I have been searching for a wider axle option without spending for a custom housing. As much as I'd like to have a pair of custom Diamonds, I may only be able to swing a front for now.

I have been searching and discovered that 3rd gen (96-2002) 4runners w/o e-lockers retained the older style V6 8" third member from the 1st & 2nd gens. I read that the actual 3rd member housing is cast a little different, but that it uses the same perimeter bolt pattern (where it bolts to the axle housing) and the same carrier and internals. These axles are supposed to be 60.5" WMS-WMS. If all of this is true, this would be a perfect rear for me. I could just swap my earlier geared V6 3rd into this housing.

MY QUESTION IS: Are the flanges and the ends of the axle tubes the same as the earlier IFS rears? Or do they share the same bolt pattern? I have a full float conversion and would like to be able to use it on the 3rd Gen wider housing. Are these housings as strong as the earlier IFS??

Thanks!
-J

 

Seems like a lot of hassle for minimal gain at best.

:wabbit2:

 

For my application I stand to gain a lot with a couple extra inches of width, especially if it saves me over $1000.

 

What you going to do for axle shafts? They will have to be custom.

:wabbit2:

 

The axle shafts from 1st and 2nd gens will NOT work in a 3rd gen housing. I currently have a set of 1st gen axle shafts bolted into a 3rd gen to make it a roller, and they do not contact the splines of the diff. The axles are simply not long enough.

 

^I, incorrectly, stated in my original post that I "had" a FF conversion. I actually plan to purchase a FF conversion, so axle shafts would be ordered to compensate for the additional width at the time of purchase of the kit.

That being said, it sounds like the axle ends are the same between the two housings, since Cougar has some bolted together now.

Did the 3rd gen 4runner housings suffer the same fate as the tacoma housings, in being thinner,weaker metal compared to the earlier IFS ans SA housings?

 

apologize for the duplicate thread...I realized after posting that "offroad" may have been a better location, but if it's answered here no worries.