Trail_Banger

Hey Yota heads!

I have a general question for the group. What if I found a wrecked Taco (either 4x4 or Pre-Runner with an E-locker) and thought I could rip out my stock open diff rear axle and replace it with the one from the Taco? Would that work with minor mods do you think?

Just to be clear, I have an 89 4x4 truck V6 and 5-speed with an open rear diff and I am thinking about a Tacoma rear axle E-locker swap.

I know this is NOT a direct replacement and I'd have to match up the gears to my front diff, probably relocate shock and spring mounts etc. But I know what I don't know. What am I not thinking about? Are for example, Taco axles wider? Would that put my rear tires way far outward?

I curious if anyone out there has done this or know if that can be done or not.

Thanks!

JB

AxleIke

They are wider. You have a 58.5" rear 59" front now, the taco rear is 60.

You would want wheel spacers.

You would have to shave the axle clean and weld on new perches.

Not that hard, but why bother? With minor welding (much less than hanging the taco axle), you can just put the taco diff into your housing. There are a million people who've done just that. Its well documented.

Trail_Banger

Don't you have to grind/shave the housing for the locker unit to fit? I know I can look it up but I am lazy...and you are writing to me. :-)

Thanks dude.

JB

AxleIke

Yes you do. you have to make a notch for the motor to fit, and build up the flange next to the locker a little bit. Takes a couple hours.

But it is FAR less work than trying to make the taco axle fit into your truck, and you don't have to run wheel spacers.

Tacoclimber

Plus, it just sounds cooler when you tell people that you retrofitted the Taco diff into your factory housing, instead of just saying that you swapped axles.

As far as tech goes, Ike's on the money.

I helped swap out a rear axle once and it would have been much simpler to retrofit the diff. However, in that case, the guy was going fully long travel though, and swapping the axle was not nearly the most complicated thing he was doing.

ugeazzbass

i put an e locker in the front of my runner, just had to grind housing.
also had to ad a stud or 2.

Trail_Banger

Dewds!

Thanks for talking me down! I guess there ain't no easier way to do it. I wished I knew someone here local to me that's done it before. It's good insurance to have some experience around when you have your axles split and you're going...huh, how do I (X)....at some place during the install. The person with experience can save you some time!

Anyway, again thanks for your input. Open diffs blow and I need some better traction. I guess I need to get the grinder out.

Oh yeah...one last thing...I am pretty sure I have the 4.56 gears but how can you be sure? It's not stamped on the diff anywhere is it? Can you decipher it from your VIN or something else?

Later....