I'm still not convinced I have the standard 8" diff. Below are some pics I gleaned from this website:

http://home.4x4wire.com/erik/diffs/



My diff most closely resembles the diff on the right, which is supposed to be a T100/Tundra 8" diff. However mine also has the bolt head recess in the side of the middle diff in the picture above.



In the frontal view above My diff most closely resembles the T100/Tundra one, but it does not have the little "do-hicky" in the casting at the top center reinforcement rib of the housing as shown. Mine is flat with a slight rib running down the center of that wide center reinforcement rib.

My diff also has the wide reinforcement rib on it's side in a similar location to the diff on the right. Note that the diff in the middle pic has no wide reinforcement rib on the side, instead, they are all narrow ribs

Bottom line, my diff looks much closer to the diff on the right than the center diff, (which is supposed to be the V6-Turbo for the 4Runner). But it is not exactly the same.

Now you can see why this is sooo confusing...

All I can say for sure now is that my diff is NOT any one of these.

Remember my diff is on a 2000 4Runner Ltd 2WD, Information plate: VZN180L-GKPZKA, and A/TM A03A
VIN begins with:JT3xxxx


Thanks

 

I have a 4wd v6 auto and this subject has confused me a great deal as well, I looked at my 3rd a while back and compared to the pictures and mine didn't look like any of the 3 diffs pictured that you are confused with Radracer. When I ran the numbers off my door sticker those sites for the older models told me I had a 7.5" rear diff, Steve's site doesn't specify size of axle because he says they are all 8", and Steve's site also tells me I have either a 3.909, a 4.10 or a 4.30 with my numbers...I wish I could determine exactly what gear ratio and axle I have by looking at the door sticker numbers but I haven't any luck with a direct answer.

 

Exactly! Someone somewhere has this info. Just gotta find em...

 

OK,
in the Toyota New Car Features publication in the Appendix it says that your 4-Runner should have an 8" differential
It does not differentiate between 2WD and 4WD.

I have not examined a 4-Runner but am pretty sure that a Tacoma Pre-Runner 2WD has an 8" diff. I'll be at a friends house tomorrow that has a Pre-Runner and I'll check that and get the axle code from it as well.

The J at the beginning of your VIN indicates that it is a Japanese Production vehicle as opposed to being a North American production if it started with a 4

 

Don't know if it helps or not.

I installed a TrueTrac in my 97 V6 4Runner 4x4. It has an gear ratio of 4.10:1 and it is what is called the 8" diff.

The driff is very nice. Hooks up well.

I loved it so much I yanked out the junk stock LSD of my 05 Tacoma and installed a TrueTrac in place of it. Night and day difference.

Gadget

 

Gadget how much did that cost u? the lsd that is.

 

Gadget:
Do you have any record of the actual part number of the TrueTrac you installed?
Was it: 913A321
913A610
911A342
Thanks for your help

 

For my 3rd gen 4Runner it was 913A321

Gadget

 

No clue. I got the one for the 4Runner a while ago on a group buy with the MD Chapter of TTORA. It was done through Reider Racing. That is where I get all my diffs and gears.

Gadget

 

Someone has the info?

Yeah, it's us.

You do not have a Tundra/T-100/Open Taco rear diff. I guarantee it.

You do not have a 7.5" 5 lug 2wd rear diff. I guarantee it.

If I were a betting man, and because you seem to be so stumped on this, I would say and have said 8" V-6 Toyota.

 

Looks like you need this..




TRUE_photo4SMALL.jpg DETROIT TRUETRAC TOYOTA 8 IN V6 30 SPL ALL
$418.75
913A321
DETROIT TRUETRAC TOYOTA 8 IN V6 30 SPL ALL
view_cart.gif



i went to sonaran steel's axle code chart and looks like i have 4.10gears

 

OK GUYS i have solved the 1 million dollar question. Us 3rd gens with the 2wd have the wimpy 7.5" rear diff!. After immense research my answer was solved by one of the fine staff over at randy's ring and pinion. I gave them the axle codes on the white sticker of the driver's side door jam.

It reads

VZN-180L-GKPGKA "4.10 gearing"
C/TR 202/FA45
A/TH A03A/
A340E - "the auto tranny"

Correct Truetrac number for me.


TT 911A565 This unit is roughly 510-560 for most online retailers.

However i found a wholesaler which will do for me $445 for it. However with a group buy of lets say 15 units or more he is able to do $425

 

Kevin: I hope that you are right...but I have my doubts. See my earlier posts. I also talked to Randy's Ring an pinion, and he seemed to think the same thing based on my info codes. However, there are still many others that think that it is the 8" (p/n 913a321). Let us know if the 7 1/2" one works!

 

Whats your vin sticker did u gave them the information on your vin sticker?

 

Yes, I did. Go to post #9 and you can see what is on my information (not vin) sticker.

 

Nitro Hot Pants and Nolan are the two 2wd trucks here that have had diff work.

Both have 8" rears.

You have an 8" rear. Send my the prize after you are wrong for getting the 7.5" one.

Toyota only made 5 lug solid axles with the 7.5" third. You don't have that.

 

Subscribing......

I've been wanting to add a LSD to my 2002 SR5 4x4. I can't believe there's this much confusion over what part to use.

For the member who ordered the 7.5", did it work or not?

Also, Gadget, I've read two posts on this board about the TrueTrac grenading and Detroit not offering any assistance. How long have you had yours installed on your 4Runner and how many miles are on it?

Thanks in advance,

 

It has been several years since I installed the TT in one of my 4Runners. No issues.

It has been about 20,000 miles since I installed one in my XRunner. Why better then the stock LSD.

I have not heard of any TTs coming apart other then the two you mentioned. Pretty wild how that one in the 4Runner came apart. It looks to me that the three casing bolts were not properly torqued.

Gadget

 

Thanks for the update. Do you think this is something that can be installed in a regular home garage with simple hand tools or should I leave it to the pros? I don't have a lift or anything like that, but am fairly mechanically inclined.

Also, I sent you a couple e-mails from your site.

 

[quote
VZN180L-GKPZKA is supposed to mean I have a 4.10 ratio and

A03A is supposed to mean:
1st position:"A"=7.5",
2nd position:"03"=4.10 Ratio,
3rd position:"A"=2 pinion open

[/quote]

Hi,

VZN180L - VZ is the engine code -- 5VZ-FE; N is the Hilux vehicle code (J is for the land cruiser, while E is for the corolla); 180 is the 2WD version of the 185 Series of 3rd gen 4Runner/Hilux Surf; L is for left-hand drive

GKPZKA - this is the factory options code, not the dealer options. P is for a/t models. sorry about the other letters, i don't know.

A03A - This is the axle code. this will explain the size, no. of pinions and final gear ratio.

hth