E-Locker for 4th Gen??

[teotwaki]

Are there significant differences in a 4th Gen's rear axle that prevent the installation of a Toyota E-locker from the Tacoma or FJ?

Let's not worry about cost, just feasibility of the hardware install in the axle. Next I could take care of the wiring and other control issues.

 

[AlexJet]

FJ Cruiser has the same rear axle as 4Runner, Tacoma I think too. So it shouldn't be a technical problem to install locker from there.
It

 

[RonMAIDEN]

That would be a sweet mod for the 4th gens since Toyota made the mistake of at least not offering the locker as an option after the '00 models.

 

[Thai]

That would be a sweet mod for the 4th gens since Toyota made the mistake of at least not offering the locker as an option after the '00 models.

Well, it was not exactly a "mistake"...more like a calculated decision to go with ATRAC (more on-road friendly, and good off-road) instead of the rear locker (only good for off-road).

 

[teotwaki]

........rear locker (only good for off-road).

Ahhhhhhh, gotta HAVE one! :bowdown:

 

[RonMAIDEN]

Couldn't they have offered both but Toyota caved into the making the Runner more street friendly since they know very few go off road and the minority market loses out on the bottom line.

Toyota does recognize that the FJ will be sold to a more off road crowd since they are campaigning it that way and offer the locker but there will still be some yahoo that'll slap 22"s on one.

 

[Thai]

Ron, that's business for ya.

 

[Good Times]

You wouldn't be able to do it with the Taco's rear since they have leaves and drum brakes. FJ has the coil cup and the disc so that'll work but keep in mind they have the smaller rotors (similiar to the SR5).

You would have to do a direct swap of the entire axle and not just the internals due to the fact that the internals are not the same as the 4runner. They have a completely different r&p from what I've been able to gather so just swaping out the pumpkin won't work.

Something to consider if you want to try this route: Many of the taco's electric locked gears are getting thrashed apparently from regular use (and not misuse) and Toyota is not accepting warranty on these axles (bs reason - something like offroading bs). People are saying that the gears are inferior or the gears are not rated for the v6 + locker. There's a thread on yotatech and ttora regarding this so please check it out. I suspect since the taco's rear locker axle and the fj's rear locker axle has the same internals both vehicles will have similar problems. So far I've only read about Taco's having the problem. I'm suspecting FJ's will happen as soon as more vehicles are on the road.

Looks like toyota used an older set of gears on the taco/fj and could be the reason why these gears a failing. Oddly the 4runner has not had any issues (well it doesn't have a locker so that could the big reason) but nonetheless it's still working.

I would say just get the ARB locker and call it a day. Several vehicles have installed one with no problems (except for 1 - installation snafu). It works so go that route.

If you're considering regear then wait on installation of locker(s) because it's the same price to get gears in or no gears in. I hope to have more news on gears by the end of the year.

GOod luck

 

[Thai]

Thanks Lance for the info. I would go with ARB.

 

[teotwaki]

As always I appreciate all of your great replies! I'll also look at that other forum's thread. It took me over a year before I changed the suspension so I will take the time to learn aboout what you have shared on the E-Locker