Toyota guru's unite, I need tech help!

[Clark White]

First question:
I have a 2000 Taco with E-locker, and I just purchased a 1999 4Runner with no lockers. Can I swap third members between them and have a functioning E-locker on the 4Runner? Would this cost me too much in resale off the Taco to be worth it? Would it be worth the trouble, or would it be easier to just put an ARB in the rear?

Second question:
I had a problem with some bearings in the front differential of the Taco and after some research I found it was cheaper to just put a whole new pumpkin in the Taco then tear down and rebuild the existing one. I now have a spare pumpkin sitting around that needs new bearings, and probably new ring and pinion. Should I rebuild this one and trade it (it has an ARB, hence why I'm keeping it) for the one in the 4Runner, or should I just remove the locker and put it in the 4Runner, then scrap/sell the old pumpkin?

Thanks for the help!
Clark White

 

[cruiseroutfit]

1. Yes, with housing mods in both directions. Going from a non-lock housing to a diff-lock is fairly well documented: http://www.cruiseroutfitters.com/tech_elocker.html (follow the links at the bottom). Putting the non-lock 3rd back in the Tacoma really should be no harder.

2. Rebuild it, bearing kits are available and affordable. I'd say rebuild kit.

 

[Clark White]

Thanks for the link, that's going to be infinitely useful!

Clark

 

[rewell6]

If the scrap pumpkin needs a r&p I would remove the ARB and put it in the 4Runner. Then scrap the spare pumpkin.

If it only needs bearings rebuild it and put it in the 4Runner and keep the pumpkin out of the 4Runner just in case the ARB goes bad. They do go bad once in a while.

The housing mod to put the e-locker in the 4Runner are well documented and fairly easy from the looks of it. I will be doing this mod soon. But there is no going back after you mod the housing. If you take the e-locker out of the Taco I don't think the non locking diff would cover the notch in the housing.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

..But there is no going back after you mod the housing. If you take the e-locker out of the Taco I don't think the non locking diff would cover the notch in the housing.

Shouldn't be hard to weld a small plate back in the notch's location though. I've never gone that direction but wouldn't hesitate to do so if needed. I don't think it would take much time?

 

[DaveInDenver]

1. Yes, with housing mods in both directions. Going from a non-lock housing to a diff-lock is fairly well documented: http://www.cruiseroutfitters.com/tech_elocker.html (follow the links at the bottom). Putting the non-lock 3rd back in the Tacoma really should be no harder.

2. Rebuild it, bearing kits are available and affordable. I'd say rebuild kit.

It should be noted that the non-TRD to electric locker route is easier with a 1996-2002 4Runner than Tacoma because they used 8" axles for all 4Runners. If a Tacoma did not come with an e-locker, then it requires the whole TRD axle to be swapped as the non-TRD Taco has the 8.4" axle.

 

[Clark White]

It should be noted that the non-TRD to electric locker route is easier with a 1996-2002 4Runner than Tacoma because they used 8" axles for all 4Runners. If a Tacoma did not come with an e-locker, then it requires the whole TRD axle to be swapped as the non-TRD Taco has the 8.4" axle.

Really!? That is news to me, something DEFINITELY worth keeping in mind!

Clark

 

[cruiseroutfit]

It should be noted that the non-TRD to electric locker route is easier with a 1996-2002 4Runner than Tacoma because they used 8" axles for all 4Runners. If a Tacoma did not come with an e-locker, then it requires the whole TRD axle to be swapped as the non-TRD Taco has the 8.4" axle.

Noted in the links:
"This diff is NOT swappable with V6, 4cyl, high-pinion, or electric locking diffs. This diff cannot be fitted to an older style 8" axle because it uses a larger diameter mounting bolt pattern and because more space inside the housing necessary to accommodate the large bearing cap"

Some more notes from here on ExPo too:
http://expeditionportal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=16384