What front differential will work

Well my bearings are shot and looks like water has gotten in to my front differential. I bought the truck last year thinking bearing needed replaced. After draining it looks like water has been it. I have a 98 5 speed with 2.7 and manual hubs. Also has 4:10 gears.
What differentials will work from tacoma to 4 runners. Looking for year models. Thanks

 

all first gen and third gen are the same, including first gen tundra. all you need is the clamshell and reuse all existing parts such as the cv tube. make sure gear ratio match.

btw, your 2.7 will not bet 4.10 unless you changed it, should be 3.91

 

How sure are you on the 3:91. My sticker says 4:10 but I also know it can be wrong, but I didn’t think it happened all the time. I probably going wait until I know what I got by counting teeth. I was being proactive , but should find some time next week to find out.

 

I've not encountered a 3.91 4banger, that ratio is rare all around in 1st gens anyway

 

Serviced 2 of 2 with 3.91 & 3rz. All my experience with 4.10 has been with 5vz

 

I’ve got that ratio and have been considering changing it to 4.something and an LSD. It’s great on the interstate though, so long as it’s flat.

 

I serviced 2 3rz with 3.91 ratio. I can be wrong with the 3rz and 4.10, its just that I haven’t seen it before.

there’s plenty of video out there to help determine what ratio is in there. here’s one:
https://youtu.be/6rhOnY7yNRA?si=8niQqx5Uyk_VIfhs

 

You're jumping around a bit here... asking very similar questions in at least three different threads now. Most of the information you're looking for is already available online if you search around a bit.

The high points are:

All 1st gen Tacoma and 3rd gen 4Runner diffs use the same front diff design and are physically interchangeable.

There were three different extension tube designs used: One for manual hubs, one with electronic-actuated automatic differential disconnect (ADD), one with vacuum-actuated ADD. Getting a diff from a manual-hub truck will be easiest but you can swap the extension tube or modify the actuator if the donor vehicle had ADD. Manual hubs were only available on pre-2001 Tacomas, never on 3rd gen 4Runners.

There is no exact formula for gear ratios--they vary with year, engine, trans, and options packages. It's impossible to know for sure what ratio a truck has without inspecting it up close. You can look up the truck on toyodiy.com to know what it might have (look at the front or rear diff; usually two or more options are listed), you can decipher the axle code on the door, you can count turns, or you can open the thing up and count teeth. Counting turns or teeth are the only 100% reliable methods.

While there is no formula, 4.10 seems to be the most common ratio out there. It was used with both 3RZ and 5VZ, with both autos and manuals, in both Tacomas and 4Runners. Based on my experience, you'll have the best luck if you avoid 3RZ/auto trucks (they got 4.56), 2000+ 3RZ/manual trucks (they got 4.30), and 4Runners with e-lockers (also 4.30). Outside of that, most trucks I've personally encountered are 4.10.

 

6P4 thanks for the specific information and that is why I started this thread to get this answer. The other thread was what gears came in our trucks. Your thread took care of my specific question and hopefully will help other members looking also. I actually did try searching but didnt find an answer as good as yours. Most talked about 2001-2004 or changing over to a locker. I thought I could also look at 4 runners but wasn’t for sure and which ones. This helps me narrow my search for a replacement. Ricky

 

6P4
Are the front driveshafts the same for 95-04 tacomas or did they change around 2001?

 

I picked up the diff. and split the clam. Ring gear had 41 and pinion had 10, everything was in prestine condition. The guy said it had been in his shop for 10-15 years. I resealed it and going add gear oil after it gets installed. Thanks for the help.

 

Here is a photo of mine and it doesnt look like a needle bearing. I don’t remember groves being in the east coast bushing.

so it looks like I got a front differential thats not a tacoma and is full time. Well that ain’t good.



here is the end of cv axle.