Potential rear axle swap

*i kindly ask if yall could read through first before replying so the thread doesn't derail or get too cluttered with multiples of questions and explanations*

Is it possible to swap an FJ or 4runner axle over to a second gen?

My rear diff is going bad, as are my drum breaks. I could rebuild or replace all that, but i'm wondering... if i could get an axle out of an fj or 4th gen for about the same price maybe less even... what's to stop me?

I already know the mounts for spring perches and all that would have to change but i can weld/fabricate, and my truck is already spring under so i'd have to do custom perches anyway

All the relative threads i've found either devolve into arguments about drums vs disks or go straight to naysayer and 'sell it and buy something else' heckling just because the suspension mounts are different. I'm proud to be a bit more optimistic than that lol but i also don't want to throw away money and fab work to find out i'm wrong over a small difference or a silly thing that someone may already have knowledge of

 

The only obvious issue to me so far would be the E-brake cable. Some experience/info on the differences between them would be great
I figure worst comes to worst with that - i could fab up a custom hand lever style e-brake. Not looking for a perfectly factory functioning swap but reasonably well put together

 

I don't think the housing will work. The Tacomas use leaf springs and both the FJ and 4Runner use a 4 or 5 link system with coil springs. You should be able to use the pumpkin (differential) and probably the axles. But the axle housing itself won't work.
But since you can weld the leaf spring pads on, I don't see why they wouldn't work. Not sure about the E-Brake connection.

 

I’d give it a go, problem is with that much labor into it your still stuck with an 8” axle. I’d get a custom housing from ruffstuff or diamond at that point. Maybe a 609 or the like.

 

I sorta agree, my wallet doesn't. At least from the options i've seen. Was hoping this would be more of a ballin on a budget solution. After selling my current axle and 3rd for cheap even, it could cover the cost of an lsd. Then i could have a factory axle with discs, half the mileage of my current setup, and an lsd, +some labor to do the swap; for a similar price of just rebuilding all my current shit, with basically the same amount of downtime (daily driver). I haven't looked much but i think it would be tough to beat for the 1000-1400 price i could do this for

Also i'm really not worried about the strength of it tbh. All my other mods are centered on light weight and the diff is plenty strong to handle the power(underrated by truck guys imo; people complain about them here meanwhile supra guys pull diffs/housings from these and hiluxes as upgrades for 800hp supra builds n shit, but thats a completely different topic) My truck is only at 4400 lbs with a full tank as it is.. factory weight despite all the mods basically. And i still have a lot of weight to kick like going down to c load tires next time n shit like that. A fabbed 9 would very likely add weight i don't want or need

The abs i'm kinda torn on. I already have an abs shutoff switch that pretty much always stays on, and i think about just deleting it all together. On the other hand idk about the speedo function without it and vsc i maybe should keep for future plans

 

A lil confusing here lol. So do you think i could do it or not?
The suspension mounting points don't matter if i plan to cut them all off, no?

 

Yes, it’s possible.
Up to you to decide if you want to do it.

Why one of those instead of another Tacoma axle?

 

Thats my thought...

If going through the process that will need a good chunk of fabrication why not a beefier axle like off a newer 2nd gen+ tundra?

 

They have factory disc brakes. Despite that the price is about the same
On a truck chassis it's debatable whether or not either functions better. Hence i mentioned in the first post that i want to keep away from that endless debate here. But it's what i would prefer

 

I would just fix the diff on the taco and do the rear disk conversion. Saves time with fab work, abs sensor, hubs, etc.

 

Ah, gotcha.
are the wheel sensors the same?

 

In that case i'd prefer to keep the same bolt pattern, and they're more expensive generally.
Also my truck is relatively light and i'd like to keep it that way. Don't want or need the extra weight and strength
The extra 1.5 in of width each side (iirc) would be nice though. I run spacers to clear my shocks currently

 

Not sure. Solving questions like that is the goal here. Otherwise i'd be doing it already haha

 

Yeah, it is.
If you didn't know how to weld or fabricate, then it would not work. But since you do, it can. Although it is a lot of work. You have the spring pads, lower and upper control arm brackets and the panhard bar bracket that would all need to be cut off. The shock mounts might work but I am not really sure. You would really need to compare the two.
I would find out if you can pull all those parts off the axle housing and put them on your axle?

 

How does the conversion compare to the factory brakes as far as quality and simplicity? I know the calipers are the same. I'd prefer to avoid the extra money on a conversion kit and keep it more factory dimensions on maintenance stuff like brakes for now. The fab work i enjoy so at least part that won't be time wasted. Wiring would though

 

Eh it's about the same with compared to my 4th gen. Hardest part is cutting off the backing plate. I kinda made a how to as the provided instructions weren't great. When the ebrake is adjusted right it holds just fine, loaded a new edge onto a car trailer and truck didn't move. I would probably recommend OEM ebrake hardware if I were to do it over again. There are other kits that are cheaper but don't use the an ebrake I think. Been happy with my rear disk brakes. If you can fab you can probably make your own conversation kit.

 

The differentials are different enough that the cores can't be used on both platforms. Not sure how exactly so that's a good question. That being said i would assume it's different enough that things like the axles and hub bearings probably won't line up enough to fit, but it would be great to find out for sure here. It would really simplify things to be able to swap over all parts but the housing itself

 

Reading through the thread it seems like you're making work for yourself? Why do you care about discs over drums? Get a rebuilt diff, send in your old core unless its totally grenaded, service the drums / shoes / ebrake cables, and get back after it

 

Thanks for the insight! Looking at the SOS kit i don't think it's in the cards tho. That's like my whole budget here to do it proper with the e-brake
What exactly would i have to fab up to make my own? Like how much of the factory tacoma parts are kept? I can fab but not machining or anything like that beyond drill press level stuff so far. I'd have to pay someone if it requires that much

 

You'll need a backing plate, caliper mount, ebrake cable mount to keep front hitting springs, and where the shoes and springs sit. You could also try two calipers one for service another for parking like on some modern cars however that would use cables but hydraulics. Just a thought.