Rear axle differences between early and late 3rd gens?

[thezentree]

If I only I had seen this earlier. I swapped a 98 axle in my 02, only changed out the rear brake lines on the axle. Everything else was plug and play, minus the locker harness, and a couple small brackets.

No big deal, I wanted to use my 01 axle shafts anyway since the 97s backing plates were trashed. I’ve got about 200 miles on this Frankenstein setup so far and it seems to be working just fine!

 

[STI_MECE]

I am in the middle of this same process as well. My 2000 4runner is leaking at the rear seals.

I pulled 2 x inner axle shafts from a 2002 4runner.

If I read this correctly, the wheel bearings, and seal that goes around the wheel bearing are, for lack of a better word, year specific (to a certain extent). In other words:

NOTICE THE BEARING HOUSING IS THE SAME PART NUMBER, BUT WHENEVER I WAS LOOKING AT THE PART NUMBER FOR 2002 IT ONY WHEN DOWN TO 2001. AND WHEN I SEARCHED 2000 IT ONLY SHOWED FOR 1996-2000

1996-2000

• Wheel Bearing: 90363-40020-77
• Axle Shaft Outer Oil Seal: 90313-48001
• *Wheel Bearing Housing: 42421-35030 (or not needed at all)

2001-2002

• Wheel Bearing: 90363-40068
• Axle Shaft Outer Oil Seal: 90313-54001
• *Wheel Bearing Housing: 42421-35050 (or not needed at all)

1996-2002

• *Bearing Retainer: 42423-20010
• *Snap Rings for Retainers: 90520-36045
• Inner Axle Oil Seal: 90310-50006
• Bearing O-Ring: 90301-88077

The ones marked with * are optional depending on how you go about this job.

In short, the parts that are year specific that interface with the outter most portion of the axle.

Hope this helps someone....Time for more partsss

 

[GG2000-4Runner]

I am in the middle of this same process as well. My 2000 4runner is leaking at the rear seals.

I pulled 2 x inner axle shafts from a 2002 4runner.

If I read this correctly, the wheel bearings, and seal that goes around the wheel bearing are, for lack of a better word, year specific (to a certain extent). In other words:

NOTICE THE BEARING HOUSING IS THE SAME PART NUMBER, BUT WHENEVER I WAS LOOKING AT THE PART NUMBER FOR 2002 IT ONY WHEN DOWN TO 2001. AND WHEN I SEARCHED 2000 IT ONLY SHOWED FOR 1996-2000

1996-2000

• Wheel Bearing: 90363-40020-77
• Axle Shaft Outer Oil Seal: 90313-48001
• *Wheel Bearing Housing: 42421-35030 (or not needed at all)

2001-2002

• Wheel Bearing: 90363-40068
• Axle Shaft Outer Oil Seal: 90313-54001
• *Wheel Bearing Housing: 42421-35050 (or not needed at all)

1996-2002

• *Bearing Retainer: 42423-20010
• *Snap Rings for Retainers: 90520-36045
• Inner Axle Oil Seal: 90310-50006
• Bearing O-Ring: 90301-88077

The ones marked with * are optional depending on how you go about this job.

In short, the parts that are year specific that interface with the outter most portion of the axle.

Hope this helps someone....Time for more partsss

Don't forget the different backing plates. There are a couple of differences, but the most important one is the hole for the adjuster. It is on the other side. I made a comparison table with images in this Google Doc: Rear axle-hub-and-brake assembly comparison - Google Docs.

By the way, production on the new axle and related parts started in 08/2000. Check your door sticker to see which month your 2000 was made to see if you have the old or new designs.

Also, another difference I haven't seen mentioned is the with the wheel lug studs. They changed the design slightly in 09/1999. I don't know if they are backwards compatible, but I don't see why not.