Just picked up 4.88 diffs. One is welded POORLY. Both my 4.10 diffs are welded, but done right. The question is, can I swap carriers without setting backlash and all of that? I don't have the tools for that. I don't mind taking it to a shop, but if it's just plug and play to swap, I'd like to save the money for gas.

Thank you in advance.

 

Why don't you just weld it better??

 

No welder and it looks like the carrier is busted. I've only got your basic hand tools and air tools, no welder or specialty tools. I would also be interested in just ordering a Spartan locker if I can install that without resetting backlash and such that need special tools.

 

Nope you would have to reset up the gears if you replace the carriers and there isn't a way to take out the carrier on a rear diff without having to reset the backlash

 

Exactly what I needed to know thank you. I'll drop both diffs off at the shop in the am. Guess I'll buy a locker later and stay welded for now. Do they need a new master install kit or with the 2 full diffs can they just put the non busted carrier in with the 4.88s?

 

You wouldn't need a whole new setup kit as long as your bearings are all still good. I would replace the pinion seal and you will need a new crush sleeve.

 

OK thank you. I'll order those parts up.

 

Factory 4.88 is a unit unto itself.
Don't believe you can use a non-4.88 carrier with the factory 4.88 ring and pinion.

See this page:

http://home.4x4wire.com/erik/diffs/

EDIT!!! says that the carrier itself is the same. Housing and thickness of the ring gear are what is different!!

 

I know the ring gear for the factory 4.88 is thinner

 

I'll look into all of that after work. I'm not sure that the R&P in this housing is factory. I know one of them isn't for sure, it's one of the preloaded Trail Gear sets with a Detroit. But, the welded one I'll have to do some research. Any way to tell if it's factory R&P?

 

Factory 4.88 ring gears are thinner than all other ratios and are marked 4.9 inside of a circle. http://www.gearinstalls.com has tons of Toyota gear setup information

 

BOOM! Solid info. I love this site for that reason. My ring gear has TV8488 stamped on it. What I've come to find through Google is that it's a Yukon 4 cylinder gear set. So, my other 4 cylinder diff with a welded carrier should accept this R&P. Just need a crush sleeve and pinion seal. This is just a temp setup until I can afford 5.29s and ARB or e-lockers.

Thank you everyone for your help!

 

OK, one step forward, two steps back. In the middle of all of this, I found another 4.88 diff from a 4runner with a Detroit locker. Score! But, lol, 2 questions:

The locker/carrier looks different than my other Detroit, how do I tell what locker I have with the 3rd on my bench?

Being from a newer rig, the housing has a spot for ABS. Can I throw a rubber grommet in the hole or do I need to find an ABS sensor from a 3rd Gen to plug it?
Found out already that I can pop a freeze plug in there, sorry for thatquestion. Still curious about the locker though.

Thanks again everyone!

 

post a pic

 

Looks like this. I'm at work so not actual diff, but close.
I can get pics of the actual diffs when I get home in about 3 hours. Be good to know which of the 2 would be best up front. Trying to be locked front and rear again and i know some lockers are harder on steering than others.

 

detroit locker replace the carrier. That pic looks like the factory carrier. All of the lunchbox lockers out there go inside the stock carrier so without taking it apart it would be hard to tell you what you have, but they all basically work the same. To my best knowledge if it has the stock carrier then it is not a detroit locker.

 

Yeah, when I spin one side with my fingers, the other side spins the opposite way. Got robbed on that deal. Few hundred bucks down the drain on a factory 4.88. Hope I can sell it for a little of that back.

 

Excellent.