Now befor i start i just want everone to no i searched the site a few times but couldent find a defanent answer to my question.here we go 89 yota pickup 3.0 5spd. i am looking into lockers but am not all to familiar with them and how ther are set up. ive been reading about the toyota e locker and thout it would be the best choice for my needs.It is a dd highway driving and local driving but i want to take it to the next level in 4wheeling. what i wanto no is how do you install a rear e-locker. do i have to buy a whole new 3rd to do this? i have 488 front and rearWhere dose the locker mount eney info would be really nice.Other lockers that may be better for me im open to all ideas. but the cheaper idea wins with me money is a little tight right now.
thanks alot
Andrew

 

I believe you have to modify your third. Cut it open drill holes and tap them for studs to add on the e-locker. But I am not 100% sure that I am right.

 

This is not a particularly inexpensive mod to do.. but it's not over the top either. IMO, your problem with keeping it cheap will be finding a used 4.88 e-locker for a good price. I wasn't able to find ANYTHING other than 4.10s and 4.30s, and had to buy a new one for my 4.56 which was pretty spendy.

The locker itself is built into the 3rd member. If you were just replacing the 3rd member with one from your year, it would be a direct bolt on. But the e-locker has a few extra mounting studs that need to be drilled out on your housing. Also, the locker is basically a sleeve that goes in and out. You need to grind a notch in the side of the housing to match the 3rd member.. that way when you disengage the locker, there will be room for it to unlock.

The mods aren't that difficult, and any mechanic should be able to do it if you can't. The selectable locker is definitely the best choice for your DD, but it's not real cheap like I said. 4.88 is a great gearing for 31's and 33's, so I wouldn't change the gearing.

GO HERE

http://carterswebsite.com/4runner/mods/locker/

There are pics of the mods and of the "sleeve" i was talking about. There are also links to other writeups at the bottom. PM me if you have any questions.

But basically, YES... you have to buy a new 3rd member. What you'll need to do is go to http://car-part.com/ and search for any tacoma or 4runner from 1995 to 2000 and search under differential assembly. When you click search, it will ask you to specify the gear ratio and if it is "w/ locking diff" or "w/o locking diff". It will display salvage yards that have them and then just call and verify the part and gear ratio. You might even start by calling your local salvage yards.

 

Mkkk. well thats exzactly what i wanted to avoid. i just replaced my rear 3rd bout 4 month ago so i dont really wanto have to buy a new one. What are my other options i was looking at a spool? i no it is a constant lock but is it that bad on road. an a detroit locker? is that full time too?
thanks alot guys much thanks
Andrew

 

Yeah.. both of those are full time lockers that unlock automatically when you turn. You'll hear different people say they're either horrible or not so bad.

I'd look into a LOCKRITE or a Detroit EZ LOCK.. even a Detroit Tru-Track would do well. It's a posi-lock. All of those options can just be installed into an existing 3rd member.. and they'll also be a good couple hundred bucks cheaper after all is said and done.

 

for a daily driven rig, i'd say elocker in the rear, and trutrac in the front. you won't want to lock the front if you ever drive in snow.

 

I wasent planing on locking the front... i never new a locker up front in the snow would be bad? learn somthin new everyday. we get enuff snow here to need a 4x4 so i dont want to lose eney snow traction. and that is my favorit thing to play in SNOW lol. eneyway ive been looking at wab fabs things on his site and i liked the true track i do belive it is. it is a lunchbox style locker. has eneyone had complaints with one of thease bad boys in the rear fore some lightish wheeling. thank you my YOTATECH buddys once agean yall save the day!!
Andrew

 

I would suggest doing a search for true track also... I am pretty sure that most people are very happy with them.

IMO, a front locker is only bad in the snow when it is a lunchbox locker. A selectable would not be engaged at any time other than if you were stuck.

 

My FJ40 had a true track in the rear. It was SCARY on slick roads, the back end would come around pretty quick.

But, it had a short wheelbase, and a V-8.

My vote would be for ARB or e-locker. You have control of when the diff is locked and unlocked.

Lots of guys like the "lunchbox" lockers, and for wheeling, they work good. They can just be a little squirrly and noisy at times