4Runner rear axle in a Tacoma?

Driver's side rear axle seal is blown on my 98 TRD Prerunner. Thanked my lucky stars when I found a 2000 Taco rear axle in pristine condition in the junkyard. Thought I was being clever to just swap entire backing plate/rear drum/brakes and axle and not have to replace my oil soaked brake shoes along with the seal.

It was going to be so easy!

Until I learned the difference between ABS axles and non-ABS axles. Why the F would Toyota put an ABS ring on my axle and THEN NOT EVEN GIVE IT ABS??

On to plan B...would this same theory hold for 3rd Gen 4Runner rear axles? I know I saw some/maybe all in the JY that had the ABS ring. Would presence of E-locker matter? Axle lengths? Spline Counts? All research I've been able to find points to this being do-able.

Was really looking forward to this being like a half hour swap, no messing with pressing axle seals, messing up races, pulling ABS ring etc. Plus the entire assembly was $50 from the JY. Instead of the $$$$ I was quoted by local shop for replacing seal.

 

Non-Abs housing from JY Mine w/ Abs housing My ABS axle Non ABS axle from JY

 

For posterities sake...

It worked. Came out of a 96 4Runner with ABS, no Locker. Direct replacement just bolt it on. I replaced the seal in the hub.

Only trouble was 4Runner backing plate parking brake is clocked 90 degrees CCW from Tacoma. Just had to flip parking brake cable where it comes from the front and find a ~1" bracket to span the gap between brake arm on the backing plate and the cable. Cable now threads the needle between strut and leaf spring...about 1" clearance to each. I also relocated the bracket that holds cable right by the diff to the lower mount.

Best part....donor axle had date of seal replacement on it...2011. I'll take it. I figure I saved a few hundred. Plus don't have replace brake shoes or clean up any nastiness that was inside the drum. New drum is nice and dry.

 

Good deal and good quick work!

 

Interesting. I was looking to install the 4runner rear sway bar on my truck, but the mounting tabs are welded onto the differential carrier.

Were you able to tell if the housing was also interchangeable?