rear axle ID ?

[corax]

Is there any easy way to ID a rear axle? I almost have my elocker 3rd built and I still have a Taco elocker housing sitting on the floor that I'm thinking would be much easier to use than modifying my existing housing. But I still need the shafts and bearings. I found this on Pirate:

Toyota Rear Axle Widths:
55" wide, '79-85 4wd trucks/4runners - 6 Lug
58" wide, '86-95 4wd trucks/4runners - 6 Lug
56" wide, '79-95 2wd Trucks - 5 Lug
60.75" wide, '95.5-up Tacomas/4runners
66.75" wide, '93-98 T100 trucks

So are those measurements from end-of-housing to end-of-housing or wheel mounting to wheel mounting? I'm pretty sure I could junkyard the axles and drums locally (or Marlin has chromoly for $145 a pair :D), but I want to make sure I have the right parts in front of me before I pull them. Then it's just a matter of welding new spring perches and shock mounts onto the axle (+ I'm thinking this (http://www.polyperformance.com/shop/86-95-Toyota-Rear-Axle-Truss-p-19152.html) would be a nice addition while I'm at it)

[Scuba]

I believe that info you posted is WMS-WMS.
Relativley same info can be found here http://home.4x4wire.com/erik/diffs/ ..
Although, It's sort of off by .5" On a couple of them..

[Seanz0rz]

so you want to know how wide the axle is and if you can use a taco elocker axle in your 4runner?

ill go measure mine tomorrow (dark and kinda cold outside) and see what they are actually measuring with those numbers.

i dont know your wheel/tire situation, but this should make your trac a little wider and give you more stability.

[corax]

Ah, I forgot about Eric's page - just more proof that all online info needs to be verified and taken with a grain of salt

Thanks Sean - my tires should still tuck into the wheel wells nicely with the steel wheels I have, so I'm sure I can use it. It's just a matter of trying to find the rest of the parts to make it whole again.

[4x4mike]

I've got a housing with only a diff installed in my garage I can measure for you. It's a '98 4runner housing that I just modified to fit a Tacoma e-locker.

[corax]

I'd appreciate that, I've been reading your install - kinda convinced me it might just be easier to piece together the housing I already have (that and worries about trying to get the studs all straight)

[4x4mike]

The backing plates for the brakes mount onto the axle with 4 bolts (on each side). There is kind of a lip (there is a giant o-ring that fits on this lip) up to the flat surface that the backing plate backs up to. Anyways backing plate flat to backing plate flat is 54" exactly on the 98 4runner housing. The lip is 3/16" on each side. So technically from end to as the one in my garage stands (without any brake components installed is 54" + 3/16" + 3/16".

The studs were the easiest part of the whole swap. As long as you can punch the hole in the right spot and thread a hole somewhat square you'll be in business. I drilled my holes with a cordless Dewalt and old bits (one handed) while I ate a sandwich, true story. A hole is a hole. Holding a tap square (in a hole that is drilled to the proper size for said tap) is pretty key. With the imperfections in the 3rd member and it's holes my 4 studs were the least of my problems.

[corax]

Thanks Mike - still weighing everything. If I can junkyard the Taco/4runner axles and drums it'd be nice to build the axle outside of the truck instead of hunched underneath it.

Getting the studs straight isn't much of a worry (I made a drill bit and a tap guide using a drill press), I'm more worried about all the metal shavings and bits flying around - would just much rather build it off the truck and then swap it in at my leisure

[4x4mike]

I did all the work on my axle while it was on the bench. I must say it's very nice having this extra housing because of my schedule and time available to work on this project. At first I was worried about the metal shavings but half way through cutting, grinding and drill I started getting really frustrated with getting the diff stuck a couple of times I gave up caring. I put a couple of welding magnets in the housing and they helped some. In the end I sprayed WD40 over everything and wiped up the shavings and what not with old t shirts. It's all clean after some brake cleaner and I plan on running some cheap gear oil in the diff before I put the Red Line in.