3rd gen diffs in 2nd gen?

Does anyone know if a front differential assembly from a 2016 tacoma will fit a 2005 tacoma? Also if a 2016 axle housing and rear 3rd member will fit a 2005 tacoma? Will the driveshaft fit? Will the rear axles/brakes fit?

 

Hmm. That's a good question. I wouldn't be surprised if they were the same parts, but then again, thats a good spread of years between the two gens.

You could compare parts numbers for each gen and see if they're a match?

 

Rear axles on the 3rd gens are completely different.

I believe, but dont quote me, front clamshell diff is the same (but will have different gearing stock).

 

If I bought the 3rd gen rear axles, would it work?

 

@nd4spdbh - you said 3rd gen axles wouldn't work on a 2nd gen, correct?

 

I mean you can make anything fit, it's just is it worth it

 

theres a bit more to it than just "will 3rd gen fit on my 2nd gen" as there are different differentials/axles between different trims of each gen.
2nd gen's had the 8.4" open/LSD or the 8" TRD e-locker whereas the 3rd gens get the upgraded 8.75" e-locker in the Off-road's and (to my knowledge) the 8" with open carrier diff in the Sports/SR5 etc.

I'm pretty sure brakes and wheel speed sensors are identical, not sure on driveshaft length's between the different 3rd member sizes. We'll likely be doing a 3rd gen e-locker housing swap into a 2nd gen TRD sport fairly soon however so I'm sure we'll gain some additional knowledge by doing that and have better answers at that time.

 

If you bought the whole axle itself, (housing, shafts, diff etc) it would bolt right up (elocker wiring is likely different). But mixing and matching parts wont work, and driveshaft lenghts are probably slightly different.

 

Just did this swap. The 3rd Gen OR axle (entire assembly) bolted right up to my 2014, no problem. 4.30 gears and a locker. I have a custom wiring harness for the locker on the way. More details soon.

 

Here is my write-up for putting a 3rd Gen OR axle assembly under a 2nd Gen truck (or under a 3rd Gen non-OR. It's exactly the same; only the switch on the dash will be different).

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...on-a-2nd-gen-tacoma-or-non-or-3rd-gen.842862/