I have had an '87 4runner, 22re, 5 speed for a few years now. Not long ago it was a daily driver, but is no longer. It is now just a trail rig and will be trailered to off-road parks in the mid-west. It still has the stock ifs for now even though I have taken the front axle from my donor '82 'yota pickup, and plan on doing a sas next spring. However, in the mean-time I am ordering marlin crawler 4.7:1 transfer gears and plan on locking the axle(s). This weekend I plan on diving into the rear and welding the spider gears. My question is.... has anyone done this with their front diff? I am on a tight budget going into winter and have heard that this procedure can be as strong as a spool or mini-spool if done correctly. I have installed longer shackles in the rear and it slightly rakes now, but the front fenders are rusted badly enough that it wears 33's on all corners without any problems.
I hope that since this is a pre-a.d.d. front end, and the fact that the tires will never be over a paved surface again would make this a low-cost option for getting all locked up. It just needs to get me through winter and I will be junking the ifs anyway, but I want to 'wheel it a few times this winter. I was thinking that with the crawler gears dropping an extra torque load on the axles it may cause problems up front. Any help would be great! Thanks, I look forward to picking everyones brains in the future, and hopefully I can provide some help as well! -Clint

 

dude a spool(aka lincon locked) in the front is a BAD idea unless you really dont like turning (mud drags)

 

by pre a.d.d. does he mean manual? just unlock one of the front hubs and turn in 3 wheel drive

 

By a.d.d. I mean Automatic Disconnecting Differential, the type that locks/unlocks front wheels via a pin in the 3rd member ('90 and up, I think?) my wheels lock-in at the hubs. Thanks for the quick responses!

 

With my IFS, I have a hard time turning the steering wheel if I have the front ARB engaged on relatively high traction surfaces like wet pavement or clean, dust free rocks. It would suck to have to get out all the time to unlock my hubs to turn.

 

Yeah, getting out and unlocking the hubs is a pain... especially when you're in the middle of a stream or mud hole... or a steep slippery hill.

If you're installing 4.7 t-case gears (good idea BTW, your clutch will thank you) might as well twin stick your t-case at the same time. Then get a lunchbox locker for the front end. When you want to turn all you have to do is slip the lever into 2 low. This won't work if you weld the front though, because even in 2wd with the hubs locked it's not going to want to turn. About the only advantage 2wd would give you with a welded front is the 2 front tires could turn at a different speed than the 2 rears.

 

It's not difficult to turn with a lunchbox locker in the front, at least it isn't for me with the Aussie Locker... I don't notice it while driving, until I lift my tires hehehe.

David

 

lunchbox or other "locker" will let one tire turn FASTER than the other ... but a spool, ARB that is locked up, (essentally a spool) or welded up carrier is going to spin at the exact same rate both sides not matter what. (till the traction under the tire gives, or somethign breaks)

 

Also to clarify, when I say difficult to turn the steering wheel, I don't mean the steering wheel gets heavy and I have to put more effort into it, I mean the steering wheel locks up and I can't turn it at all unless I keep moving forward or backward and eventually straighten it out.

 

Thanks for the help fellas! Now I just need to know the where and the cost of a budget lunchbox locker...... any ideas? -Clint

 

www.offroadlockers.com i got an aussie locker for my fj80 front axle for $250 to my door!

 

You can find them used on the boards or Ebay for ~$150. I paid $250 for a pair a while back.

I've noticed my truck is definitely harder to turn with a EZ locker up front. When I'm stopped the steering wheel is hard to turn... need to roll the vehicle a little to get the tires turned when doing tight maneuvers. And it understeers a ton... my turning radius has increased a few feet on slippery stuff. High traction isn't that bad because the locker ratchets... it's slick conditions like mud and wet rocks where turning sucks.