This past weekend I was fortunate enough to find a used E-Locker from a 1996 4-Runner Limited. The housing is bent because the vehicle was in an accident. I believe the gear ratio is a 4.3 but my truck has 4.1 gears. I have a 1999 3.4L Tacoma. I did also get an ECU and RR Diff Lock switch. I have access to a welder and other tools. I have seen a few posts on retrofitting an E-locker into a non-locker housing. How hard/easy is this project going to be? Can it be done? If anyone is willing to share their experience with this type of retrofit, that would be greatly appreciated as well. I think I figured out most of the wiring Last night. I was just wondering if the “Speed sensor” and 4WD connections on the ECU have to be made in order for it to control properly?
Thanks!

 

Never done it but here is one write up for the install, if you search there is probably others. If the gear ratios are different from yours you'll have to regear the locker or change the front diff to match the new rear.

http://molmed.umassmed.edu/~kdb/locker/locker.html

 

Be aware that all the writeups I've seen for the swap involve swapping the elocker into an 8" diff housing. Your Tacoma does not have an 8" housing, it has the 8.4". While not impossible by any means, the location of studs will likely all need to be redone, not just a couple like the 8".

 

I've seen a few elockers on ebay lately. I think the last one went for $405, with some of the wiring as well.

 

I just bought an entire 4Runner with an e-locker, swapped the front and rear axles with mine, then sold the 4Runner for $300 more than I bought it for.

The front diff swap is the worst - especially without a BL

 

Thanks for your replies guys. A friend and I spent the evening tearing everying off the old 4Runner housing and we removed the e-locker. By the looks of things, the housing is fine. I'm debating wether to cut all the brackets off then rebuild it for the Taco??? Some of the guys on 4x4wire said that I could use an 8" housing from a 1979-1995 Toy truck. Will the 4Runner axles fit that housing? The Runner has ABS but my truck does not.

 

It would be more of a problem if it was the other way around. I guess you could just leave the ABS sensors in the axle housing and cut the wires.

I would definitely stay with the original housing if it is good. But, how can you be sure? I guess that is the big question. I would like to know too.

(I dont think its the housing that could be the problem per se, I think it would be whether or not something related to the diff was bent)

Can you post some pics of the housing?

 

You can but I wouldn't. The '79-'85 rear axles are only ~55" wide, the '86-'95's are ~58" wide, and your Tacoma rear is ~60" wide. While the locker will fit into the earlier axles, this is generally for use in earlier trucks. You'd be losing a lot of width, especially with the '79-'85 axle.

 

I took the digital camera and took some pics yesterday evening. I'll post them tonight.

I have decided to build the wiring harness/control unit for the e-locker since I have all the parts in a box readily available. I've been reading and trying to understand all the wiring for the locker. I think that I have it figured out based on various wiring diagrams that I managed to find on the forums. When I get everything working electrically I'll tackle the mechanical end.

I need to find some 4.10 gears and a used e-locked Tacoma (98-now) housing. Do you guys know if there is such a thing as an non ABS e-locked tacoma housing?
Thanks for all the information guys!

 

Yes there is. My 98 Tacoma LTD TRD had a locker with no ABS and 4.10's.

 

96Runner,
Let's try this. Let me know if it does not work. Thanks,
P

hxxp://invis.free.anonymizer.com/hxxp://thumb5.webshots.com/s/thumb2/3/83/45/168938345pLXFEG_th.jpg

hxxp://invis.free.anonymizer.com/hxxp://thumb5.webshots.com/s/thumb3/3/84/65/168938465TgTnMZ_th.jpg

http://community.webshots.com/user/p1michaud

 

Hi guys,
You have to sort by Newest, on Community Webshots to see the locker pics.
By the way, does anyone have a lead on some 4.10 gears for my locker. It's from a 1996 4Runner and it came with 4.30.
Thanks,
P

 

Why do you want to go from 4.30's to 4.10's?

 

I want to put the Locker in my 99 Tacoma that has 4.10 in it. The Locker came with 4.30 so I either re-regear the front or the locker. I want to have the rear end completely built with locker and all so that I can just pull my axles, remove the current rear end and replace with the locked one.