Hello all, my name is Ryan and I am new to the forums. As a matter of fact, I am new to the world of Toyota. I recently went for a little ride with a good friend of mine and I guess you could say I caught the "bug". So here I am, starting my first project. I have been reading and reading and reading and I have learned a ton!!! I know that the info is out there, but I don't have too long before I need to make a decision so let me just get on with my question... I have bought a 1985 4Runner and it has a solid axle up front which was what I was looking for... I have found an elocker from a 96-02 Tacoma. I have also found an axle housing for the same year. Would I be better off retro-fitting the elocker to my 85 axle housing or going ahead and getting the axle housing that the elocker will mate right up to? Like I said, I know all the info is probably out there and I have read as much as I can but both of these parts came up available and I want to jump on them before they are gone if that will be the best route to take. Thanks in advance for any advice!
Newbie Question: E-Locker
- Thread starter ryan114
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KidVermicious
New member
Which housing is better for you depends a lot on your fab ability and your preferences. The Taco housing is several inches wider than your stock housing, and has bigger brake drums, and obviously won't need to be modded for the elocker. You will need to move the spring perches, and do wheel spacers or IFS hubs or a custom housing in front to fix the width difference between front and rear (if it bugs you - it would bug me). With the stock housing you wouldn't have to mess with any of that, but you'd have to mod it for the elocker and you wouldn't get the benefit of the extra track width.
I've got a '96 housing and elocker going to go in the rear of my '85, and I'll likely use a Ruffstuff or Trailgear housing to make the front width match the rear.
I've got a '96 housing and elocker going to go in the rear of my '85, and I'll likely use a Ruffstuff or Trailgear housing to make the front width match the rear.
I like the idea of the axle being a bit wider for a little added stability. I do agree though, that would definitely bother me not being the same width. Do you know if the FJ80 front axle housing width is the same as a Tacoma (the one in question)? This may be a dumb question and if it is, forgive me because I am new to all of this. But could you run a matching rear axle up front?
KidVermicious
New member
An 80 series front axle is passenger drop, so you could make that work. You'd have to convert your front suspension to three link or cut off all the brackets on the housing and add spring perches and shock mounts. You'd also have to add spacers or something in the rear, because the 80 front housing is three inches wider than the Taco rear. And 80 stuff isn't cheap to buy, and isn't cheap to get parts for. Unless you find a deal you'll probably spend more on an 80 housing swap than you'd spend on a bolt-on Taco width Rockassault housing.
Actually, you'll definitely spend more on an 80 swap, because I think you'll have a hard time finding one in 4.10 so you'll have to regear the third.
Actually, you'll definitely spend more on an 80 swap, because I think you'll have a hard time finding one in 4.10 so you'll have to regear the third.
Do you know what years are compatible (passenger drop)? I have found several on Car-Part.com--Used Auto Parts Market
KidVermicious
New member
Pretty sure every 80 series is going to be passenger drop. Might be the same for 60 and 40 series too, and come to think of it they might have shorter WMS and be more likely to match the width of your Taco rear to boot. [MENTION=92049]LandCruiser[/MENTION] and [MENTION=102597]IBallEngineer[/MENTION] are Cruiserheads, maybe they know? If not, Google is your friend. 
Keep in mind what you find on Car-Part is likely to be bare housings. You will also need shafts, birfs, hubs, knuckles, steering components, a different steering box for your truck, and a 9" third.
Keep in mind what you find on Car-Part is likely to be bare housings. You will also need shafts, birfs, hubs, knuckles, steering components, a different steering box for your truck, and a 9" third.
True. This is for a 1985 Runner, not Taco. I have access to fabrication work. I just want to make sure that it isn't going to be overkill. I plan to do a diesel swap in the near future, (om617.952) so I want to make sure I have the beefiest setup possible so to speak, without spending an absolute fortune (which is hard in this hobby lol)Pretty sure every 80 series is going to be passenger drop. Might be the same for 60 and 40 series too, and come to think of it they might have shorter WMS and be more likely to match the width of your Taco rear to boot. [MENTION=92049]LandCruiser[/MENTION] and [MENTION=102597]IBallEngineer[/MENTION] are Cruiserheads, maybe they know? If not, Google is your friend.
Keep in mind what you find on Car-Part is likely to be bare housings. You will also need shafts, birfs, hubs, knuckles, steering components, a different steering box for your truck, and a 9" third.
IBallEngineer
New member
Pretty sure every 80 series is going to be passenger drop. Might be the same for 60 and 40 series too, and come to think of it they might have shorter WMS and be more likely to match the width of your Taco rear to boot. [MENTION=92049]LandCruiser[/MENTION] and [MENTION=102597]IBallEngineer[/MENTION] are Cruiserheads, maybe they know? If not, Google is your friend.
Keep in mind what you find on Car-Part is likely to be bare housings. You will also need shafts, birfs, hubs, knuckles, steering components, a different steering box for your truck, and a 9" third.
Yes all LandCruisers up to 97 are passenger drop. The 60/62 front axle is 3" narrower than the 80, but there is also one HUGE difference. The 80 accepts the mini truck 3rd member and is a high pinion. The earlier (pre90) does not use the same 3rd member, it is a mirror of the 9-1/4 rear, and is not available as a high pinion. Also the earlier axles had :toilet: for brakes.
I have to agree that although the 80 series could be made to work, the custom housing might be a better route.
EDIT: By the way, all 80 series came with 4:10 ratio
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KidVermicious
New member
The 80 front is an 8" center? That and the 4.10 make his swap a little doable. Cool beans.
Thanks for the tips! So with that being said, I need to find 90-97 FJ-80 Axles to use for this?
IBallEngineer
New member
Are you going Coil overs or Leafs? The steering arms on the 80 don't play well with leafs!
opcorn:I feel like I am going to be better off just getting an elocker and retro-fitting it to my current 85 rear axle. Would like to do same setup on front eventually. But rear is most important right now.Are you going Coil overs or Leafs? The steering arms on the 80 don't play well with leafs!
danthemanx07
New member
You should be able to find lots of threads on this in the 3rd gen section. Pretty commonly done on them.
Yes I know the retrofit info is, I just want to know if axle length is same or if 3rd gen is longer.
danthemanx07
New member
Good deal. Make a thread when you do the work if you can. I will be doing the same in the future I imagine.
nevada
Senior Member
what tire size do you plan on using?
if you have to go through the expense and fab work to fit a different, larger axle, you might want to think about jumping straight to a dana 60.
then, you could use that complete Tacoma rear housing. you will have the strength, and width.
I want to run at least 37s. Actually that's probably exactly what I want to run. I am going to try and avoid swapping axles and make the ones I have work. I first need to locate an elocker. I don't think it's too bad to make it work with my axles. But I thought if I could find axles to interchange it would just save some work. But looks like that may be more work in the long run.
KidVermicious
New member
You'll need a grip of backspace on your wheels to run 37s on stock axles, or you'll rub frame every time you stuff, and that much tire with that much backspace is asking for breakage on a stock 8" axle - bent housings, broken birfs and axle shafts, busted knuckles, etc. If you're opening your build with 37s, the suggestion to go straight to one ton axles is a very good one.
ajordan1975
New member
run the Taco rear and get 1.5" spacers for the front. you'll be fine. the taco rear is only about 3" wider than the stock 85