Change the whole rear axle or just the diff, 05 4Runner?

[duffdog]

Disclaimer. Hate to kick up an old thread, but...

I've been beating my face in wall over this same issue for a month now.

2005 4runner / 4.8 / 2wd / A01A with e locker and a fried pinion bearing. I know it's the pinion because I just put in new axle bearings, seals and such.

At this point I just want to swap out with a used 3rd member instead of pulling it and having it torn apart in my garage for a couple weeks while it's being rebuilt.

The thing is, NOBODY can seem to tell me what rear end Toyota put in it. I call the dealer with the VIN. They can only give me the gear ratio and tells me to check the tag on the firewall. Heh. Ya right.

Driveline / differential shop in town says it's either one of two and it depends on the ring gear size. We can't tell until you bring it in.

Ebay shows me 3rd members that don't look exactly like what I have. The closest thing I've seen there is out of a Sequoia.

Is there a case stamp somewhere on it? Spline count on the axles? When I got the parts for the axle bearings I only had one choice.

Why did Toyota make this so difficult? I'd rather spend a few hours swapping it out, than forgetting how it went together after 14 sleeps.

Any help please? Anybody have one of these available? Pointers? Tips?

Much TIA.

You typed "e locker" in your message. Are you sure you have an aftermarket e locker installed? I have one installed and it involved cutting the steel and installing threaded pins for the housing.

If you do not have an aftermarket elocker and your truck is stock, you have a 3.73 ratio rear end which can come from any 4th gen 4runner. I advise against buying one on ebay and instead getting one from a junkyard or ECGS. They have them in stock.

Toyota V6 8''- Pickup, 4runner,FJ Criuser

 

[Inv4drZm]

You typed "e locker" in your message. Are you sure you have an aftermarket e locker installed? I have one installed and it involved cutting the steel and installing threaded pins for the housing.

If you do not have an aftermarket elocker and your truck is stock, you have a 3.73 ratio rear end which can come from any 4th gen 4runner. I advise against buying one on ebay and instead getting one from a junkyard or ECGS. They have them in stock.

Toyota V6 8''- Pickup, 4runner,FJ Criuser

The 09' Trail Editions came with a locker, but yeah his 05' won't have one unless it was installed by a previous owner.

Some early 4th gens with the 4 speed came with 3.9x gears so watch out for that. I think.

 

[crackman]

It is the factory e locker with the factory button on the L/H side of the dash down low. The only non OEM part I can find on the whole vehicle is the radio, windshield and tires.

Thanks so much for this. No clue why I was getting the runaround from so many people. I didn't think for a moment that this would be so difficult to source.

Again, much obliged.

EDIT: I have no reason to believe the locker was not factory installed. Being a 2WD I assumed it may have been put in all of them. My first Toyota if it wasn't obvious. Heh.

 

[Inv4drZm]

It is the factory e locker with the factory button on the L/H side of the dash down low. The only non OEM part I can find on the whole vehicle is the radio, windshield and tires.

Thanks so much for this. No clue why I was getting the runaround from so many people. I didn't think for a moment that this would be so difficult to source.

Again, much obliged.

EDIT: I have no reason to believe the locker was not factory installed. Being a 2WD I assumed it may have been put in all of them. My first Toyota if it wasn't obvious. Heh.

Does it look like this button? If so its actually the center diff lock button, has nothing to do with the rear diff.

 

[crackman]

It does not look like that. I'm not with the truck now but I think it just said AUTO LSD on it.

Now I'm questioning the terminology with what I'm actually needing. Might need a little education. Like I said, my first Toyota.

 

[duffdog]

It does not look like that. I'm not with the truck now but I think it just said AUTO LSD on it.

Now I'm questioning the terminology with what I'm actually needing. Might need a little education. Like I said, my first Toyota.

Do you mean the "AUTO LSD" button? 2wd 4runners have those. That is an electronic traction control button that has no additional hardware functions. You most likely have the 2wd 4runner 3rd member linked on the ECGS page, just slap one in and you are good.

 

[crackman]

Yes, AUTO LSD button. Yes, 2WD. And yes, I will stop assuming things. Heh.

I'll go check out the link, and probably give them a call too. This issue suddenly became a cake walk. Now I can get this finished and move on to the timing belt. Excellent.

If we should ever meet in person, I owe you all a beer or a fist bump at the minimum.