Diff swap, front removal?

BoatRacer

BoatRacer

New member
I went to pull some parts off a '95 limited today to do a future V6 brake upgrade. While there, the owner says I can have any item large items for $25 each? I said, how about the 3rd members? So I pulled the rear out, but need to return tomorrow to pull the front. 4.88's for $50, how could I turn that down?

I've never pulled the front end apart on one these rigs. Do I need any special tools? I'm assuming I will need to remove the rotor hub and half shafts? Is there anything I should know before hand to prepare for this?

Thanks for any help in advance.
 
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front dif removal

When you remove the nuts holding the front half-shafts, take a punch and knock the studs out. This will make removal easier. Then it is only 3 bolts other than the drive shaft bolts to remove the front differential. Hope this helps!
 
Thankyou, it all helps. Do you know what socket size the axle nuts requires? I have limited large metric tools, might have to buy one tomorrow morning.
 
Stupidly easy, just heavy. You may need a 19 or 21. Can't remember which for the drain on the diff. You will definitely want to drain it. It will be heavy enough without the fluid.
 
Great, thanks to all for the info!
I was really hoping for 4.56's as I really don't need the 4.88's right now, but I'm certainly not going to pass this up. The oil in the rear looked great, the engine blew at 156K miles and the guy just parked it. It's kinda a shame to tear it apart, but that's what he's doing.
 
24mm on the drain bolt, if memory serves. And 54mm for the hub nuts (do NOT try to spin those with a screwdriver or chisel and mangle them, or I'll hunt you down). Definitely knock a couple studs out of the axle flanges, it'll make it way easier to drop the CV shafts off (those are worth buying from him for spares, especially if they're OEM). The rest is easy - drop the driveshaft, unbolt the front crossmember (leave it attached to the diff cover), then get a jack under the chunk while you back out the two vertical bolts holding it to the frame, and Bob's your uncle.

$50 for 4.88 front and rear is an amazing score.
 
I think I'll just go back in the morning with my trailer and buy the whole rig, the guy just wants it gone. He's about 80% through a 4.3 Vortec swap on a really clean '91 that he wants to sell too, he just lost all motivation. I really don't need it, but I might just come home with both. It's cool enough with the Toyota 5 speed and all, might be fun to finish it. My wife is going to kill me...hahaha

I'm new here and come from a muscle car builder back ground, but I'm going to need a lot of help if I decide to bring this stuff home.
 
If you would rather have 4.56, pull the 4.88 and send them to me. I'll send back 4.56 with a Yukon Grizzly locker in the rear. Might need a little cash for the locker though.
 
Nope, not even locked... I just couldn't seem to find one anywhere with 4:88s.
I ended up finding one in Spokane, Washington and had it shipped 2000 miles to Texas.
 
Ya, the place in Spokane is huge! They sell on ebay too. I'm running all over town this am, cannot find a 54mm socket anywhere!
 
2 1/8th will do in a pinch, but everybody who owns one of these trucks should have a 54mm socket.

If you need to get one on line, Lowrangeoffroad has them.
 
BoatRacer said:
Ya, the place in Spokane is huge! They sell on ebay too. I'm running all over town this am, cannot find a 54mm socket anywhere!
Click to expand...

You can get one at sears. It's a 3/4" socket so you'll have to get an adapter for it. All said and done I spent about $45 on the socket and adapter.
 
Thanks again for the help! It took me about 90 minuets to get the front out while taking my time and wrestling around in the dirt and gravel. I really happy, the diffs are very clean and the oil looked great. The rig had 156K miles on it.
I think for right now, I'll just hold onto these 4.88's. They are more than I want to run right now, but that may change next year.
I looked real hard at his other 4runner, I'm going to keep in touch with this guy and maybe pick it up in a few months. The body and interior are clean, but it sat outside for six years and the throttle body was not even covered on the 4.3! Would be an easy swap for one these sbc I have sitting around though.
 
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