I have a 97 4runner V6. Ther stock rear housing bent. I bought a used 95 non TRD non ABS "tacoma" housing from the Yota Yard in CO. When it showed up, I immediately noticed the larger studs, and very different shaped housing. I pulled off a nut from my stock housing to see if the stud was larger, and it is. Do I need to stick with 3rd gen 4runner housing? I was hoping to go with a Tacoma housing so that I wouldn't have to mess with the spring perches, but it is winding up to be more of a PITA than just torching everything off to accept the leaf springs, shock tabs, and bump pads I have to re-install. In short, I tried to save some fabbing time by purchasing a tacoma (leaf ready) housing to go under my leaf perch needing 97 4Runner without the correct information on which Tacoma housing (if any) would work.

Which Tacoma housings should I be requesting (if any)? I have a Detroit locker, and am ditching the ABS stuff, as the Dana 44 front has no wheel speed sensors, or toner rings on the axles rendering the ABS system useless.

 

The very first Tacoma's made in the beginning of 95 had some differences. Im not sure what they were though.

You might have just got an axle that was just too old. Are you sure they said it was a Taco axle and not a P/U axle? Is the width the same?

I was under the impression that you could stick a Tacoma axle underneath without any modification (if you have leafs of course). As I was going to do this when I did a leaf conversion.

 

Apparently the housing I bought was an 8.4" out of a 95.5 tacoma , and I was told not even the 8" tacoma housing would work with my 4Runner 3rd . The Tacoma 8" 3rd is different than a 4Runner's, and their housings have some reinforcing inside that hinders my 4Runner's 3rd from bolting in all of the way. Spring perches are 42" outside perch to outside perch, and the width backing plate bolt surface (BPS) to BPS are 53 5/8" so sizewise they would work, but the bolt pattern and size of studs and clearances are wrong. The guy I purchased it from said that a 92 pickup 8" should work (though I thought they were narrower), but is looking into it for me to know for sure ... I'll keep you posted.

It sounds like if you have a COMPLETE Tacoma axle, 3rd included, you would be good to go. But if you are trying to swap housings and 3rds (like me) your limited to whatever your 3rd or housing is.

 

'89-'95 pickup housings are only 58.5" wide and my 4Runner's is 60" , so that won't work either. Apparently the 3rd's are swappable, however.