Anyone able to identify this axle, OEM or not?

[99Runnr]

So I'll try an explain this clearly.

My e-locker rear end, had 2 bad wheel bearings. I purchased a new, complete axle off Craigslist. It was advertised as new wheel bearings, seals, ect. I merely robbed the axle shafts for my e-locker rear end. The bearing's felt good and the drum brakes were new as well.

Come to find out, the drivers side axle shaft I used was bent, pretty badly. I just pulled both of them out, and purchased all new OEM wheel bearings, snap rings, collars, ABS rings for both sides. Dropped the passenger side (straight one) and one taken from a donor axle. The truck had 260k miles, bone stock, neglected all over. However, I didn't expect something like an axle shaft to be problematic or modified.

Fast forward to today, the DONOR axle, did not work. After the backing plate and wheel bearing were pressed on, the collar went on, and there remained an 1/8th inch gap between the collar and snap ring. The overall height is the same, but the flange and spline sections are different.

Does anyone have any further information here? I was told, e-locker and non-locker used the same axle shafts. I will be looking for a replacement tomorrow, and am trying to inform myself of any potential issues which may be present. You can't measure the distance where this issue occurs without having everything removed, which is impractical and my last parts rear end will not work with OEM parts.

Pictures;

Left is the one that doesn't work, right is the OEM? unit that does work (bent).

Sane orientation showing flange variances.

 

[99Runnr]

Alright, well today, went to junkyard. Pulled an ABS axle from a 97 that was ROTTED to all hell. Frame literally crumbled and broke when I jacked it up to remove the rear wheel. Control arm mount was disconnected from the frame.

Pulled the axle, good to go. Matches the ones I had. Also, the wheel bearing of all things on it was MINT. No slop or movement at all, backing plate was destroyed though so I still used all my new OEM parts.

Whatever axle this was, no markings or anything to research, they are junk.

 

[LittleCaesar]

I have seem one like this, I am going to say Dorman.

Nothing Dorman should go on a 3rd gen 4runner.

 

[99Runnr]

Wouldn't surprise me except autozone doesn't sell axles. They are pretty Dorman heavy too.

 

[D Farms]

according to low range and a few other sites the 01-02 axle shafts use a different bearing, also the non abs was different too. that being said i have an elocked axle and i ran my 02 half shafts and bearings in it for a while, no problems other than the seals eventually leaked. also there was zero modification needed to make it fit.

 

[99Runnr]

according to low range and a few other sites the 01-02 axle shafts use a different bearing, also the non abs was different too. that being said i have an elocked axle and i ran my 02 half shafts and bearings in it for a while, no problems other than the seals eventually leaked. also there was zero modification needed to make it fit.

Yeah, it was a frustrating ordeal for a damn axle. I had my e-locker stuff, my other e-locker axle, and a few different ones at the junkyard to sort through. Only my other e-locker had an axle that was different from the rest. Even the ABS and non-ABS unit's I found all appeared the same flange wise.

Beyond that, it's anyone's guess. I was told there are 3 different axle options. 15" wheel ABS style and non-ABS, then 16" wheels were all ABS. Either way, the one problematic one I found, was incorrect for both abs and non.

It's together, both axles are back. ZERO play from the backing plate all the way around. Nice tight rotation, feels great and axle flange is smooth with no wobbles. Just have to bleed the brakes and bolt on my new FN wheels. Got all those back here mounted and ready to go.

Tired of wrenching on this pos, but I'll probably finish it up tonight and pray everything goes smoothly from here out with this rear end. Had nothing but troubles from driveshaft balance, wheel bearings, bent axle replacement, machine shop pressing shit together without measuring spacing and ruining bearings taking it apart. If this isn't right, I'm literally just buying another 4runner to take the axle out of it and then I'l part the rest of the truck.