Manual 2nd gen Regear

So I know this has kinda been beaten to death, but going through some of the threads on the matter I’m still not 100% on the answer.

I have a manual 2013 5-lug. I found a complete third member from an ‘06 Tacoma with 3.73 gears. Can someone confirm that it will indeed swap right in?

Thanks.

 

From what I've seen so far you should be good.........@HackD right????

 

@5 Lug Fury add this to the guide if you find out

 

As long as the differential is from a non-TRD version of the Tacoma, it should be a direct bolt-into the differential housing of the 3.31 geared manual 5-lug.

3.73 is usually to be found in the V6 Pre-Runner Tacomas.. so be careful that it isn't a TRD version.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/3-73-gear-ratio-swap.59157/

Edit: 2005-2008 Tacoma 4x4 Sport TRD's are compatible with ours (not Off-Road TRD's) so it might be worthwhile to see if it would work, even if it is a 2006 TRD Pre-Runner differential - the difference being the e-locker used in the later model TRD's, both Sport and Off-Road, that isn't compatible with our differential housings.

 

Perfect. Thanks guys! I thought I had it right, but some of those threads devolved into random tangents that made it hard to follow. Well... Now the question becomes, does anyone have a Detroit Truetrac laying around? lol

To correct myself it's actually from a 2010. Seller said its out of an SR5, so no e-diff. Hopefully I'll be able to pick it up sometime after Turkey Day if he still has it. A couple of pictures:

 

So update on the swap. Apparently the Craigslist third member I got had a different driveshaft flange, and wouldn’t bolt up. So I’m out of a truck right now waiting to see if a 4x4 shop can possibly swap flanges and check all the bearings and such.

See: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/third-member-swap-issue.522492/

 

Go to a junkyard and get the back peice with the flange off another truck. You'll have to remove your u joints and install a new one.

 

Well I have the correct flange on mine. Just want to see if a shop can change them over. Don’t want to mess with my u-joints if I can help it.

 

I'm sorry to hear that you are having issues - are you still in contact with the craigslist seller?

I'm more than a little concerned that you've ended up with the incompatible TRD version differential... ie a V6 SR5 w/ TRD sport package.

 

Wait, TRD sports have a different flange diameter? I though all 2nd Gens were compatible with each other, save for the e-diff equipped PRO models. Other than that issue, everything fit right in. Splines lined up and it turned the axles just fine. Literally it’s just that 1/4-1/2” nose pattern that is different.

Haven’t bothered contacting him, I don’t think it’ll do much good and ultimately the onus is on me when purchasing.

 

Negative - see my post #4, above.

 

Damn, I thought you were talking about the later Off-road versions. So do those TRD-Sport guys have a hard time replacing third members too?

 

If it's just a flange issue - then it's just a flange issue. The 5-lug regearing thing is very murky as you can gather now. If the 3rd member fits entirely into the differential housing with no interference fit, and seems to be engaged with the axle shafts correctly - then you likely don't have an issue.

My bet is your donor truck had the 6speed MT, which requires a different driveshaft and flange assembly.

 

Yeah, okay. That could definitely be a possibility, however mine is a manual as well but I guess model and 6-speed manual differences can be strange like that.

Either way I’ll be calling a few shops in my area to see if they have good Tacoma knowledge on these diffs. With the castle nut showing signs of being removed and some tiny pry marks in the flange shoulder, I still think there’s a possibility that the guy screwed around with it. My buddy has a 98 5 lug, so I might sneak a measurement of his diff flange to see if it’s the same as this ones. That would put my mind at relative ease knowing the older 7.5” diffs has that size flange too.

 

I believe that the 6 speed Manual is a shorter transmission - as such, this is why the double-cabs so equipped have the short-box option, only. That would also require a different driveshaft, and likely a different flange.

Please, someone in the 6-lug community - correct me if i am incorrect. I do know there is a correlation between transmission choices, and driveshaft used - beyond that, it's fuzzy memory conjecture.

 

So I emailed ECGS and they said:

66mm roughly translates to 2 5/8” and 60mm around 2 3/8” like I measured.

So it looks like I just got unlucky with the fact that the prev owner screwed around with it. The shop I called seemed knowledgeable on the matter, so I’ll be taking the diffs there this evening to get a true assessment.

If anyone wants to use that info to plug into a sticky on this matter, I think it can be useful to those who want to swap thirds onto their 5-lug.

 

Local 4x4 shop is swapping flanges for me, including new seal and castle nut. $100 bucks or thereabout. I'm stoked. Will update with results later in the week. Cant wait to be a part of the 3.73 club!

 

Glad it's working out better for you!

 

You going to put an lSD in? Might be worth it if your going to go through the effort of opening it up.

 

I wanted to, but it just wasn’t in the cards for this year despite the convenience of having it out right now. Hopefully next year.