Cyberman

You don't need the axles to match the gear ratio. Not trying to confuse. I was saying that you got lucky in finding a diff with the right ratio, and to find one with the shafts already on might be a problem.

You can pull the CVs, the front driveshaft and the diff off the truck and still drive it.
The snap rings go on the inside of the shafts.

PM sent.

XtremeRevolution

Thanks for the help! I did get pretty lucky, I will admit. I went to car-part.com and searched for my specific engine, without ADD, and with the 4.56 gearing, and the cheapest place happened to be the closest place.

I'll have this thing running in no time! I greased up the steering bump stops today to resolve that issue, so all I have to do now is fix the differential, change out the rear diff fluid (who knows when, if ever, it was changed), replace that radiator, and then get to work on the interior.

The fan speed switch went bad on a previous owner, so he wired the fan speed up to the dimmer knob, so I now control the fan speed using the dimmer knob. I'd like to get a new switch and wire it back up the way it is supposed to be wired.

But...one problem at a time. I'll try to pull the diff this week to see if the shaft is still usable. Maybe I'll get lucky.

RJR

(Edit: Sorry, we overlapped on posts.)

You're correct in that the side shafts have nothing to do with the gear ratio. I think what Cyberman meant is that finding another differential with the side shafts that has the right gear ratio might be difficult. I'm not sure of that difficulty, actually. The 4.556 ratio was standard for any 1992-95 V6 4runner with manual transmission and dealer-installed 31-inch tires, which was a fairly common configuration.

You don't need a slide hammer to remove the side shafts - a couple of big screwdrivers or pry-bars will get it done, and a big hammer with a block of wood will reinstall them. Here's a good write-up of how to dismantle and overhaul an IFS differential.
http://www.gearinstalls.com/rickdiaz.htm

Mr. Zuk really knows what he's doing - his www.gearinstalls.com website is a must for anyone contemplating doing their own differential work.

XtremeRevolution

So the side shafts basically fit like the CV shafts on my other cars used to. You'd need a pry bar and some strength and they'd pop right out, and they'd snap right back in.

I ordered the side shaft I needed from a guy on ebay for $40 shipped to my door. He was selling a front differential for another toyota truck and listed his phone number saying to call him if anyone wants any other diff parts, so I called him and told him what I wanted and clarified to make sure he understood and apparently he had the part, so it should be here this week, as should the radiator I ordered. I'll have a good running truck in no time!

RJR

That's pretty much it. I just had mine out this spring installing an Aussie locker, and it was pretty straightforward.

XtremeRevolution

Is it absolutely necessary to replace the snap ring? I never did when I pulled a CV shaft...

RJR

I didn't replace them when I had mine apart. Didn't seem like any good reason to do so. I don't think the act of removing the shaft deforms the ring any more than reinstalling would do to a new one.

XtremeRevolution

Alright, the last question I had then was the fluid. I want to change the rear diff fluid as well since I don't know if it has ever been changed. Does anyone have any recommendations that I can find on a store shelf at a local parts store?

Locally, I have AutoZone, Advance Auto, and NAPA.

RJR

I use Coastal 85W-140 GL-5 from Autozone. I don't think the Toyota diffs are too fussy about fluid as long as it's the right grade and weight and decent quality.

Cyberman

Might as well change the oil in the transfer case as well.