8" rear end VS 8.75"

Hi all,

First of, thanks TW for such a wealth of knowledge, yet that makes me rethink everything daily... haha.

So I am looking to regear and add a rear locker to my 18 Sport AT DCLB. Couldn't find a manual at the time, and DCLB OR are not available in Canada unfortunately.

That said, I am looking install 5.29 gears, 34"s and a rear e locker and was debating on whether to find a rear axle assembly 8.75" from a wrecked OR VS installing the gears in the current 8" rear diff I have. That way I gain stronger diff, axles and a factory E locker (that I will wire separately, not into OEM harness)

I have seen a thread about this swap, so I know it is possible:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/factory-locker-install-on-16-sport.692802/

I was considering doing it as I heard Nitro gears had some issues with the 8" diff reliability. So considering my truck is a bit heavier than short wheel base to start with, plus all the armor, I thought why not.

I have seen fairly new (20-50k km) axles around here for $1500 to $3000 CAD. So almost the price of an E-locker, yet you get a bigger diff and stronger axles.

So my question too you is, what is your real world experience with the 8" rear end?
Are there people on this forum that installed lockers and gears on their 8" and wish they had done an axle swap instead because of reliability issues on axles/rings/..?

Or am I over thinking this?

Thanks!

 

Go with the 8.75

 

The easier and cheaper route may be gears and an Eaton elocker

https://www.justdifferentials.com/Eaton-E-Locker-Toyota-8-p/eat14211-1.htm

Edit, you're in Canada, so take this for what it's worth

 

I've always liked the bigger rear ends, myself.

 

Front has to match though

 

Meh, not for me. As long as the truck as a strong rear end, the rest don't really matter to me. The rear end is where the rubber meets to road!

 

Oh, you meant trucks. Yeah, a big rear is good.

 

I was about to ask if we were still on topic...

 

Uhhhh....yeah! Trucks!