seals are leaking on rear passenger side. They are leaking onto the passenger rear backing plate. Trying to locate a complete rear axle with e-locker from a 4x4 auto. Thinking I'll replace the inner seal while I'm at it when I put the new rear axle in.

Anything else I need to be aware of?

I'll eventually re-gear to 4.56 some day when I have the time to do both the front and rear diffs and put 33's on.

 

[jpeaslee]

Sorry to revive an old thread, but I thought it was better than starting a new one.

I have a complete axle from an older 4runner (I think it's a 98) w/ an e locker and the matching front diff (4.30 gears in both), that I'm wanting to swap into my 02. I think I've got my head around swapping the front and swapping over the electronic stuff to the new diff.

On swapping the rear, how did you guys deal with the ABS and brakes? Just swap over everything from the original axle to the new one and essentially just use the E locker axle housing?