Searching for a new rearend?? Compatibility?

[daugherty83]

I have an 01 Limited 4x4, and according to my Id plate I have 4.10 gears. In searching for a rear end from a salvage yard, what year 4-Runners will work? I would assume any year from 1996-2002 would work as long as it has 4.10 gearing. Is this correct?? Thanks for any help. Also, anyone have any places they have dealt with buying used rear ends online. They are hard to find!!

 

[brian2sun]

Any '96-02 rear end will bolt up, but there were some changes to the ABS in '98 or '99 so I would probably look for '99+ ones. I'm not sure if they're compatible, but you may be taking a chance with '96-98 axles in your '01. The ABS might not jive with your computer.

I would never trust an online gear ratio chart personally and if you get the wrong ratio, it will cost you hundreds to match the front. I found 3 different ratios for my 4runner in 5 minutes online. The best way in your case (unless your axle still functions) is to remove your 3rd and divide the # of teeth on the ring gear by the # of teeth on the pinion gear.

Now is the best time to regear if you were ever thinking about it. Then you won't have to find one that matches your current ratio. What's wrong with your rear axle anyways? If the problem is with the diff, you may just consider ordering new 3rd members from ECGS pre setup with the ratio of your choice and/or lockers pre-installed. Then you just bolt them up and send them back your original 3rds for a core refund.

 

[daugherty83]

My rear axle assembly is rusting through. I searched around online and found quite a few people with late model 3rd gens who are having the same problem. It is really unreal, and the garage who first looked at it for me said they had never seen anything like it. I took it to a local welding shop to see if it was possible to do a temporary fix. He said it had to be bad casting or something if its rusting like that. The gear ratio ID # is A03A which is 4.10. I am hating having this 4Runner when it comes to finding things like this.

 

[brian2sun]

My rear axle assembly is rusting through. I searched around online and found quite a few people with late model 3rd gens who are having the same problem. It is really unreal, and the garage who first looked at it for me said they had never seen anything like it. I took it to a local welding shop to see if it was possible to do a temporary fix. He said it had to be bad casting or something if its rusting like that. The gear ratio ID # is A03A which is 4.10. I am hating having this 4Runner when it comes to finding things like this.

Well it sounds like you just need a new axle housing then. Unless your 3rd member is rusted out too, you can re-use that and not have to worry about matching gear ratios.

 

[Pikeman]

I agree new housing only from souns of things and just re-use all internals.

 

[daugherty83]

I agree a new housing would be fine. Then I need to pay someone to take out my rear end, remove my third member and axles, install third member and axles into new axle and then install assembly under my truck. By the time I pay for this labor, I can get a whole rear axle and have my old one removed and new one bolted in. And I cannot do any of this myself due to lack of time, tools, space, and the sheer pain of dealing with the underside of my truck which is very very rusty. Anyone have any leads on "just the housing". These things seem to be as rare as the whole assembly's.

 

[daugherty83]

Here's a link to a bunch of 2000 and 2001's that are having or have had the same problem. Toyota really needs to address this. Unfortunately, it seems they need to address some other things as well on these 3rd Gens. (Pink Milkshake, etc..) Really frustrating I recently saw a post here as well from someone whose housing was rusting through. I mean I understand NE winters are hard, but there are people whose trucks haven't a speck of rust on them and the rear housing is rusting through!