E-locker to Manual locker 4runner

Gato Richy · 02-01-2006, 11:43 AM

I got tired of the e-locker from 4runner axles. They get stuck or they dont get lock, so I decided to convert them manual.

Anyone knows where can I get a convertion kit?

Thanks

RB

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Silver_Truck · 02-01-2006, 11:50 AM

http://www.downeyoff-road.com/Chassi...ents/index.htm
click on lockers & limited slips then scroll to the very bottom

Mr. Bob · 02-01-2006, 09:12 PM

Hmmmm.... thats good to know

ecchamberlin · 02-01-2006, 09:18 PM

That manual locker kit seems like the way to go if retrofitting a factory locker on a Runner/Taco that didn't come with one. Save huge time and complex wiring.

Gato Richy · 02-02-2006, 09:28 AM

First you have to be patient to calibrate the e-locker. There is a pain in the as... follow through indications to do it. Besides, there is always a mess with cables. And last, it seems the guys who have them, always complain about it. Solution 1, dye with them or solution 2, go manual (I like the last one)

Thanks for the tip, Silver Truck

Mr. Bob · 02-03-2006, 02:26 PM

I wired a Toy Elocker into a 1st gen runner... we had no harness, no computer, nothing.... It was not all that bad to do once I figured out exactly how the system works, but I ended up using 4 relays and a million wires to do it. I think if I had known this kit was out there I would have gone that route forsure....

JHupp · 02-04-2006, 06:12 AM

I remeber a link to a store that allowed you to bypass the computer and wire it up as a normal switch, I don;t remember the link, but I hope that helps.

onesojourner · 09-04-2007, 10:04 AM

I bringing this back to the top. does any one know if this will work to retrofit a locker into the rear diff on a 96-02 4runner? I am all for keeping it simple and this seems like it could be just the ticket.

I guess I just want to know if any one has used the kit.

Kaleb · 09-04-2007, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onesojourner

I bringing this back to the top. does any one know if this will work to retrofit a locker into the rear diff on a 96-02 4runner? I am all for keeping it simple and this seems like it could be just the ticket.

I guess I just want to know if any one has used the kit.

You want to put a elocker diff into a 96-02 runner that didn't have the elocker from the factory?

If this is true then you need to get an entire rear axle from a trd tacoma or 4runner that had the elocker. This is because the elocker third members use 8" ring gears. The non elocker third members from 96-02 tacomas and 4runners use an 8.4" ring gear.

Trumpfan · 09-04-2007, 10:40 AM

Inchworm has the harness and everything you need to do the conversion.

I ended up using their harness and the wiring was relatively painless.

onesojourner · 09-04-2007, 12:06 PM

guess I should have done a little more research. sounds like arb with a powertank is the way to go.

nc994run · 09-04-2007, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kaleb

You want to put a elocker diff into a 96-02 runner that didn't have the elocker from the factory?

If this is true then you need to get an entire rear axle from a trd tacoma or 4runner that had the elocker. This is because the elocker third members use 8" ring gears. The non elocker third members from 96-02 tacomas and 4runners use an 8.4" ring gear.

96-02 4Runners have 8" housings, Non-TRD Taco's have 8.4" housings.
I recently retrofitted an e-locker 3rd member into my stock non-locked axle. Granted that it is a bit of work to notch the housing to clear the e-locker motor, but it was worth the cost difference between getting just the third or the whole axle. I also got most of the wiring harness and it was fairly simple to wire. My RR Diff Lock switch lights up when the locker is engaged also. There is a write-up on how to do the retrofit which you should read before making a decision.

onesojourner · 09-04-2007, 01:04 PM

I read through the process on sonorar(sp?) steels website. I thought I had just missed something about 8 vs 8.4. oh well its down the road any ways.

nc994run · 09-04-2007, 04:22 PM

You can retro fit it into your stock 4Runner axle as per the Sonoran Steel write-up, however, it its much easier and less work to get the whole axle and swap that out (as long as it's from a 4Runner, a Taco would have mounts on the axle for leaf springs). It may cost more, but having done it, it's worth spending the extra money. Now as far as the cable conversion goes, I have had no problems with the electrical portion of the locker, but I have had it for a relatively short time (3 months) and i got the Locker ECU and most of the wiring for free when i bought the 3rd member. If you could get the ECU and wiring for little to no cost, I would go that route. Otherwise, I hate electrical work and would go with the cable kit (and will if my electrical setup would ever fail).

wormhole · 09-04-2007, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nc994run

You can retro fit it into your stock 4Runner axle as per the Sonoran Steel write-up, however, it its much easier and less work to get the whole axle and swap that out (as long as it's from a 4Runner, a Taco would have mounts on the axle for leaf springs). It may cost more, but having done it, it's worth spending the extra money. Now as far as the cable conversion goes, I have had no problems with the electrical portion of the locker, but I have had it for a relatively short time (3 months) and i got the Locker ECU and most of the wiring for free when i bought the 3rd member. If you could get the ECU and wiring for little to no cost, I would go that route. Otherwise, I hate electrical work and would go with the cable kit (and will if my electrical setup would ever fail).

Check around at local salvage yards for an elocked rear end. I stumbled across one axle and all (now sitting in the my parnets garage). For a very good price inlcuding most of the wiring. I don't have the ecu as mentioned above for it but I'll be running the inchworm harness w/ the realy to run the factory switch.
Just do some searching around. I've found that if you do some searching you can find the whole axle for cheaper than the third member by itself.

Victor · 09-04-2007, 05:23 PM

I don't have one but at Pirate the Downey cable is notorious for not working properly. I say keep it and work out the wiring issues. You already modified your housing to fit it now make it work right.

Gato Richy · 09-05-2007, 08:37 AM

I own a toy pickup that didn't come with lockers. I swapped to 4runner diff with OEM elockers. After calibrate the 4runner elocker position I haven't got any trouble with'em so far ('bout a year). If you don?t calibrate (that is set the motor at the right position) you won't ever have elocker working right. I don't use the computer neither OEM harness. I made my own and it's quit simple (I have basic basic electric knowledge) . Some guys add a resistor to make the connection smother I don?t. That calibration I'm talking about is in the manual service and it uses a 1,5 volts battery.

97Limited · 09-05-2007, 10:28 AM

I just want to know Has anyone gone with the Downey Cable??

The last trip I went on, my E-Locker did not engage, was wondering if anyone else has had this problem??? And if there is any quick tests to find out the problem??

ADH8796 · 09-05-2007, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 97Limited

I just want to know Has anyone gone with the Downey Cable??

The last trip I went on, my E-Locker did not engage, was wondering if anyone else has had this problem??? And if there is any quick tests to find out the problem??

I used the Downey Cable on my last rig and I hated it with a passion at first but when I figured out how to use it I loved it no worries about it not locking in because of Air (ARB) or Electric problems. The hardest thing for me was to figure out where to mount the handle for the cable locker.

I had that problem and I hate wiring. And no it doesn't seem to be real easy to find out why it's not working most of the time. Good luck.

97Limited · 09-05-2007, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ADH8796

I used the Downey Cable on my last rig and I hated it with a passion at first but when I figured out how to use it I loved it no worries about it not locking in because of Air (ARB) or Electric problems. The hardest thing for me was to figure out where to mount the handle for the cable locker.

I had that problem and I hate wiring. And no it doesn't seem to be real easy to find out why it's not working most of the time. Good luck.

Thanks for the quick response!!

Is there anywhere I can look to see pics of how this kit installs??

ADH8796 · 09-05-2007, 01:26 PM

http://members.cox.net/vavp/trdconversion.htm
This is the best install pics I could find but as you can see this is the old cable locker lever the new one is more advanced

http://www.downeyoff-road.com/Chassi...s/Lockers.html
They have updated their locker calbe and it looks much better than the last in my opinion.

fastkevman · 09-05-2007, 01:35 PM

I had a '98 Taco with a factory installed e-locker, as I remember it sometimes pissed me off that it engaged slowly(light blinks until its locked and is steady when its engaged).
If you have some type of backyard engineering switching it on and off I would assume that it may be possible to be slower to engage.
As a matter of fact there was one time that it would not lock at all, just kept blinking while on a trail ride with PA-TTORA, after we stopped for lunch, it engaged, don't know why.

97Limited · 09-05-2007, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ADH8796

http://members.cox.net/vavp/trdconversion.htm
This is the best install pics I could find but as you can see this is the old cable locker lever the new one is more advanced

http://www.downeyoff-road.com/Chassi...s/Lockers.html
They have updated their locker calbe and it looks much better than the last in my opinion.

Thanks again!

Perfect just needed a little bit of a visual!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by fastkevman

I had a '98 Taco with a factory installed e-locker, as I remember it sometimes pissed me off that it engaged slowly(light blinks until its locked and is steady when its engaged).
If you have some type of backyard engineering switching it on and off I would assume that it may be possible to be slower to engage.
As a matter of fact there was one time that it would not lock at all, just kept blinking while on a trail ride with PA-TTORA, after we stopped for lunch, it engaged, don't know why.

Yeah my last trip was like that, just would not engage...

Gato Richy · 09-06-2007, 06:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 97Limited

I just want to know Has anyone gone with the Downey Cable??

The last trip I went on, my E-Locker did not engage, was wondering if anyone else has had this problem??? And if there is any quick tests to find out the problem??

try connecting the elocker directly to a battery. Get under the truck, unplug the big plug just beside the locker and make a bridge between the ends. If your locker moves, the problem is the harness.

02-01-2006, 11:50 AM	#2 (permalink)
Silver_Truck Contributing Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: B'ham, WA Posts: 1,800	http://www.downeyoff-road.com/Chassi...ents/index.htm click on lockers & limited slips then scroll to the very bottom __________________ -Geoff *1991 Toyota Pickup Ext. Cab SR5 4x4 V6 5 spd K&N intake, port & polished heads with OS valves, port & polished intake manifold and plenum, NWOR headers and crossover, NWOR catback, Denso Iridium plugs, Redline Fluids, 4.88s, Rear LockRight, Aisin hubs, Chevy springs, BJ spacers, 2" RB body lift, 34x10.5 Swamper LTBs, WolphisWorks Sliders and bumpers, 400,000 mi.

02-01-2006, 09:12 PM	#3 (permalink)
Mr. Bob Contributing Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Vancouver BC Posts: 402	Hmmmm.... thats good to know __________________ 97 Stellar Blue Pearl 4Runner, 3.4L 5 Speed, Elocker, OEM Lift, 285/75/R16 Cooper Discoverer STTs on FZJ-80 rims, TRD clutch, TRD Headers, Borla cat back exhaust, Deck plate and ISR mods. mods waiting for truck: FJ40 logo for satoshi mod "Amber" corner lenses Hilux Surf emblem

02-01-2006, 09:18 PM	#4 (permalink)
ecchamberlin Contributing Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 1,917	That manual locker kit seems like the way to go if retrofitting a factory locker on a Runner/Taco that didn't come with one. Save huge time and complex wiring. __________________ Eric 2001 4Runner with stuff: http://www.ultimateyota.com/index.ph...6&topic=1098.0

02-02-2006, 09:28 AM	#5 (permalink)
Gato Richy Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Chillan, Chile Posts: 9	First you have to be patient to calibrate the e-locker. There is a pain in the as... follow through indications to do it. Besides, there is always a mess with cables. And last, it seems the guys who have them, always complain about it. Solution 1, dye with them or solution 2, go manual (I like the last one) Thanks for the tip, Silver Truck __________________ I eat V8's for breakfast ガトリクhイ Toyota Hilux Supra O.F.R.T. (Official Ford Recovery Truck and powered by Ford also)

02-03-2006, 02:26 PM	#6 (permalink)
Mr. Bob Contributing Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Vancouver BC Posts: 402	I wired a Toy Elocker into a 1st gen runner... we had no harness, no computer, nothing.... It was not all that bad to do once I figured out exactly how the system works, but I ended up using 4 relays and a million wires to do it. I think if I had known this kit was out there I would have gone that route forsure.... __________________ 97 Stellar Blue Pearl 4Runner, 3.4L 5 Speed, Elocker, OEM Lift, 285/75/R16 Cooper Discoverer STTs on FZJ-80 rims, TRD clutch, TRD Headers, Borla cat back exhaust, Deck plate and ISR mods. mods waiting for truck: FJ40 logo for satoshi mod "Amber" corner lenses Hilux Surf emblem

02-04-2006, 06:12 AM	#7 (permalink)
JHupp Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: New Jersey Posts: 1,159	I remeber a link to a store that allowed you to bypass the computer and wire it up as a normal switch, I don;t remember the link, but I hope that helps. __________________ Jason '06 F250 Super Duty Daily Driver '01 Toyota 4Runner Sport 265/75/16 BFG ATs, OME 881s w/ spacers front, OME 891s rear, SS roll bar, and some other stuff. Out of Commision njttora.com

09-04-2007, 10:04 AM	#8 (permalink)
onesojourner Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Springfield, mo Posts: 153	I bringing this back to the top. does any one know if this will work to retrofit a locker into the rear diff on a 96-02 4runner? I am all for keeping it simple and this seems like it could be just the ticket. I guess I just want to know if any one has used the kit.

09-04-2007, 10:40 AM	#10 (permalink)
Trumpfan Contributing Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Edmonton, Canada Posts: 344	Inchworm has the harness and everything you need to do the conversion. I ended up using their harness and the wiring was relatively painless. __________________ Dave 86 22RTE 4x4 with a bunch of stuff. Thoughly empty wallet. "You have enemies? Good. That means you have stood up for something, sometime in your life." -Sir Winston Churchill

09-04-2007, 12:06 PM	#11 (permalink)
onesojourner Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Springfield, mo Posts: 153	guess I should have done a little more research. sounds like arb with a powertank is the way to go.

09-04-2007, 01:04 PM	#13 (permalink)
onesojourner Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Springfield, mo Posts: 153	I read through the process on sonorar(sp?) steels website. I thought I had just missed something about 8 vs 8.4. oh well its down the road any ways.

09-04-2007, 04:22 PM	#14 (permalink)
nc994run Contributing Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: blacksburg,va for school chapel hill, nc for home Posts: 971	You can retro fit it into your stock 4Runner axle as per the Sonoran Steel write-up, however, it its much easier and less work to get the whole axle and swap that out (as long as it's from a 4Runner, a Taco would have mounts on the axle for leaf springs). It may cost more, but having done it, it's worth spending the extra money. Now as far as the cable conversion goes, I have had no problems with the electrical portion of the locker, but I have had it for a relatively short time (3 months) and i got the Locker ECU and most of the wiring for free when i bought the 3rd member. If you could get the ECU and wiring for little to no cost, I would go that route. Otherwise, I hate electrical work and would go with the cable kit (and will if my electrical setup would ever fail). __________________ Rob 1999 4Runner Limited 4x4, retrofitted e-locker/ ARB front locker with 4.88 Precision Gears, Tundra/LC lift, 2" 4Crawler BL, Nitto Mud Grappler 35's on 16x8, Marlin sliders, TJM T-15, Warn M8000 w/ synthetic line, Mad Mike's custom rear Bumper, deckplate and ISR mods, Vortex Muffler, custom made tube doors pictures here I support Banned Neliconcept

09-04-2007, 05:23 PM	#16 (permalink)
Victor Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: El Paso, TX Posts: 1,711	I don't have one but at Pirate the Downey cable is notorious for not working properly. I say keep it and work out the wiring issues. You already modified your housing to fit it now make it work right. __________________ "Turtle" - Green 94 4Runner Looks like one and about as fast JDM altimeter/clinometer, 2002 Sport wheels, 265/75r16 MT/R, , OME stabilizer, BJ Spacers, Cruiser Coils, removed sway bars, rattle can paint for all that peeling clearcoat! Lockright front and rear.

09-05-2007, 08:37 AM	#17 (permalink)
Gato Richy Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Chillan, Chile Posts: 9	I own a toy pickup that didn't come with lockers. I swapped to 4runner diff with OEM elockers. After calibrate the 4runner elocker position I haven't got any trouble with'em so far ('bout a year). If you don?t calibrate (that is set the motor at the right position) you won't ever have elocker working right. I don't use the computer neither OEM harness. I made my own and it's quit simple (I have basic basic electric knowledge) . Some guys add a resistor to make the connection smother I don?t. That calibration I'm talking about is in the manual service and it uses a 1,5 volts battery. __________________ I eat V8's for breakfast ガトリクhイ Toyota Hilux Supra O.F.R.T. (Official Ford Recovery Truck and powered by Ford also) Last edited by Gato Richy; 09-05-2007 at 08:50 AM.

09-05-2007, 10:28 AM	#18 (permalink)
97Limited Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Posts: 541	I just want to know Has anyone gone with the Downey Cable?? The last trip I went on, my E-Locker did not engage, was wondering if anyone else has had this problem??? And if there is any quick tests to find out the problem?? __________________ 1997 4Runner Limited; 3.4L 4WD; Rear E-Locker; OEM/Sonoran Steel 3.5" Lift; ARB Tacoma BullBar w/ 525 PIAA Dual-Beam Lights; Alpine/JL Audio; CompuStar; TRD Headers w/ Magnaflow custom dual exhaust; 305/70 XTerrains on Blacked-out A/R wheels; Tundra Brakes; 4" Deckplate mod w/ TRD filter; ISR mod; Yellow Top Optima w/ custom tie down; Custom grille inserts; JDM Black headlights w/ 6000k HID's; Extended diff breathers PICS> ::97 4Runner Site::

09-05-2007, 01:26 PM	#21 (permalink)
ADH8796 Contributing Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Fayetteville, AR Posts: 1,072	http://members.cox.net/vavp/trdconversion.htm This is the best install pics I could find but as you can see this is the old cable locker lever the new one is more advanced http://www.downeyoff-road.com/Chassi...s/Lockers.html They have updated their locker calbe and it looks much better than the last in my opinion. __________________ SOLDBlack '99 4Runner Highlander Edition SOLD '98 4Runner Limited Edition

09-05-2007, 01:35 PM	#22 (permalink)
fastkevman Registered User Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 708	I had a '98 Taco with a factory installed e-locker, as I remember it sometimes pissed me off that it engaged slowly(light blinks until its locked and is steady when its engaged). If you have some type of backyard engineering switching it on and off I would assume that it may be possible to be slower to engage. As a matter of fact there was one time that it would not lock at all, just kept blinking while on a trail ride with PA-TTORA, after we stopped for lunch, it engaged, don't know why.

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