Rear E-Locker Differential Swap...

surf185

surf185

New member
Determining the potential possibility of swapping out a standard rear differential to a rear differential with an E-Locker. Does anyone know if this may work or not. Thanks.
 
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AF808fighter said:
Why not just get an ARB air locker....seems easier.
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I've been looking at retrofitting the rear elocker sometime soon here. From what I've found the ARB route is a little more expensive. The up side to the ARB route however, is that once you set up the rear then locking the front is easier. You also then have pump for airing up tires and making balloon animals.

Personally I like the more clean, stock look of the e locker, switch, etc. Saving money isn't so bad either.
 
I plan of just swapping out the entire rear axle from a 4Runner that had an E-locker axle.

And thank you guys for your outstanding research and write-ups! Very helpful!
 
SCRunner12 said:
Here is an ad for an entire axel with the e locker. It might be something to look into.
TRD E locker
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Only problem with that axle is that it is a truck axle. You would have to cut the perches off and weld on the towers and brackets for our rear 4 link with panhard. it would be easier to retrofit your current axle. keep looking though they are out there. I just picked up a FJ cruiser axle with elocker in exchange for my stock wheels and tires. Family deal so don't hate me:whipping2
 
LINY, and others,

Where are you finding the e-lockers to retrofit? Would like to get one to put on my truck, but haven't had any luck finding one. (Haven't searched that hard either truth be told!)
 
The FJ Cruisers have a Service Bulletin out on their ELD's where the backlash was set incorrectly, causing them to whine after about 10k miles. Toyota dealerships replace them under warranty, but it costs too much to ship, so Toyota doesn't normally call them back. Dealerships usually end up selling them off to the scrap guy for a few bucks, but my buddy Mike (Toyota Tech) called dibs on a pair of them...one for his Runner and one for mine.
Granted, this is out of the realm of anyone who doesn't know someone in parts or service at a Toyota dealership, but this is how I got mine. Maybe try and establish a relationship with the parts manager at your local dealership and see if you can throw him a few bucks to call you before he calls the scrap guy.
 
Fireball said:
LINY, and others,

Where are you finding the e-lockers to retrofit? Would like to get one to put on my truck, but haven't had any luck finding one. (Haven't searched that hard either truth be told!)
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I have found 3 in the last couple of months on craigslist here in arizona. they are out there just gotta be diligent.

LINY4Runner said:
The FJ Cruisers have a Service Bulletin out on their ELD's where the backlash was set incorrectly, causing them to whine after about 10k miles. Toyota dealerships replace them under warranty, but it costs too much to ship, so Toyota doesn't normally call them back. Dealerships usually end up selling them off to the scrap guy for a few bucks, but my buddy Mike (Toyota Tech) called dibs on a pair of them...one for his Runner and one for mine.
Granted, this is out of the realm of anyone who doesn't know someone in parts or service at a Toyota dealership, but this is how I got mine. Maybe try and establish a relationship with the parts manager at your local dealership and see if you can throw him a few bucks to call you before he calls the scrap guy.
Click to expand...

the backlash problem is really no problem for us since we have to re-gear them to match whatever you are running in the front. Since as far as I can tell FJ Cruisers only came with 3.90's or 4.30's. they use a standard v6 gear set as far as I can tell. So if you are running 4.10's use the gears from your rear 3rd to set up the elocker or pick up a gear set and set them up yourself or have it done. I look forward to having a rear axle that is 65 inches wide:guitar3:
 
Rockdawg84 said:
the backlash problem is really no problem for us since we have to re-gear them to match whatever you are running in the front. Since as far as I can tell FJ Cruisers only came with 3.90's or 4.30's. they use a standard v6 gear set as far as I can tell. So if you are running 4.10's use the gears from your rear 3rd to set up the elocker or pick up a gear set and set them up yourself or have it done. I look forward to having a rear axle that is 65 inches wide:guitar3:
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yeah mine is regeared with 4.88's now anyways...:guitar3:
 
I just picked one up last week at my job (ford dealership), a tacoma got t-boned in the driverside bed, came into our bodyshop and a tech replaced the whole rearend and helped me throw the bent rearend into the back of my runner. I don't plan on retrofitting my runner just searching for a whole new axle housing which isn't rusted to crap like mine.
 
Just to clarify, you can take the whole e-locker axle from a 4runner and just replace the non e-locker axle on another 4runner? Then wire it up and you're ready to go? No chopping, welding, grinding etc?

Also, am I correct in saying that the gear ratios must be the same front and rear? I've got 4.10's right now. If I got a locker that was a 4.30 then I would also have to change my front diff to a 4.30 as well. Correct?
 
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spongerx said:
Just to clarify, you can take the whole e-locker axle from a 4runner and just replace the non e-locker axle on another 4runner? Then wire it up and you're ready to go? No chopping, welding, grinding etc?

Also, am I correct in saying that the gear ratios must be the same front and rear? I've got 4.10's right now. If I got a locker that was a 4.30 then I would also have to change my front diff to a 4.30 as well. Correct?
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Yes and yes. Here are notes from my swap:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-g...ou-do-your-3rd-gen-today-165.html#post1191149
 
bit of an old thread, but I have a VERY specific answer that I'm looking for and haven't had any luck with a search.

For anyone who has swapped an FJ elocker into a 3rd gen, how much of a pain in the ass is it?? I may have come across a smoking deal on an FJ locker and my mind is whirling
 
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