Factory 4.88 diff with tacoma e-locker?
 

1992 Hilux Surf 2L-TE 4WD
Before I go ordering my ring and pinion and install kit I wanted to know if any one has put an e-locker into a factory 4.88 rear diff. Code G144. I purchased an e-locker third member with 4.10 gears and want to put 4.88 gears into it. Does anyone see a problem with this? I've read a few places that the 4.88 factory diff can only accept 4.88 gears because it has a certain size. Is it possible to put the existing 4.88 gears in my diff into the e-locker with an install kit?

Your first question asks if you can put the elocker in your factory 4.88 diff.......NO.

Can you put the factory 4.88's in the elocker diff......as far as I know......NO.

Buy some Yukons for the elocker.

Thanks for the info. What makes the 4.88 diff different? I have another carrier lined up so it's not a big lose to not be able to use mine.

The 4.88 factory gears have a different centerline, ie the spacing between the back of the ring gear and the pinion centerline are different.

4.88 factory diffs can only accept 4.88 factory gears. They did this to make the 4.88 stronger with a thinner ring gear.

All the other diffs can interchange. Put aftermarket 4.88 or 5.29 v6 gears into your e-locker with no problems.

Cheers.

Thanks again for the info. Just found this on http://home.4x4wire.com/erik/diffs/

The FACTORY 4.88 V6 diff is unique!
- Axle code G144, white pinion paint code,
- generally came in 92-95 trucks/4runners with V6, auto tranny, 31" tires, and tow package.
- Housing offsets pinion towards ring gear, allowing ring gear to be thinner
- OEM Toyota gears are the ONLY gears that fit this diff due to the thinner ring gear. All other gear sets have thicker ring gears and do not fit.
- The carrier (case) is the same as the V6 diffs, so normal V6 lockers, LSD's, etc. will work in this diff

Amazing what you can find with a little "searching"

Going back in time(1985), I believe the thin 488 gears were being installed in "normal" 4 cylinder 3rds. I had 2 of them done on my 84 longbed. The ring/pinion came with an 8" spacer ring and 10 extra long ring bolts. So, they must have thought it was ok to do it back then at least.