whats the difference with a 4cyl diff and a v6 diff

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4Runner_101

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whats the difference between a 4cyl rear diff and a v6 rear diff

trying to figure out what type of rear diff i have, its a 4cylinder 4runner but the gears i ordered for it are not fitting properly and was told it might be because i have a 6 cylinder diff. I counted the OEM teeth, the pinion has 10 and the ring has 41 so i assume that makes it a 4.10? is the v6 and 4cyl diff gear ratios different? anyway i can find out which one i have??
This is the issue i am having:
 
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The 4 cylinder and v6 diff have a few different ratios that are used. Most common is 4.10 but 3.90, 4.30, 4.56, and even 4.88's can also come in those diffs from the factory.
 
4Runner_101 said:
trying to figure out what type of rear diff i have, its a 4cylinder 4runner but the gears i ordered for it are not fitting properly and was told it might be because i have a 6 cylinder diff. I counted the OEM teeth, the pinion has 10 and the ring has 41 so i assume that makes it a 4.10? is the v6 and 4cyl diff gear ratios different? anyway i can find out which one i have??
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In the early-mid 80s, all the 4cyl trucks had the same rear diff. When the turbo 4cyl came out in '86, those trucks got an upgraded rear differential. They used that same upgraded rear diff in the trucks that got the 3.0 V6 starting in '88, and that split continued through the entire second generation of trucks, with 3VZE models getting a slightly beefier rear third than the 22RE models. In '96, when the 3rd generation 4Runner came out, they dropped the 4cyl diff. ALL 3rd generation 4Runners use the same diff, the "V6 diff" that the 3VZE 1st and 2nd gen trucks got.

How did you order your gears? Who did you order them from? Did you give them the make and model year of your truck, or did you specifically say "give me a set of Toyota 4cyl gears"? And did you just get gears, or did you order an install kit too? As far as I know (and I could be wrong), the ring and pinion are the same between the two diff styles, but the carriers are different and you need a different pinion bearing for the V6 carriers (yours is a V6 carrier).
 
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KidVermicious said:
In the early-mid 80s, all the 4cyl trucks had the same rear diff. When the turbo 4cyl came out in '86, those trucks got an upgraded rear differential. They used that same upgraded rear diff in the trucks that got the 3.0 V6 starting in '88, and that split continued through the entire second generation of trucks, with 3VZE models getting a slightly beefier rear third than the 22RE models. In '96, when the 3rd generation 4Runner came out, they dropped the 4cyl diff. ALL 3rd generation trucks use the same diff, the "V6 diff" that the 3VZE 1st and 2nd gen trucks got.

How did you order your gears? Who did you order them from? Did you give them the make and model year of your truck, or did you specifically say "give me a set of Toyota 4cyl gears"? And did you just get gears, or did you order an install kit too? As far as I know (and I could be wrong), the ring and pinion are the same between the two diff styles, but the carriers are different and you need a different pinion bearing for the V6 carriers (yours is a V6 carrier).
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I told them (Trail gear) its a 97 4runner and they asked if it was for a v6 or 4cyl being there different parts, so i told them its a 4cylinder. I didnt order an install kit from them, but last year i ordered a spool from a different shop and got the install kit from them. I tested it out with the gear paint, it lines up perfectly, only issue is that stupid pinion sticking out too far from the back
 
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Yup. Like everyone else has said, it's a V6 rear end from 96+. I'd bug the hell out of TG to make it right. Give East Coast Gear Supply a look in the future for gear/axle needs. I've spent countless dollars with them and have been beyond happy with the customer service and product knowledge.
 
KidVermicious said:
Read here: Pirate4x4.Com : 4x4 and Off-Road Forum - View Single Post - ATTN: All, you must read! Toy FAQ

I think FailGear sent you the wrong gears, their tech should have known that all 97 trucks had the V6 carrier. Now that you've installed them you're probably going to have to fight to get them to take them back, but considering the cost I'd give it a shot.
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i figured they did, i hope they dont give me a hard time considering i just spent a few G's with them

Appntr said:
Yup. Like everyone else has said, it's a V6 rear end from 96+. I'd bug the hell out of TG to make it right. Give East Coast Gear Supply a look in the future for gear/axle needs. I've spent countless dollars with them and have been beyond happy with the customer service and product knowledge.
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ive heard amazing things about ECG but im all the way in Canada, not a lot of knowledgeable shops here, ill see if they ship to Canada.

so basically i should be good after getting the v6 ring and pinion being that all 3rd gens have v6 carriers? i dont know how or why Trail Gear wouldnt know that
 
If TrailGear gives you a hard time, email ZUK at the gearinstalls.com page and check your options before you buy another set of gears. I'm using a V6 ring and pinion in my front 4cyl carrier, and all I needed was a different pinion bearing to get stuff to line up. ZUK might know the right bearing to use to put a 4cyl pinion in a V6 carrier?
 
KidVermicious said:
If TrailGear gives you a hard time, email ZUK at the gearinstalls.com page and check your options before you buy another set of gears. I'm using a V6 ring and pinion in my front 4cyl carrier, and all I needed was a different pinion bearing to get stuff to line up. ZUK might know the right bearing to use to put a 4cyl pinion in a V6 carrier?
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thanks a lot for you and everyones elses help, much appreciated
 
RTI said:
The 4 cylinder and v6 diff have a few different ratios that are used. Most common is 4.10 but 3.90, 4.30, 4.56, and even 4.88's can also come in those diffs from the factory.
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Not in a 3rd gen 4Runner.

The ratio options were: 3.73, 3.90, 4.10, 4.30, and 4.56

No 3rd gen 4Runner ever built came with a 4.88 gear ratio.
 
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RTI said:
Aware of that. Was speaking to the 4 cyl and V6 diffs in general.
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Fair enough. But when referencing 3rd gen 4Runners, there is no difference besides the ratios.

So to answer the OP's actual question; Other than the ratio, there is zero difference in the carriers between 4cyl and V6 in 96-02 4Runners

So it looks like they gave you 4cyl gears from a 79-95 Diff.
 
DeathCougar said:
Fair enough. But when referencing 3rd gen 4Runners, there is no difference besides the ratios.

So to answer the OP's actual question; Other than the ratio, there is zero difference in the carriers between 4cyl and V6 in 96-02 4Runners

So it looks like they gave you 4cyl gears from a 79-95 Diff.
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exactly right, 3rd gens all have the same carriers, confirmed it with east coast gears, they actually know there stuff....stupid trail gear, this has been such a hassle
 
DeathCougar said:
Fair enough. But when referencing 3rd gen 4Runners, there is no difference besides the ratios.

So to answer the OP's actual question; Other than the ratio, there is zero difference in the carriers between 4cyl and V6 in 96-02 4Runners

So it looks like they gave you 4cyl gears from a 79-95 Diff.
Click to expand...

Since there's tech going on here you can't use Tacoma rear diff either (8.4) unless you have a elocker runner and replace it with a elocker Tacoma third since they are the same.

And I want to say there is a way to stuff 4cyl gears in a v6 housing I'd have to search pirate but it was either done that way or the other way around.

And turbo diffs are a little different from what I remember something like the ring gear is v6 size but the pinion is 4cyl.
 
JamesDean91 said:
Since there's tech going on here you can't use Tacoma rear diff either (8.4) unless you have a elocker runner and replace it with a elocker Tacoma third since they are the same.

And I want to say there is a way to stuff 4cyl gears in a v6 housing I'd have to search pirate but it was either done that way or the other way around.

And turbo diffs are a little different from what I remember something like the ring gear is v6 size but the pinion is 4cyl.
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I had the diff fully assembled with the 4cyl gears and they fit perfectly beside the back end of the pinion sticking out too far. i guess it would work if you cut 1/4 inch off the back of the pinion or halo out the inside of the drive shaft so it sits flush. But i think its much easier to just NOT order from Trail Gear and get the proper ring and pinion. They didnt even apologize at ALL and were kinda doochy about the whole situation, stupid goofs, all the shops in Canada are pretty much like this
 
JamesDean91 said:
Since there's tech going on here you can't use Tacoma rear diff either (8.4) unless you have a elocker runner and replace it with a elocker Tacoma third since they are the same.

And I want to say there is a way to stuff 4cyl gears in a v6 housing I'd have to search pirate but it was either done that way or the other way around.
Click to expand...

The link is upthread. I think the OP just needs a particular pinion bearing. ZUK would know.
 
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