Potential rear axle swap

That's kinda exactly my point. For a little bit of extra labor now, that i don't mind doing, i could get factory discs and maybe even install an lsd for the same cost and labor-that-i-don't-like-as-much(maintaining drums) in the example you're suggesting. Again the discs vs drums is debatable, but it's undeniable that discs/pads are simpler to check and maintain. If i plan to keep this as a forever vehicle it more than pays off after a few times doing drum

 

When you put it that way... just link the Taco!

 

Im not taking this into a disc vs drum debate.. Just saying if your truck is truly as light as you say it is (impressive) then drums should easily last you 150-200k miles. Just food for thought from an outside perspective

 

Hmmm yea maybe a complete conversion is a bit much, but a good backup
That actually is a great suggestion to do a lil baby caliper for the e-brake. Would be convenient to do a simpler conversion and a fancy hoon handle in the cab. Definitely an option !!

 

Yea i get what you're saying. Appreciate the input still. The thing is, is that i'm at that point (180k ish) ...my drums are on their way out ....and if i can swindle a way to avoid them for the same cost as dealing with them (for now) then that's what i would prefer to do. Still young so i got a whole life of vehicle maintenance ahead of me but getting too old to fuck around wasting all my money on the more expensive options here so i'm trying for a creative compromise

 

Hook me up with a set of coilovers, a fuel cell, and $500 budget for rod ends and i'll do it. If i had the money that would be happening now instead of this thread

 

Perhaps share what your objective is? When you say rear diff is going bad, what exactly do you mean? If the housing is ok, works for you and is already set up SUA I would just be over hauling/servicing what you have. What do you think you will gain with a FJ/4 Runner axle?

 

To simplify things: I'd really just need to know if the flange for the driveshaft will match up. Also how well the electronics will play together like ABS and e-brake signals for the dash. Everything else would come down to fabrication work really

Bonus points would be finding a simple or even bolt in solution for an e-brake lever

Extra bonus points would be figuring out what the differences between the bearing races and the housing snouts are. Then it could be a possibility to pull the entire axles and diff from a 4runner and install them on a tacoma housing with maybe a thicker or thinner bearing race in some spots. That would be real trick

 

Haven't pulled it for a further look but the pinion bearing is wearing out. Way too much lash and it howls pretty loud. Drum breaks are still functional but in need of replacement
I kinda spelled out the goal here in the handful of posts above this reply

 

E-brake switch is in the cab.

I really like the idea above of using a 2nd small caliper as the park brake. But the handle or actuator needs to have some lock mechanism otherwise its just a hoon brake. Wonder if you could fab something that tags a cylinder into the existing parking brake foot mechanism..

 

Yea i'm definitely going to look into that a little further. I know i've seen a hoon handle that also has a little spring loaded pin to act as the parking brake. There's a few companies that now make little baby calipers and single outlet master cylinders for that function, but idk where the costs would land
That would be even better than the 4runner e-brakes if put together well

 

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