Rear end interchange

Is there somewhere I can find a list of rear ends interchange for Gen 1? Is there a difference between 2wd/4wd, V6/4cyl, with/without load sensing proportioning valve? My rear end is whining and thinking I can find a whole rear end in good shape and swap it out. Mine is a 99 Prerunner. Recommendations or opinions?

 

There are three basic diff/axle designs:

7.5", used only in 5-lug 1st gens
8.4", used in all 6-lug 1st gens without factory lockers
8.0", used in all 6-lug 1st gens with factory lockers

Parts are not interchangeable between the different sizes--you can replace an 8.4" complete axle with an 8.0" complete axle, but you can't put an 8.0" diff into an 8.4" axle.

All 3rd gen 4Runners (regardless of factory locker) used the 8.0" diff but in a different housing. You can use 4Runner diff in a Tacoma 8.0" housing, but swapping a complete 4Runner axle requires custom fabrication and welding.

If your existing axle has an e-locker, you'll want to find an 8.0"/e-locker donor. If your existing axle doesn't have an e-locker, you can use this as an excuse to upgrade, but you'll need to do some wiring to make it work. There are aftermarket harnesses available, and plenty of info available online about the swap.

As far as I know, the LSPV is the same for all 6-lug 1st gens.

Most 1st gens route the parking brake above the leaf springs, but some later-year trucks have it routed below. This shouldn't be a big concern if you're swapping the complete axle, but make sure you get all the parking brake cabling back to the frame if you're going to change routing.

If your truck has ABS, you'll need to get an ABS-compatible axle. As far as I know, all 8.0" 1st gen Tacoma axles are ABS-compatible; the ABS sensor ports were simply capped off on non-ABS trucks. Not all 8.4" axles are ABS-compatible; you'll want to make sure the donor truck was ABS-equipped if your truck has ABS.

1st gens had a bunch of different gear ratios. Since your truck is a Prerunner you don't have to worry about matching the axle to the front diff, but you'll still want to get a ratio that drives well. If you have a v6, you probably have 4.10 gears from the factory. If your truck is a 4-cyl, it probably has 4.56. See here for info on ID'ing your factory gear ratio: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/oem-gear-ratio-chart.365138/

 

I forgot to mention, if you do change gear ratios you'll also need to correct your odometer/speedometer: https://adventuretaco.com/replacing-the-speedo-gear/

 

Why not just change the pumkin. Its a lot easier to change and gives you a lot more options at the junkyard. If you do the pumpkin for $900 you can have a brand new one from ECGS.