I've been looking through the threads on swapping the stock diff. for a Toyota E-locker, and pretty well understand the process. Drop the axle, pull the old diff., do some welding and grinding to the housing, install the new diff., and put the axle back in. If I'm thinking of getting the E-locker from a wrecked Toyota, what's stopping me from pulling the whole rear axle with the E-locker, and swapping that for my current open diff. axle? Seems like it would probably be less work in the long run, unless the leaf spring or shock mounts didn't match up, but again that would just involve some minor welding. Anyone out there tried this, or know why it wouldn't work?

 

Even easier, you can just get the 3rd member and swap that in. The 3rd is the housing for the elocker, it's basically the axle without the brakes and axle shafts and all that junk. You can do that, I believe. If you want an elocker, go for it!

 

what year is the complete axle from. if it's from a tacoma the spring perches are wider on the houising. just cut the perches of and weld new ones on at the rite spot. if it's from a 94 -95 truck it'll bolt rite up perches are the same. i did the 86-95 rear axle swap on my 82 4x4 to get the bigger 11.5 inch brakes compared to the 85 and older 10 inch ones. the housing is alot beefier to. only have to make a extension peice for the ebrake cable on the pass. side where it attaches to backing plate.

 

Depends on what you drive MNBOY. We need a little more info to give a good answer.

 

with a 90 Pickup, you will have to do something about the leaf mounts b/c a Taco axle will be different from yours.

if you swap the 3rd, you will have to cut, grind, drill.