4WD to 2WD conversion

You guys might think I am crazy for doing this and I have read other forums that have done this in other ways. But I just wanted to get more clarity.

Theoretically for now, am I able to take the CV axles off, cap my front differential, switch my wheel bearings out to prerunner wheel bearings and be ok to drive?

 

This is critical. It might be easier to source a set of used spindles from a pre runner rather than switching the bearings/retainer.

 

Not gonna say you are crazy.

But it would be interesting to know why.

 

Ok, I was thinking of switching out my current wheel bearings because my current spindles are already gusseted, but if it is easier to source prerunner spindles then I can do that and just throw on another pair of gussets. I know the whole ordeal of the 4WD wheel bearings that aren't manual locking can become a catastrophic disaster if not torqued to the CV axles properly.

 

With the market the way it is, why not just sell your 4wd for top dollar and pick up a 2wd?

 

I'm sure a lot of people have different opinions on this type of subject. But my plan is to go long travel. I already have a 4WD 2nd gen tacoma, I was planning to build my first gen solely to be a 2WD long traveled truck, however the first gen tacoma I have now happened to have 4WD.

 

I can do that, but the truck, unfortunately, has a rolled back odometer and I've already spent the time to do the fiberglass fenders, bedliner, coating of the frame, etc so I rather just keep it.

 

In that case, I'd pull the front diff and drive shaft as well. No need for the weight, and it will make the sick sends off dune tops more epic.

 

You don't even need to go that far. My uncle had a 1987 Isuzu Trooper that he bought used in 1989 and owned until 2005. My cousin drove it all through college, and let a friend borrow it. This friend and her boyfriend took the Trooper off-roading and destroyed both the transmission and transfercase, then lied about it. My cousin was afraid of what her dad (my uncle) would do, but my uncle realized it wasn't her fault and just ate the cost of fixing the Trooper. This was somewhere in the range of 1999-2001. My uncle had a 1999 Dodge Ram, my aunt had a 1994 Dodge Grand Caravan, and the Trooper was basically my cousin's vehicle. They never found themselves in any situation where 4WD was needed by the time this incident occurred, so my uncle opted to have the transfercase bypassed and disconnected. I believe the driveshaft was removed. My cousin bought a newer car in about 2002 and my uncle held onto the Trooper until like 2004-2005 when he sold it to some landscaping guy who did work in his neighborhood.

Basically, you should be fine just basically disconnecting the transfercase. The only reasoning I could see for totally removing the various 4WD components is to save weight and improve gas mileage.

 

Ah so making it a full on Prerunner build then? You can keep it 4wd while doing the same LT build but of course there's more to worry about upgrading and breaking with a 4wd LT truck.

In this case I would do like mentioned above and gut all the 4wd components out, saves you a good amount of weight and you won't have to worry about any of it while running the truck on go-fast terrain. Lots of people looking for 4wd 1st gen components so you could probably make some $ for your build by selling it all off, diffs, t-case, driveshaft, axles, spindles and all.

 

Find a local prerunner owner who wants 4wd and swap the parts. 2 wins!

 

What year is your truck and where are you located? Cause I have a 98' Prerunner that I want to 4x4 convert lol

 

His profile says Vegas. And while it shows a '96 and a '14 for what he owns, since he's in the 1st gen forum, let's assume '96 is the project.

 

I’d love to be able to convert either of my 2wd Tacomas to 4x4. You’re looking to do the complete opposite. Hard to believe.

 

I have zero mechanical ability and no place to get this done. I wish I could take you up on the offer.