Okay, so I was perusing Inchworms site, and thinking about doing one of their e-lockers instead of the ARB air locker. It mentions that modifications have to be made to the axle housing. So, I came over here and searched, using various search phrases, but couldn't come up with any thing pertaining to the mods.

So the question is, what mods are necessary to the axle housing? Particularly, the front, but am also interested in info on the rear.

I would consider myself an able mechanic, and have a few one-off manufacturing ventures under my belt, so if you guys can point me to a write-up, the should be sufficient.

Thanks!

 

You might want to include a few more details about what you are putting this into (year, model, etc)

 

you can't put an e-locker in an IFS front differential. Only solid axles.

For the rear axle you need to cut out a peice of the housing, add more studs for the elocker to fit.

 

thanks for the info Jay351. Any info on exactly which part/section needs to be taken off from the back housing?

It would be going into a 97 with IFS, so I guess that knocks out the Inchworm E-locker for the front. Since, I don't have any plans right now for doing a solid axle swap. So ARB for the front it is.

thanks for the help guys.

sidenote: if I am already doing ARB in the front, do you guys think I would be just as well off doing an ARB in the back? Since, I would need to plumb the air system for the fronts anyway.

 

E-locker install write-up:
http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/tech/electric_locker/

 

I would stick with the e-locker if possible, its pretty much the best selectible locker available. If you lose psi (hole in the line) with the air locker they are usless, if your electrical leads short out with the e-locker you can still manually lock or unlock it.

 

Save yourself a headache and try to find a junkyard axle that already has the locker in it. Then you just have to swap the axles and wire it up. If you find one in a junkyard get the wiring from the locker to the body and then get the inchworm kit and some extra wire.

Just had it done to mine.

 

thanks for the info guys. the article from 4x4wire, is perfect.

I am thinking an ARB / e-locker combo is what the Dr. ordered. I am going to do a quick run through of local yards, in hopes of finding a complete rear axle, but am not overly worried about the mod process necessary to make the nonlocker housing work.

thanks guys!

 

Here is another. There are additional links at the bottom of this one. One of them being the 4X4wire write up.

http://www.sonoransteel.com/phong/re...ic_locker.html

 

with those two articles, i think i am all set.

 

I always thought you could put a HIGH PINION e-locker on an IFS axle?????

EDIT:: Right from inchworm.com's website "Electric Lockers will NOT fit in front ends with independant suspension." - Guess that includes high pinion also.

 

IFS front diff is 7.5". E-locker (high pinion or low) is 8". You can put an e-locker into the IFS rear axle housing as noted in the link above. Note that use of the Toyota high pinion diff (e-locked or not) usually does not work well due to strength issues.