Rebuilding the Differential Locker

I have an 02 TRD Xtra cab with the factory locker, but it doesn’t actually engage. I light will come on and flash but never go solid, nor can I audibly hear it lock. I saw a few videos of people rebuilding the locker with a kit but I haven’t been able to find that kit anywhere. Does anyone know what size gaskets/rings and other parts existed in those kits? I know the grease used but that’s it. I even went to a local Toyota dealer and he looked at me like I was speaking a foreign language. From what I’ve read, it sounds like most/all parts in the rebuild kit can be pieced together from hardware stores.

Thanks!

 

Most dealer parts people looking up parts for anything over 5 years old give up. If your not a regular with an account .

Did you check online with your VIN to find the parts?

Toyota is known for not having a kit for most anything look up each item 1 at a time.

 

I personally haven't seen a rebuild kit (that doesn't mean they don't exist), but I'm not sure you even need one. If the actuator is not working, you can remove it from the 3rd member to clean and lube it. You can follow the FSM for removing the actuator. There is a gear on it which slides a fork in the diff. You just have to make sure that, whatever position the gear is in when it comes out, is the same as when you try to re-install it. See here: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/e-locker-actuator-motor-install.466058/ for installation instructions.

 

Most likely your actuator motor has failed. Here's some rebuild info if you're curious.

To check if the locker itself is in working condition you can remove the actuator to expose the rack that moves the collar to engage the locker and slide the rack over with a screwdriver. If the locker itself failed you'd have a lot of crunchy noises, they usually break a side gear.

 

Most parts store people are just monkeys reading a script, I always lookup my own parts and just have the monkeys hand it to me. "Hi, I need wiper blades" "Is that 4wd and what motor is in it"....

Toyota parts websites vary but you can find ones that have actual part searches rather than the ones that want a sales person to send you a quote.

 

@FlyingBuckeye3 post your frame code or VIN. GRN245L-PRADKA Like this from your Door frame sticker?

 

Sorry for my delay, got busy with some other maintenance. I’m hoping to get this fixed in the next couple weeks.

The frame code is VZN170L-CRMDKAB. I appreciate your help!

 

Just throwing it out there, I ran into the same issue and found a 4x4 place near El Segundo that had the part laying around from some extreme build they had done. When I rolled in to get it worked on, for sh*ts and giggles they messed around with banging on the old unit, lifting the truck, hand turning tires etc and it engaged. It had not been used for so long it was seized up, but not broken.

Now I engage it randomly in a parking let or such just to keep it working. I'd have a warmer fuzzy busting it open, cleaning it, lubing it etc but for now it works.

Anyhow, go get the rubber mallet and bang on it, and when engaging do some sharp turns in a parking lot, the open diff doing its thing due to turning seems to help with both engaging and dissengaging it.

 

I really don’t think it’s busted, I believe it’s just seized. It doesn’t try to engage at all, I also know the previous owner never used it and didn’t know it wouldn’t even engage. I would just like to put in new gaskets and such when I take it apart.

 

I just ordered a rebuild kit from landtankproducts. My elocker decided to not unlock this past weekend at fall crawl.