I,m sure that this has been asked and answered many times but i am new to this site so give me a break. i have a stock 1993 4runner V6 and i want to install a TRD electric locker in the rear end. i believe that it is a 8" rear but not sure. i would like to know where i could get a used one in the Coloroado area, how much it would cost and the steps and tools needed to complete the swap. i was also wondering if the 3rd gen. 4runners have the same axel and everything and the 2nd gen. Could i just find a complete axel out of a 1996 or newer 4runner and swap them out? which would be easier/ cheapest?

 

I dont know anything about the TRD electric locker, and its compatibility... But i think that a better option for you to go with would be an ARB air locker... It is the choice of alot of people for a good reason, and there is an application for your truck. Just my 2c... That is what i will be getting in my truck...

 

I second the arb notion. You would need to swap in the complete axle housing from a 3rd gen. After it was all said and done, you probably would have spent more time and money than an arb setup would have set you back. Not to mention the headache. I also plan on having arb's front and rear in the future.

 

Im going with an ARB in the rear, and i havnt decided if i want to do limited slip up front, or just leave it open. I wouldnt lock the front on an IFS setup, too many weak points, i would think with it locked you would be breaking things all the time, mainly being CV's i would think

 

Yeah, our IFS front ends are not made for that kind of punishment. But that's the beauty of an arb locker, you can unlock it when things start to get iffy. Many people use arb's up front without problems. It's just a matter of learning how to do it safely.

 

I guess its a matter of what risks you want to take... For me being that this truck is my daily driver, and my only means of transportation, atleast for the time being... I would not want to take the risk of thrashing my front suspension. But if the you are not dependant of the truck, i guess it would be alright. I just havent decided for me, if i want to spend the money on limited slip, or just leave it open, i dont know if it would make enough of a difference. I have a little bit of time to decide though, i will be doing my lockers/limited slip when i get my 4.88's in probably about a year or so...

 

It can be done. You CAN NOT swap the housing from the 3rd gen. Nothing lined up with the 2nd gen axle. You can mod the housing to fit the elec. locker. I got one in the rear axle.
check out this link http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/tech/electric_locker/
and this http://67.122.16.97/carter/4runner/mods/locker/
The guy that did the second one is Mike Carter. He helped me with mine.
Your axle should be the same as mine. There's no need to grind the bowl part of the axle. It's deep enough. The hard part is to fill in the beed and drill the hole and thread it so it's straight. Give yourself a weekend to complete it.
Good luck.
You're welcome to send me email to ask me questions.

 

Good articles anthony... Learned some stuff that i didnt know before.

Also, stated in the first article... The TRD Electric locker is stock 4.10 gears, and are able to get to a 4.56 ratio. So this would also be a factor in the decision between the TRD electric or the ARB air locker. This would not be ideal for me, since i want 4.88's.

 

You can get an e-locker geared to any Toy ratio 3.9 to 5.71, that is not a problem.

People keep saying locked fronts break stuff more. On the contrary, an open diff necessitates spinning and spinning breaks parts.

 

As Flygtenstein said, it can be had with all the common ratios.
I had mine regeared to 5.29. It use the same gears as 8" V6 carrier.