I have a 1993 4WD pickup with a 4.30 diff that's bad. I found one in a salvage yard from a 92 that appears to be in good shape. As usual, they sold me the entire rear end....which is not a bad thing as I also have a axle seal leaking and the "new" one is showing no evidence of leaks. However, the new one does not have the anti lock brake connection at the top of the housing like the one in my truck does.... am I stuck just replacing the diff and axles or can I swap the entire rear end safely. I realize it would likely render the anti lock brakes system inop.

 

Likely nothing. You'll have no ABS, FOR SURE.

Other than that, sure, you bet. Not a problem.

To keep the ABS you'd only have to swap the ring and pinion gears in your old 3rd member with the ring and pinion from the salvage yard 3rd. That's if your old 3rd member itself isn't what's bad. No need to swap the axles though. Save them and the rest of the parts from the salvage yard axle for "just in case" spares, or not, it's up to you.

Edit your post so that it states 4.30 not 5.30. That almost threw me for a loop. I was like "you really think you went to a salvage yard and picked up a rear axle with 5.29s? YEAH RIGHT!!!".

 

typo gets by once in awhile....