E-locker
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JWaldz
Moderator
yes, it was available in '97. I know this because I have a '97 elocker axle in my '99.
I don't know if the stealership still deals in elockers for the 3rd gens anymore but if they did it would cost you A LOT of money. You're best bet is to find you a complete rear axle with elocker and just completely swap axles. If, and only if, you are mechanic friendly and know what you're doing there is an elocker retrofit to fit the elocker 3rd in the factory 3rd's place of your current axle. It is a lot of very detailed and precise work though but would be cheaper because you are buying just the 3rd instead of the complete axle. I suggest doing some reading up on it.
THIS ought to help you.
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C C
Member
I would of thought at least the tacomas rear axle was similar
brian2sun
Elite Member
The Tacoma axle has leaf springs instead of coils and control arms. The mounts are totally different so even though the diff is the same on the TRD off road Tacos, the axle won't work without heavy modification. It's much easier to just put a Taco elocker diff in your axle even though that requires some modification to the housing.
Swapping a complete 4runner elocked axle is the easiest, but there's still a problem. The vast majority of elocked 4runners are 4.30 gears and the vast majority of non-elocked 4runners are 4.10 gears. So, most likely you have 4.10s and it will be difficult to find an elocked 4runner axle that matches the gear ratio. That leaves you with 3 choices if all you can find is a 4.30 elocked 4runner axle:
1) Regear the front diff to 4.30
2) Swap front diffs with a 4.30 diff
3) Put your 4.10s in the new elocked axle (swap ring and pinions) and leave the front alone.
Most elocked Tacos are 4.10s, so if you can get one of those, you can retrofit it into your housing (but like mentioned earlier, it still requires some cutting and welding on your axle housing to make it fit).
*Keep in mind...
You first need to find out what gear ratio you have now. Most likely it's 4.10, but not for sure. To find out, block the tires and put it in "N". Then jack up one rear tire. Make a mark on the tire and the driveshaft. Have a buddy spin the tire slowly exactly 20 times while you count the driveshaft revolutions. 41 revos = 4.10s, 39 = 3.90s, 43 = 4.30s, etc...
C C
Member
Great help, would regearing the front cost more then just getting a 4.30 diff in the front? Also are the e-locked 4runnners fronts 4.30? I assume so
Thanks a lot, that did help. Luckily my brother is a mechanic, so I'll have to do some research and talk to him about it. Does the E-locker make a huge difference? If it's something that I could have installed and wouldn't break my bank would it be worth it to do?
Gerdo
New member
The elocker was a great option.
I have an ARB. One big thing that I like about the ARB is that it locks and un-locks almost instantly. I can try an obstacle, still be sitting on the obstacle and lock without moving and crawl thru the obstacle. (It can be locked and un-locked while moving without issues) I have driven some elocked vehicles and sometimes they need some roll in and roll out to lock/un-lock.
I also know of two people that installed used elockers that grenade'd after a year or so. You can't tell how used parts were treated. I thought about an elocker but I would have it fully rebuilt with new bearings and stuff. This quickly closed the cost gap on the ARB.
Is a locker worth it? YES... If you do trails that compress opposing wheels, it will get you thru with less wheel spin. Less wheel spin can preserve parts. I will say that learning to wheel with open diffs will build your skills. Lockers can get you in above your hear/skill level quickly.
I have an ARB. One big thing that I like about the ARB is that it locks and un-locks almost instantly. I can try an obstacle, still be sitting on the obstacle and lock without moving and crawl thru the obstacle. (It can be locked and un-locked while moving without issues) I have driven some elocked vehicles and sometimes they need some roll in and roll out to lock/un-lock.
I also know of two people that installed used elockers that grenade'd after a year or so. You can't tell how used parts were treated. I thought about an elocker but I would have it fully rebuilt with new bearings and stuff. This quickly closed the cost gap on the ARB.
Is a locker worth it? YES... If you do trails that compress opposing wheels, it will get you thru with less wheel spin. Less wheel spin can preserve parts. I will say that learning to wheel with open diffs will build your skills. Lockers can get you in above your hear/skill level quickly.
Scramble
New member
I think it would just be easier to buy a 4.10 E-Locker from Toyota.
CARRIER ASSEMBLY, DIFFERENTIAL, REAR. Rear axle housing & differential; Rear axle housing & differential for 1999 TOYOTA 4RUNNER (411103D030)
Brilliant
New member
another thread rez, you find all the good 2011 threads dude. =}
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Scramble
New member
Brilliant
New member
At least I'm doing my research instead of starting new ones.
No worries, just giving you some sh it. =}
Atrox Caeda
New member
I concur that the easiest thing to do if you find yourself with a 4.30 locked rear diff and you have 4.10s from the factory is to just change out the ring and pinion in the carrier from the old axle. It really isn't that difficult and you can do it while you have all your parts pulled out when doing the swap.
Brique
New member
Ok, here's another question while we're on the topic and since we're tacking into an old thread...
I have an '01, diffs are open of course. Can the elocker retrofit be done on the 01-02? I think i read something about needing to swap in an ecu from a locked 4runner, but to my knowledge, the throttle/electronics are a little different in 01 than earlier years. So, would this conflict prevent an 01 from getting the retrofit?
I have an '01, diffs are open of course. Can the elocker retrofit be done on the 01-02? I think i read something about needing to swap in an ecu from a locked 4runner, but to my knowledge, the throttle/electronics are a little different in 01 than earlier years. So, would this conflict prevent an 01 from getting the retrofit?
white_n_slow
Senior Member
hunt around for a junkyard axle out of a 5-speed with the e-locker. It will have 4.10 gears and will not require a re-gear. I spotted one at a local body shop last week, but I'm not sure if it came out of an automatic or a manual.
Or swap in a tacoma rear and switch to leaf springs! Easy if you have a measuring tape and a welder
Or swap in a tacoma rear and switch to leaf springs! Easy if you have a measuring tape and a welder
My factory 5 spd e-locker has 4.30 gearing.
We (mostly my wife) recently swapped an e-locker rear axle onto her '96 5 spd 4Runner. Kept the 4.30 gearing on the rear axle, and swapped the front diff to match.
And... swapping the front diff isn't a simple task. For no particular reason I thought it would be somewhat easy. It's not. It's a royal PITA. Harder than swapping the rear axle.
We (mostly my wife) recently swapped an e-locker rear axle onto her '96 5 spd 4Runner. Kept the 4.30 gearing on the rear axle, and swapped the front diff to match.
And... swapping the front diff isn't a simple task. For no particular reason I thought it would be somewhat easy. It's not. It's a royal PITA. Harder than swapping the rear axle.