I have a 97 V6 with 4.30 gearing open diff. I picked up a 99 axle housing (drum to drum) with E locker and supposedly 4.30 gearing. The guy rolled is 4 runner and was parting out the truck and I got lucky ($300)at least I am hoping so.

I have torn it apart and put it back together, other than the diff and gearing.

The axles appear to turn fine and nothing appears to have been damaged from the rollover, however anybody have any tips on what I should investigate before I swap them out, other than confirming the gear ratio?

 

Well you'd assume the links would fail before bending the axle housing, but you can never know.

If you are unsure, I know you can simply modify your current housing by notching the pumpkin opening to accept a locking diff. I don't know if I could say "simply" since I have never done it, and it seems like some people feel its a PIA.

 

My intention is to swap the housing and use my axles, brakes etc and keep the other axles as spairs.