Swap an oem E-Locker into an '02 Sport - Possible??

[Rock Slide]

I know the old saying, "Anything's possible if you put your mind to it", but realistically, is swapping a toyota e-locker from a '97 4Runner into an '02 Sport possible? Does the labor and cost involved out weigh the benefits? Granted, time and cost are not a big conern, but rather wiring the e-locker itself to properly to function within the vehicle. I have access to an elocker (including the entire rear axle) and all the necessary wiring & misc parts from a '97 Limited that came factory w/ one.

The axle would be a straight swap, but what about the wiring? I highly doubt toyota would have pre-wired my '02 Sport for an elocker that it was not designed to have. Thus leading me to believe, not all the wiring will be just plug-n-play.

Waskillywabbit mentioned that the locker control is in the 4WD ECU and that I would have to swap the black box from the '97 in order for the locker to work on the OEM wiring in my '02. Question is, doesn anyone know if it would swap to an '01 or '02 4Runner successfully? :headscratch:


A link found on Steve's site has some good information too: http://www.sonoransteel.com/phong/re...ic_locker.html. I will admit, I have only skimmed over that write up, but I just thought I would post first and see if anyone has made the swap to a newer 01/02 Sport before.

[paddlenbike]

I did an e-locker swap about 8 years ago on my '94 pickup, which obviously was not wired for one. The physical process of getting the e-locked third into your 02 is well documented. Wiring-wise, I chose to go full OEM. I bought the factory switch and ECU for $80 on ebay. Connect the switch to the ECU, then run 8-strand cat5 wiring from the ECU to just above the rear axle, where you mate your wiring to the OEM Toyota wiring harness that connects to the locker solenoid.

Here is the ECU mounted to the power antenna relay:
http://home.off-road.com/~kemanuel/elocker/ECU_mounted.jpg

Factory illuminated dash switch with locked LED: (your third gen will already have the factory "RR Lock" light in the dash--use that instead)
http://home.off-road.com/~kemanuel/elocker/Diff_switch_light.jpg

Here is the wiring diagram I drew:
http://home.off-road.com/~kemanuel/elocker/locker_wiring.jpg

When I sold the pickup and bought the 4Runner, I was lucky that it already had the factory e-locker. Had it not had the locker, I would definately go to the trouble again.

Ken

[mastacox]

There are many writeups on how to swap an E-locked diff into any 3rd gen 4runner. All you need is the control unit, a switch, and the locked diff. You just need to do some modification to your rear axle (drill some holes, grind some metal), and it mounts right up; the wiring is trivial.

[Rock Slide]

paddlenbike, thanks for the pics and info! Greatly appreciated. (Although I wonder if I do have the "RR Lock" light in the dash being that I have an '02...not a big deal, but would be nice if I did.)

mastacox, the link I posted from Steve's site seemed to be a good write up. Like I said, I have full access to all the needed parts off the donor vehicle. However, could I not just swap the entire rear axle from the donor vehicle to mine? Seems that would save a lot of hassle.

[YotaFun]

If I recall correctly, doesn't the 01&02 4Runners have different piping for the brakes as well?
Also is there any additional sensors in the O2 rear due the the VSC?

I would just mod your current axle and get the wiring kit from ORS.
Also since you do have an 02 you do not have the RR DIff Lock light on your dash so you would have to do it like ken did for his 94.

[NakSuKow]

I agree with Yotafun, no reason to add all the "safety" features of the oem ecu and then diable them. Just go with a switch.

I considered this option but went with a detroit locker instead. Good luck and keep us posted.

[YotaFun]

I agree with Yotafun, no reason to add all the "safety" features of the oem ecu and then diable them. Just go with a switch.

I considered this option but went with a detroit locker instead. Good luck and keep us posted.


He can still bipass it with the gray wire mod,
but still no use going through the head ache

[bamachem]

to modify your rear axle housing wouldn't be THAT hard, and you need to check to see if they brake tubing is the same for your 01/02 compared to the 97. it may be, but it may not be. i would put my money on it being the same (the VSC and TRAC are run on the ABS system).

anyway, it's also easy to swap the housing directly to your truck if the brake plumbing is the same. you disconnect the driveshaft, upper & lower links, panhard bar, hydraulic brake lines, and parking brake cable. roll the open axle out, roll the locked axle in, and reconnect everything (and bleed the brakes).

wiring is another story. i think you have to keep (but i'm not certain) your 01/02 4WD ECU due to the TRAC system. i think your best bet for wiring would be to get the aftermarket harness, get the OEM switch and indicator light (from the instrument panel) out of the donor rig and do everything else yourself.

good luck! the e-lockers are AWESOME!

[Seanz0rz]

i swapped mine in, and built my own controller. it wasnt horrible.

the differences in the brakes will be 2 flex lines (2 independent channels for the traction control) on the 02, and only one on the 97

[paddlenbike]

If you use the wiring diagram I posted above, there will be no need for the gray wire mod. Because the speed sensor is not hooked up and the 4WD position switch can either be tied to ground or to a safety switch like I show in the diagram, the locker can be engaged at any time. That was the reason behind the safety switch...I wanted to ensure the locker did not get accidently engaged on the freeway. Essentially, I had to have the safety switch in the on position before the e-locker switch did anything.

[Bob98SR5]

rock,

i have a writeup on 4runners.org too. i can send you robinhood4x4's wiring schematics as well. its a little grease covered though :)

[Rock Slide]

Thanks guys for all the info!

Bob, I completely forgot about that link on your site...thanks for the remimder :). Don't need his diagram just yet, but if I do pull the trigger on this mod, I will def contact you.

As it stands right now, I'm still toying with the idea of installing an elocker. I was not really on the hunt for one, much less a locker at all for that fact, but one just fell into my lap if I wanted it.

I'll keep you guys posted.

[YotaFun]

Thanks guys for all the info!

Bob, I completely forgot about that link on your site...thanks for the remimder :). Don't need his diagram just yet, but if I do pull the trigger on this mod, I will def contact you.

As it stands right now, I'm still toying with the idea of installing an elocker. I was not really on the hunt for one, much less a locker at all for that fact, but one just fell into my lap if I wanted it.

I'll keep you guys posted.


You know...
If you don't want that e-locker...
I know someone with a 97 what would be glad to take it off your hand hehehe
Just playing, good luck with the mod dude!

[Rock Slide]

You know...
If you don't want that e-locker...
I know someone with a 97 what would be glad to take it off your hand hehehe
Just playing, good luck with the mod dude!


haha, wish I could offer it to you, but it ain't mine. I was just given dibbs on it if I wanted it. Although by now, there's already a long line for it after me. :D

[mastacox]

It doesn't seemlike it would be such a hard job to just take the brake lines from the '02 axle and put them on the '97 axle, as long as the wheel speed sensors are the same and all that.

[bamachem]

don't forget that if you swap the built third or even the complete axle into your runner, the gear ratio on that is 4.30:1 and your stock ratio is probably 4.10:1.

this means that you'll need the front diff as well and swap that out so that the gear ratio of the front matches the rear.

[YotaFun]

You know...
If you don't want that e-locker...
I know someone with a 97 what would be glad to take it off your hand hehehe
Just playing, good luck with the mod dude!


haha, wish I could offer it to you, but it ain't mine. I was just given dibbs on it if I wanted it. Although by now, there's already a long line for it after me. :D


lol its cool, just joking :D

[Rock Slide]

don't forget that if you swap the built third or even the complete axle into your runner, the gear ratio on that is 4.30:1 and your stock ratio is probably 4.10:1.

this means that you'll need the front diff as well and swap that out so that the gear ratio of the front matches the rear.


Thanks, but I was aware of that :thumbup:. I had planned to pick up the front diff (for the gears) too along with the elocker and all its ness parts all in one whack. (I probably should have mentioned that in my orig post.)

[bamachem]

i figured so - i've been feeding Brian some info via email on the swap as well - but i wanted to make sure that not only you were aware of that, but anyone else that may find this thread via a search! :D

[surf4runner]

...or even the complete axle into your runner, the gear ratio on that is ...
this is the route ill take when i do it.

seems simpler :laugh:

[04 Rocko Taco]

there isnt that is much easier than swapping a third into your axle, I guess if you have to mod for the e-locker it gets a little harder, but I prefer the non e-locker axles, with the e-locker mod. :)

[Rock Slide]

Sad to say, but after much deliberation, I have decided against this mod :(. For the time being, I need to focus my funds on a few other smaller projects that I have been neglecting. I do not really "need" a locker right now, so I can put this on the backburner for now.

Thanks for everyone for all the feedback and good info. Who knows, this might be a mod I attempt later down the road now that I know what I do. :thumbup:

[paddlenbike]

Keep on the lookout for a third gen axle housing. Then you can do the housing modifications as you get time and still have use of your 4Runner.

[Rock Slide]

Keep on the lookout for a third gen axle housing. Then you can do the housing modifications as you get time and still have use of your 4Runner.


Good point...will do. :)