rear locker swap TRD to non TRD prerunner

If you currently have a locker and want a LSD or the other way around you need the whole rear end because its a different size axle. Locker has a 8" and a LSD has a 8.4". Now this only applies if your wanting to keep everything stock.

 

really so with a 4wd SR5 non trd I could just get the whole rear and and wire it up? I want the locker but I'd settle for the LSD...

lets just talk LSD what would I need? Just the LSD or the whole rear?

 

Open diff or LSD you have a 8.4" rear end
Locker you have a 8" rear end.

As long as you don't have a locker you can swap just the 3rd members.

This pic shows what the 3rd member for the e-locker looks like.


This pic shows what the open diff/lsd 3rd member looks like

 

I have also been looking at doing this. However, my axle code is AO2A, which means I have a 7.5" ring gear if I read it properly. Could I swap a TRD E-Locker 3rd member into this housing with all the normal mods described in his link, or will it not fit. I don't want to swap an entire axle, as I'd have 1 5 lug axle and 1 6 lugger.
OR
could I use the TRD housing and re-use my 5 lug axle shafts?
I'd really like a locker, but it's looking like it's gonna be too much work or even impossible.

 

Let me get this straight, Since I don't have a locker then all I need is the locker not the whole rear? I thought I'd need the whole axle?

 

Half of that is right. The axle shafts are the same on both axles.

 

what about the LSD from a sport? would I need the whole axle too?

 

I answered this question in my above post with the pictures. If you don't have a locker you can swap just the 3rd members. Because every other tacoma that is 6lug all have the 8.4" rear end.

Trd offroad= 8" axle. You can't swap anything if you have this axle.
Trd Sport/Non TRD all have a 8.4" axle whether you have a lsd or an open diff. The xrunner also has this axle but is 5lug.
The axle shafts are all the same for the 6lug.

5lug 4cyl have a 7.5" axle.

 

okay cool... I guess I was getting confused between the locker and the LSD... so the locker I'll need an axle and for the LSD just the 3 member...

 

Also, to add, the X-Runner has a gear ratio of 3.15 (I think). So if you're a 4x4 you can't use the third from there unless you change the gears. The rest of the V6's are 3.73.

 

Something not mentioned, for those considering swapping open to LSD....the newer (09 up???) Sport models do NOT have a mechanical LSD, but have a computer-brake operated "virtual" LSD. Don't use one of these as a donor....
And if my info is incorrect, feel free to jump in

I was led to believe I was getting a real LSD. Upon reading the manual, I was very let down. Toyota sold us new Sport owners a bill of crap.

 

subscribed

 

Lots of good information, exactly what I was afraid to ask, lol. I do have a few questions though...

I have never worked on any part of the rear end, what skill level is involved in swapping out the 3rd member? Is it something I could do in my garage or do I need to have someone with a lot experience doing this? I am wanting to put an lsd as I have an open diff in my prerunner. Thanks for any help you guys can offer.

Joshua

 

Disconnect the drive shaft from the third. Drain the fluid. Disconnect the brake lines from the hubs. Pull the half shafts out of the axle housing. Remove all the nuts holding the third in. Pull the third out. Replace the third gasket. Put the new third in and go in reverse order.

 

I agree with you on this one completely. Where is the advantage to buying a Sport over an OffRoad anymore beyond the cosmetic differences. I'd be ticked off too. I have an '08 Sport, so I got in on the mechanical LSD.

 

Bump

I have a 2013 4x4 SR5, if I could find a locked rear end... what would I need to do, would it be plug and play?

 

Double Bump....

I have a 2015 Tacoma 4x4 MT SR5, was told to me by the stealership they were supposed to be manufactured as a TRD, but they changed it to a SR5 after it left texas (main facility, to the regional facility), dont know what rear differential i have yet since the dang thing is being shipped from Jacksonville, but was wondering the same thing. Is it really as simple as buying a new rear end and plug it up? since the same wiring harness is used for all trucks, i have a feeling all we need is the TRD rear end and the OEM E-locker... if anyone has converted a BASE/SR5 to a e-locker (oem) please let us know, that sounds like it would be a fun project to do on the weekend...

 

This is a very interesting conversation. I am very interested as to how the performance is improved over the auto lsd.