I blew the rear end in a factory and trussed axle. I had 4.88 gears with 35" tires and the pinion gear for the rear end, in 2WD mode at the time, spit its teeth out. I want to go to 5.29 gears, so I was already thinking about axle swaps before this.
Replacement 4.88 gear costs with labor in the rear axle versus a new axle is close enough, that a new axle seems to be the obvious path forward. With the total cost of the regear with labor, I can probably sell the now empty (pulled the ring and pinion gear to make it mobile) rear axle and take that repair expense and buy a new Dana 60, or at least get close, making that a cost-effective option. Also, the factory E-diff engagement system is weak, with an unknown cost of repair or replacement.
With a 5.29 regear in the stock Toyota trussed front axle, which is ARB air locked, I think I might be good there. However, I don't want to break it with something like a Dana 60 in the rear working hard off-road, putting the front axle at risk of a failure.
So, what wisdom do the Tacoma owners here have for me? Dana 60 rear or something else? Is the 2nd Gen ARB-locked front good with a 5.29 gear swap, or should I also go Dana 60 there too? Or, should I look somewhere else for axles?
Initial, possible cost errors, are ~$5K for a factory-compatible (no suspension or drive shaft changes) Dana 60 from someplace like Michigan Gear, versus $3K~4K depending on who and where I have replacement 4.88's done in the rear and I would not get my 5.29's.
I don't really have the time for a UNICORN Ford Superduty axle conversion or similar option unless those are sitting somewhere I am unaware of.
My Tacoma is heavily modified, previously for MOAB challenges against Jeep Rubicon trails. Lifted, heavy armor, King Suspension, etc., so I also roll pretty heavy. On 35's today and thinking about 37" tires going forward. Planning a trip to the Alaskan oil fields next year and the tip of Chile the year after that.
Replacement 4.88 gear costs with labor in the rear axle versus a new axle is close enough, that a new axle seems to be the obvious path forward. With the total cost of the regear with labor, I can probably sell the now empty (pulled the ring and pinion gear to make it mobile) rear axle and take that repair expense and buy a new Dana 60, or at least get close, making that a cost-effective option. Also, the factory E-diff engagement system is weak, with an unknown cost of repair or replacement.
With a 5.29 regear in the stock Toyota trussed front axle, which is ARB air locked, I think I might be good there. However, I don't want to break it with something like a Dana 60 in the rear working hard off-road, putting the front axle at risk of a failure.
So, what wisdom do the Tacoma owners here have for me? Dana 60 rear or something else? Is the 2nd Gen ARB-locked front good with a 5.29 gear swap, or should I also go Dana 60 there too? Or, should I look somewhere else for axles?
Initial, possible cost errors, are ~$5K for a factory-compatible (no suspension or drive shaft changes) Dana 60 from someplace like Michigan Gear, versus $3K~4K depending on who and where I have replacement 4.88's done in the rear and I would not get my 5.29's.
I don't really have the time for a UNICORN Ford Superduty axle conversion or similar option unless those are sitting somewhere I am unaware of.
My Tacoma is heavily modified, previously for MOAB challenges against Jeep Rubicon trails. Lifted, heavy armor, King Suspension, etc., so I also roll pretty heavy. On 35's today and thinking about 37" tires going forward. Planning a trip to the Alaskan oil fields next year and the tip of Chile the year after that.
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