I done did it this time

So my buddy was trying to install a real locker in his 3rd gen 2.7l. So we got a rear axle from a totaled TRD Sport...Well we got the the air locker in the diff and with some minor welds we got the rear axle on the 2.7l. We had to make some minor welds and cuts etc. We even got the shocks off the sport and put them on the 2.7l. The truck barely has power and it keeps making this horrible grinding sound. What do yall think could have happened? Im attaching pics.

 

Not good. Not good at all.

 

pics of these said minor welds and cuts please....

 

did you take the whole rear end or just the locker off of the sport? if you just popped the locker in without checking backlash and aligning things correctly (sounds like you didnt) then tow it to a shop because its beyond your ability

 

Correct gear ratio? Grinds in 2WD or 4WD?

I'm really confused what exactly you did. What parts on the truck are original and what parts are from the donor truck? What did you have to weld? I didn't think this was a job that needed welding.

 

I've never heard of needing to cut or weld anything for a locker install. What's up with that?

Also, why did you buy an axle from a wrecked truck when you could have just installed a locker in the existing axle housing?

 

afaik, welding the rear diff = perma locker

 

Im guessing its the wrong ratio... he has a 2.7, so its probably a manual, the sport was probably a auto.

 

Says he put an air locker in, so that's not from a Toyota...

I'm tempted to suggest towing it to a shop just based on the description so far...

 

Yeah but if the ratio is the problem he wouldn't notice anything in 2WD. Shit would hit the fan only when he went into 4WD.

OP we have so many questions! Need more info! Did you try and put an 8.4" diff into an 8.0" housing? Not all Tacomas have the same axle.

 

Yep thats what it looks like

Steps in working on anything
1 Not knowing what to do - 2 Knowing what you need to do - 3 Knowing how to do it - 4 Doing it

Sounds like he and his friend were stuck on step 1.

 

All these dudes in here trying to give you actual advice, @Wixo but none of them saw that the ring gear diameter is too big for the rear diff housing in the second picture.

 

Thought the sport came with a smaller rear? Which model locker was put in? I could be wrong.... Too drunk to research!

 

I was getting there...

 

clearly with the high quality picture it was hard to miss.

 

Manual trans, trd offroad, and trd pro came with the big diffs, all others came with the small diffs. Not sure about 2.7 versions though.

 

Looks like just a picture of a 3rd member to me, how can you tell it's too big?

 

That part of the ring gear shouldn't be coming in contact with the housing. In fact, no part of the ring gear should touch the housing.