Best way to move 4.88 gears + ARB locker to new truck?

I've got a 16 TRD Sport 4x4 with Nitro 4.88 gears and ARB air locker.

I'll be parting out the truck over the next few weeks/months, and would like to recoup some money from the gear swap (was only done about two months ago). What would be the easiest way to get this into the buyer's truck?

I'm thinking swapping the entire front & rear axles would be the simplest thing for the amateur DIY mechanic, but I've never done anything of the sort and am not 100% sure on possible complications or gotchas.

Any tips/advice on best way to do this? If it's too much headache I'll just end up leaving the gears in the truck when I trade it in.

 

I'd say that method is your best bet, especially if you can get them both off the ground at the same time. If they've got the same leaf springs I'd just swap the entire rear end and suspension

 

absolutely not, if you don't know how to do it right then don't do it all

if you remove the entire axle you don't need to wrench on your truck because that shows you don't know how this works.

Remove rear 3rd from each truck and remove front clamshell from each truck and SWAP

 

IDK.. entire rear end seems way easier.. a few e-brake cables, brake lines, drive shaft, and like 8-10 bolts.. maybe a sensor or two.. probably two of I had to guess

 

The third member takes like 30 mins to remove if you’ve done it before, there’s no way around removing the front clam tho, that’s not a lot of fun.

 

Swapping rear axles is a much more involved process then switching thirds, I did it on my truck and it's a bit more complicated than how you describe it, you hit all the required components but very few are just held on by a bolt or two.

 

Bahaha!

No.

Swapping the entire rear axle is easier because you don't have to drain it or fuck with the seals!

This is coming from someone who has done exactly what the OP is asking

 

Easier way is to find same model and color and just swap VIN numbers.. requires a few rivets, but zero bolts or jacks.

 

if you've done it before then please explain how you did so without tampering with brake fluid?

I'm now waiting to hear how dealing with brakes is so much easier than dealing with diff fluid lol.

 

Pinch the lines with vise grips, didn't say I didn't mess with brake fluid but it's the same if you pull just the pumpkin, you know?

 

Thanks, everyone. Good points for both approaches. Might just let a shop sort this out!

Another question: the truck I'm considering swapping to is also a '16 TRD Sport, but with the short box and manual transmission. This means he has the 4.30 gear ratio and an 8.75" diff, whereas my original was 3.90 and an 8" diff. I would imagine that swapping the axles and hooking up the diff flanges (so long as they match) would be all that's required to make this transition work. Anything I'm missing with that idea?

 

do not swap the 8" for the 8.75" just sell the 3rd to someone with a non locked 8" 3rd gen and request there's in return. I'm sure you could get $900 or $1000 for it and they basically get free gears and labor, and you use the money to purchase the new ARB for the 8.75"

the only thing you're out on in the rear is gear and labor.

 

What I'm doing is reverting the truck back to stock so I can trade it in on an LX570. At the end of the day it doesn't matter whether I trade in the 4.88, 4.30 or 3.9, I'm just trying to recoup some of the cash I've spent.

A local guy with the 8.75" diff & stock 4.3 gears is interested in doing the swap and adding a reasonable amount of cash on top, thus my inquiries.

 

oh shoot, wow.. where are you located at, I'd take that 8.75 off your hands after the trade for a stock 8" lol

 

That will not work

 

Why not? I would imagine that swapping entire axles wouldn't be a problem. What am I missing?

The "new" diff would mate up to the prop shaft (same story on both ends of the truck), and that would be that. No?

 

Ok yes swapping axles will work but you can’t swap 3rd members.

 

Wish parts number is the nitro for re gear ?

 

Traded-in the Taco for a '14 LX570 yesterday, so gear swap/move is no longer needed.

 

Congrats, Let’s see it!