Hey everybody, I was hoping someone might be able to give some guiding advice and save me some time. 85' 4runner solid axle efi (rust bucket) Rear Drum assembly rusted beyond use. Would like to purchase whole axle and rear drum assebly so I dont have to mess with pressing bearings. Some guy here in town is saying that the assemblies off an 87-88 4runner will NOT work on an 85'. Something about 3'' narrower? Never heard of this thought they were all similar in 1st gen. runners? All help is appreciated.

 

86-95 axle 3" wider than 79-85
Drum brakes are a LOT bigger on 86-95

:wabbit2:

 

Axle will fit fine, it is wider, but that is good. Many folks with '84/5 trucks upgrade to the '86+ rear axles. I swapped mine out about 2.5 years ago:
- http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/CheapTri...html#DiskBrake



Be sure to get the brake lines on the axle as well as the e-brake cables as those are longer as well.

 

Ah I see. Thank you guys for the quick replies much appreciated. So will a complete rear end out of a 1990 Bolt right on this 85'? Spring perchs are located the same distance?

 

A 1990 what? Pickup, yes/maybe, 4Runner no (coil springs)

Only potential gotcha on the 3rd gen pickup rear axles is that some have the funky uber-wide spring perches and the rubber lined clamp around the leaves. Spacing is all the same, but you'll need the u-bolts and spring plates from that vehicle it is has that type of wide perch since the ones you have won't fit around the perch.

 

Yes its a 4runner. I thought the new ones are coil spring wasnt sure. Just a cheap 90' 4runner on craigslist. Got my work cut out for me. People before me did all new brake lines (hard & soft) but didnt do anything to the rusted rear end and the whole assembly is just flaking chunks of metal so trying to figure some alternatives because I really dont want to run these nasty things. Thanks again.

 

Will the third member off the 85' work in the housing 86' n up? I was also told the splines are different.
Hey 4crawler hows that sway bar on the rear workin out for you?

 

They fit right in, same bolt pattern same splines. You might also try http://www.car-part.com/ to see if you can locate some '85 or earlier rear axle shaft/brake assemblies for sale. I used to have a whole boat load of those, but after I sold the set out of my original rear axle, they are all gone. The Samurai guys like the '85 rear axles as upgrades for the stock rear Sami axles.

Works very nice, Part of my ongoing effort to restore some road manners that were lost in making it work well off-road.