Base model to trd locker swap

So I’ve recently got my hands on a factory locker and I’m looking to swap rear diff with elocker. Anyone wire the locker directly to aftermarket switch? Or is better to change to trd harness and factory switch. Also anyone know the part# for longer housing studs? Appreciate the help!

 

12voltguys or lowrange

 

Did you get the whole axle housing? They are different housings... Although you can modify the 8.4" housing to fit the 8" locker 3rd member. A lot of people just swap the entire housing and run a 12v back to the locker.

But I guess it depends on what you mean by "better." If you're handy with a wire cutter, you can make your own pretty easily. Routing the wires through tcab and frame is probably the hardest part. All the locker basically needs is 12v. A relay, a switch, and some wire and you're all set. You can buy the commercial ones, but iirc, those are also meant to use the OEM locker ECU, which if you don't have, you might as well just wire it separately.

This is a good video on a swap:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAznG_WoS44

Here's a DIY method for the wiring.
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f2/how-diy-retrofit-elocker-wiring-235219/

 

Ive got the complete housing and wire harness from a TRD truck should be plug and play if I buy factory switch. I hone there are two long studs that go through the actuator. Other than that it should fit the same right?

 

Harness from TRD under carriage.

 

It's not just the extended studs that are different

You need the entire axle housing itself. The elocker third member will not fit the non-locker axle housing at all.

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/373191538792

I haven’t done any hunting for an axle to know if this is a decent price or not, but that’s about what the core cost is from ECGS. Could probably sell your 3rd for about that price to the right person.

EDIT: I thought this was for the complete axle with 3rd. My bad.

 

Shit I separated it from the housing I should’ve kept it together. It was a lot more rusty than mine. Should’ve read into it more.

 

Thats not true. Its not too hard to modify the axle to get it to fit.
You have to grind out about an inch or two to actually get the thing to clearance properly, then weld in a new stud.

 

If he had a unlocked 8" axle it would be possible. Unfortunately Toyota never put them in the rear of the Tacoma. You are correct that the 95 and older Pickup 8" and 85 and older front 8" can be retrofit.

The 8.4" third member has a different mounting pattern. Unless he wants to weld all the stud holes and redrill new ones it's not really feasible given the amount of effort

 

I forgot that Tacomas are a bit weird with axles.
I know that with my 4Runner, they only came with 8 inch axles.
I'm going to swap an elocker from my Taco into my 4Runner, so if he wants to drive out to NM, I've got a cheap elocker axle he can have.
I definitely don't think its worth swapping the axle between the two.

 

Yeah Toyota was inconsistent with it. The 3rd gen 4runner continued to get the unlocked 8" at the same time the 8.4 went into the Tacoma.

 

I’m going out to fort Stockton at the end of the month what part of New Mexico?