I have a 1998 4runner, 4x4, 5vz-fe

I broke the axle mount on the right hand side of the rear axle, and the left side is now bent from driving with a broken mount before I noticed. The vehicle is currently retired to my back yard until further notice.

Anyways, I've put out ads looking for axles to see what my options are, but all of the responses are for people with 2nd gen axles.

One guy has a 1993 rear axle I can take for less than $100, which is a great deal, its pretty clean by the looks of it, went and looked in person, still has some paint on it, unlike my rusty runner.

My question is: Am I able to just swap the axle to the 2nd gen axle? I'd be keeping the diff from my 4runner, it's just a housing swap. I've done some digging and I've found conflicting answers, some say the axles are not compatible, some say the ABS is an issue but otherwise they work.

If a 2nd gen axle doesn't work, what does? Only 3rd gen? Or are the 1st gen Tacoma axles the same other than the leaf springs?

 

You have your 1998 axle you looked at the 1993 are both axles the same physical size

are you swapping the axle housing or some one else ?

If you want your ABS to work only a axle housing with ABS will work

Why not fix yours ??

 

Where are you located? Can you post a pic of the broken mount?


Andreas

 

Having done quite a few 3rd gen 4Runner and 1st gen Taco rear axle bearings and diagnosing bent axle tubes and shafts I can say the 2nd gen 4R axles are not a match for the 3rd gen based on vehicle width alone. Even the 1G 1999 Taco got the 01-02 4R axle/bearing style so you must get an axle from a 96-00 4R with abs, or a 01-02 4R axle tube complete with axle shafts,.. (or MAYBE a 95.5-1998 Taco axle shaft only with abs, different models came with different axles/bearing setup aswell on Taco’s). Determining a bent axle tube is difficult as is runout on a axle shaft, if the tube is bent enough the axle, bearing and bearing cup will not mate well to the axle tube flange, if you roll the removed axle shaft on a flat bench you can usually see if it has run out, and you can use a dial indicator to see if the flange on the axle is bent while installed. If unsure of axle tubes condition it might be wise to get and entire rear axle assembly from the wrecker with not rear damage or rollover or order one complete from East Coast Gear Supply ECGS. 1st gen Taco axle housings are different and would require a lot of customizing to add the upper axle tube links and lower seat perch, so not really compatible.

what mount is broken on the existing axle tube?

 

I thought this was the case but not having a 98 4Runner to double check I was not about to guess.