For those of you that read my thread a few days ago about that 99 runner stock with elocker and 4x4...my parents didn't go for it with such little notice. kinda sucks but they were hesitant about the 90k miles (isnt that still a baby?) and it being a year old then my 2wd. Anyway, they said i dont need to rush into this but theyd feel more comfortable with me in a newer one with equal or less miles. i cant argue, its a newer car. anyway, the odds of me finding a used one with a factory elocker look to be pretty slim, so does anyone know how hard it will be to find a toyota elocker or just buy it from the dealer and how much that will cost? Also, how hard is that kind of thing to install? I don't mind doing some wiring and such but i've never touched a differential before. thanks!

 

There are several writeups, it's not too difficult, but will require some changes to the housing. Sometimes some welding is required to build up an area. Since you don't worry about driving in the snow, a "lunchbox" locker would be fine and a lot cheaper.

 

a brand new locker costs somewhere between 800-900, but it will not fit your truck without some drilling and welding on your current axle. you might be able to find an elocker in a junk yard, or if you dont want to mess with moidfying your current axle housing, buy an entire axle and bolt it up, then wire it up.

 

This is true where I live but won't be true if I get the job in new york that is up in the air. Does anyone know how much it would be for part and labor at a straight toyota dealership? i ask that because like i said, ive never dealt with my differential before

 

I have a feeling this is one of those "If you have to ask, you can't afford it" questions - that's assuming you could find a dealer who would do it.

There are quite a number of elocker third members (the actual diff, housing, everything) out there on ebay and TTORA - seem to run $350-$400. Marlin Crawler and Inchworm both have them new for ~$1200.

I just went through the same kind of decision and decided to go ARB - cost was going to end up about the same, and I have some degree of on-board air with the ARB setup.

 

if your parents wont let you buy a 90k mile 4runner, then i dont think they'll be too thrilled w/ you doing an elocker mod.

 

thats more of something under my control. its one thing to spend $1000 of my own money versus $12k+ of their money. its their money dealing with buying the car as a whole, my money dealing with modding it.