HEY GUYS I HAVE A 87 4RUNNER W 4CYL 5SPD I BELEIVE IT HAS THE FACTORY 4:10 GEARS BECAUSE IT HAS NEVER BEEN TOUCHED. I HEARD THE 92-95 RUNNERS WITH AUTO MATIC HAVE 4:88"S. DOES ANYONE KNOW IF I COULD SIMPLY SWAP THIRD MEMBERS? PLEASE LET ME KNOW I APPRECIATE THE HELP.

 

First, please stop typing in all caps. Its obnoxious.

Second, yes you can swap, but you must direct swap. As far as I know, the 4.88 equipped thirds use different interior components than others. So, by direct swap, I mean you can remove your third, swap in the 4.88 third, but you cannont mix and match parts.

As for the years and tranny, i have no idea. Someone else will have to help you out there.

 

Some 2nd Gen Autos did come with 4.88's however the third is totally unique and IS NOT interchangeable with anything else. What gear ratio you have is not year specific. For example depending on the model and options my 94 was available with 4.30's, 4.56's, or 4.88's. Your best bet is to just regear to the ratio that you want.

 

Are you sure? I know a guy who swapped one of these in. Perhaps he modified his housing, but as I recall, it bolted in. I'll have to check.

 

Let's be clear - the factory 4.88 has an offset pinion to prevent the ring gear from being so thick. As such, the GEARS and the thirmember housing are not interchangeable, however, the same carrier is used, so the same lockers fit.

You can not use the factory 4.88 gears in anything other than the special housing. You can not regear the factory 4.88 housing, so if you go that way, you're kinda stuck.

The bolt pattern of the housing is identical, and a 4.88 factory third will drop right in to your existing housing.

If you want to put 4.88's in your truck, you can regear the thirdmember you have or swap in an ENTIRE factory 4.88 thirdmember (housing and all).

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

Note that the manual tranny vehicles with 31's came with 4.56's in a normal, regearable housing. If you're running <33's now, but think you'll want to go bigger later, IMHO, it's a better option.

Also, while you're at it, upgrade to V6 diffs - they're slightly stronger. (Everything from your 4cyl will fit)

 

What he said... Thanks TC that's what I meant to imply but didn't say it very clear I guess.