E Locker Axle Swap Questions

I'm finally ready to pull the trigger on an e-locker axle swap into my 2003 Xtra Cab 4WD SR5 Tacoma (B03A - 4.10 gears). I've got two promising leads on some axles.

I have a couple of questions before I actually do the swap:

1. Can I get full functionality, meaning the dash to illuminate "RR Diff Lock", if I wire it in properly? Does that light exist on a base SR5 dash?

2. Can I swap in my axle shafts from my current 8.4" rear into the Elocker rear end? Mine have brand new OEM wheel bearings, drums, and shoes on them, and I doubt a junkyard axle will be in half as good of shape.

Pic of "Dorothy" who's about to get just a little more bad to the bone :

 

1. yes you need the ECU and dash switch. You’ll have to add the wire and bulb to the combination meter as well.

2. no the shafts and bearings are all different between the 8.4 and elocker 8.0 axle.

there are a bunch of write ups on the swap, I put together some of it in my thread https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/tiffany-the-taco.374490/page-5#post-14771682

 

Awesome write-up. Thank you very much sir. This answers all of my questions and will give me a nice guide as I go through this

 

I highly recommend you keep your axle and just install an Eaton E locker.

 

What's the rough price of going that route? Why is that preferable? And do I just buy a 3rd member from them, replace mine with that, and wire it up?

Going to Phoenix (2 hours away), to look at an Elocker axle from a 2000 Tacoma and the yard is asking for $850 for the complete rear axle assembly with the Elocker wiring and switch. Seems like a very reasonable price. If it checks out I plan to purchase. But I'm all ears to the Eaton route if it is superior in one or more ways to an OEM axle

 

It's just a differential, so you can buy the Eaton and have someone remove yours and install the Eaton, then you just wire it up and that's that. I think it's like $1200 plus whatever install costs. You don't get engagement issues like the OEM locker has. You get to keep all your fresh parts. You don't have to worry about rust or the little motor rusting and breaking apart (I've seen a lot do that when I was shopping for an OEM locker). I've been abusing the Eaton locker on both front and rear diffs in my Tacoma and I'm glad I didn't go OEM.

 

Yep do this and just wire in the light bulb as a switch position inducator

 

Alright that definitely does sound easier. Where'd you order your Eaton lockers from?

 

So I'm looking at 4wheelparts.com, and this locker seems to be the one I'd want. Am I correct that this is the right locker for an 8.4", 4.10 Toyota rear axle?

 

I got it from the shop that did my regear.

 

Yup that's the one. You're going to reuse your ring and pinion so you'll still have your 4.10 gearing.

 

Gear & Axle mechanic here. 100% go for the Eaton in your 8.4. The 8.4 is way stronger than that 8.0 OEM. One of the key benefits is that the caps on the differential are joined, kind of like a cradle. That reinforces the whole thing and I have personally seen these things go way further than the 8.0

 

Awesome. That's great to know. Honestly the idea of keeping my axles (that have new bearings and seals), with new rear brakes kinda sold me on the Eaton route.

Thank you @Nano909 for your input and advice as well

 

Yeah I was going the same route as you, I even had an OEM E locker axle housing ready to go. I'm glad I went with the Eaton.

 

Yea the 8.0 rear diffs seem to deflect surprisingly easily. They're a common failure point on 4th gen 4runners, GX470s, and FJ Cruisers when running oversized tires. That's why those platforms upgraded to the 8.2" rear in 2010.

 

Eaton E Locker ordered, and local 4x4 parts installation shop located that says they can do the install.

Ordered an RR Diff Lock switch, and will ask the shop to try and wire the RR Diff Lock switch up to engage/disengage the Eaton.

Also hopeful they can utilize the RR Diff Lock light as an indicator light for when it's engaged.

 

Did they say how much they’d charge for the install?

 

Yea $1254 plus tax and shop supplies. Not great, but I think taking the diff apart and setting backlash and all might be a bit above my current skill set.

 

Sorry in advance for this question. I have the factory e locker rearend I transplanted from a TRD. I can install the 8.4” gear set into the same rear housing?

I haven’t ever looked this far into it until now because I’m about to build a turbo motor.

 

No reason to apologize, but no you can't put the 8.4" third in there. Won't fit. You'd need a whole new housing, and you'd lose your Elocker. Then you'd have to do a Harrop or Eaton like I'm doing (if you wanted to maintain the ability to lock the diff). Mine will be about $3k total for the Eaton after adding install cost, so I'd suggest just sending it with the 8".