I bought a 96 SR5 Auto with a 4.30 e-locked rear as my donor vehicle. The 4.30's didn't just come on LTD's.

 

I never said they did.

I just said that all 3rd gen Limiteds were auto tranny's.

And I thought that possibly the 4.30 gears W/e-locker, were specified with the auto tranny, and the bigger factory tire option. Regardless of whether the particular 4Runner was an SR5, or Limited.

 

all V6 4runners with lockers had 4.30's from the factory. all 4cyl 4Runners with lockers had 4.56's from the factory.

i wouldn't pay for a change from 4.30 to 4.56. you won't notice it at all. if you make a gear jump, go at least 10% change for it to do any good at all.

i went from 4.10 to 4.56 and that' the least i should have gone for actual gear setup labor costs.

if you can get factory 4.30's and swap the diff/third in yourself, then it would be worth it since you have 3.90's to start with. if you are paying someone to pull the gears and replace with new gears (all that labor) then at least go to 4.56's so you'll be OK when you go to 33's.

think of it this way:

3.90 to 4.30 is a ~10% jump - a full step up
4.10 to 4.56 is a ~10% jump - a full step up

but, 4.10 to 4.30 or 4.30 to 4.56 or even 3.90 to 4.10 are only half-steps up and really don't do that much good. if you can do a half-step for free, then go for it. if it costs you anything, then don't bother.

 

I never said you said that.

 

I'll def have someone else do this as I am lame when it comes to this kind of stuff. 4.56 would be the way to go. Now off to figure out who and where. I've read some horror stories on this board of people either not knowing how to do this correctly or charging an arm and leg. When I figure it out and get some installed, will def post results. Should be awhile though...

 

They are right about the re gearing thing. My 98 Taco had the locker/4.30 settup and it was way faster (although a lot lighter or course) than my Runner.

I have the 4.10, 5 speed and mine does fine. i would love to get the 4.30 though cause I know what a difference it makes!

 

Yep, with the 5-speed the .2 difference is noticeable. My mileage actually went down though (this is all before my crazy mods). It definitely turns higher R's on the freeway, which might explain the reduction. And yes, I did account for the gearing change mathematically in my Excel MPG charts. Oh well, 4.30's are a great step for us 5-speed guys.

 

Well, that's just not true.

As I said, My '97 SR5, 5 speed, V6, 4WD is equipped with the "AW" option package.

Which includes (4) aluminum alloy wheels, P265/70R16 tires, 12.5" front rotors, chrome wheel arch molding, 4.10:1 differential gears. The list price for this package was $1,030.00

It is also equipped with the "DL" option, which is the E-locker. For a list price of $325.00





"96 Runner", sorry for thinking that's what you meant. Sometimes the typed word misses what's actually being said.

 

have you ever actually put it up on jack stands, put the XFcase in Neutral, marked the driveshaft, turned the rear wheels and counted the rotations of the tire for 10 rotations of the driveshaft? my bet is that you'll get 43 wheel turns for 10 turns on the shaft...

according to Toyota USA, you're 97 3.4L 5-Speed 4runner didn't have an option (from the factory) for a locking rear diff...

http://www.top4runners.com/ja/runhist/1997specs.html

 

Not a problem, and I agree. It happens - especially on the net.



And to go with what Andy is saying, I was faced with having to figure out the axle ratio on two 4Runners in order to purchase my e-locker donor vehicle. The driveshaft method, if you are really careful, will work with two revolutions of the rear wheel and a careful count of the shaft rotation. I could actually see the difference between 4.10 and 4.30. I was surprised (and depressed as I knew this would now involve swapping the front diffs too).

 

It also does state on there that only the 4.30 ratio was available with a locker and only on 4WD models.
http://www.top4runners.com/ja/runhist/1997opt.html

Sounds like 4.10 was a misprint on the sticker.

Why not jack it up and count.....if you actually have 4.30 consider yourself lucky!

 

I have searched and searched and searched, but I have yet to find a single VERIFIED 4.10 E-Locker Factory thirdmember that was put into a 4Runner in Japan. NOT ONE.

I'm not saying that you definitely don't have one, but if you do, it's a VERY VERY rare jewel indeed.

 

Quick question regarding gearing...I have a 99 4runner with factory rear diff lock. How would I find out what my gearing is? I am running 265/75/16s and plan on upgrading to 285/75/16's.
THANKS.

 

On J.A.'s site it lists the sport package as having the 4.10 diff but is that thrown out the window once you add the locker to the options list.

 

Please see the above posts.

 

What can I say, that link is incorrect.

I used to work as a mechanic, my 4Runner does have 4.10:1 gears, and it also has the rear diff lock, from the factory.

 

I'll ask again... Have you PERSONALLY verified it by counting teeth or rotating a wheel and counting driveshaft rotations?

Sorry, nothing against you, but I'm skeptical until I see that you've correctly verified it. Like I said before, others have claimed to have a locked 4.10 diff, but when checked, they actually have 4.30's.

 

I thought the fact that I used to work as a mechanic, would be sufficient to back-up what I said.

YES, I have verified the gear ratio. I did that when I was looking for a traction aiding front differential, years ago.

That link also says "preliminary" specifications. Which would indicate that they're not final production specs.

I'm not angry here, but my 'Runner is equipped from the factory, as I said it was.

I don't think Toyota only made one vehicle like mine. In fact there was an identical 'Runner at the same dealership, when I bought mine in sept. '97.

 

So this vehicle was owned by you since it was new, the vehicle was bought in the US and you did verify by actually counting revs....then that would make the spec sheet incorrect unless it was a dealer modified vehicle, since the spec sheet indicates OEM specs. That would be the first time I have heard of that as a possible option.

I don't think anyone doubts your competence, we are all just surprised.

 

What can I say, maybe it was a regional thing. I've heard of different options availability, based on the region the vehicle is sold in.

It was bought brand new by me, at Larry Miller Toyota, in Murray Utah. Sept. 19, '97.

They also had another identical 'Runner on the lot at the time, I chose the one with Goodyear tires vs. the other which had Bridgestone tires. That was probably a mistake, since I had to get rid of those crappy Wrangler RT/S tires, before 1000 miles becuase they couldn't be balanced adequately.


Another dealership in the area, Menlove Toyota, in Bountiful Utah, also had a 'Runner equipped exactly the same as the one I bought.