Rear Differential Swap in a 5 lug 2.4L

[Tacomatrx450]

currently running 31" tires and would like to switch to 33. i have a 2003 tacoma mini 5lug i believe it has a 7.5 in the rear? looking to replace it with a differential that has a E-locker, and a better gear setup for my mini. any information would be appreciated, i dont care to much about the lug patterns, but would like to keep the E-brake. thanks!

[hytenor]

Originally Posted by Tacomatrx450

currently running 31" tires and would like to switch to 33. i have a 2003 tacoma mini 5lug i believe it has a 7.5 in the rear? looking to replace it with a differential that has a E-locker, and a better gear setup for my mini. any information would be appreciated, i don't care to much about the lug patterns, but would like to keep the E-brake. thanks!

you'll have to get a 6-lug axle assembly from a Prerunner or 4x4 TRD Tacoma, '95.5-04, swap it to spring-under and gear it to 4.88s for 33" tires (don't even think about not regearing it...) good luck. You can also use one from a gen2 Runner but would need to weld on the spring perches.

[Tacomatrx450]

if i were to keep the 31" would 4.10 be good enough?

[hytenor]

Originally Posted by Tacomatrx450

if i were to keep the 31" would 4.10 be good enough?

yes

[Tacomatrx450]

coo! sorry to bother, but would this work for my mini? is it hard to change swap it out, i have done it before on my mustang but never worked with leaf springs thanks hyten


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2003-...Q5fAccessories

[hytenor]

Originally Posted by Tacomatrx450

coo! sorry to bother, but would this work for my mini? is it hard to change swap it out, i have done it before on my mustang but never worked with leaf springs thanks hyten


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2003-...Q5fAccessories

yea, that will work. Price is "ok" but not great. If that doesn't include the wiring harness he's asking too much. you need to figure out how you're going to wire up the elocker, however. your truck won't have the cab wiring like a prerunner or 4x4 will have so you're gonna have to go one of two directions...either complete wiring harnesses from the axle to the cab and then the cab harness. The cab harness will be a pita. or...just wire the thing up with a standard switch rather than OE. There should be a writeup in the faq/tech section by Dick Foster.

as for adapting the axle... since you have a spring-under setup rather than the spring-over that the donor truck has you'll have to get and weld on the spring perches. There will be more info on this in the desert race forums since many of them do this swap. contact Drabnor for better info. Shock mounts will also have to be done, most likely but RJ will be able to help you with that.

[Tacomatrx450]

thanks a lot, pretty good with electronics so the e-locker shouldn't be a problem, but ill have to have someone weld those suckers on. im looking to buy the axle local maybe with a better price. but the locker is a must, i looked like a idiot last year in the mountains when my tires would spin in opposite directions when i hit a little ice "with chains".

[hytenor]

Originally Posted by Tacomatrx450

thanks a lot, pretty good with electronics so the e-locker shouldn't be a problem, but ill have to have someone weld those suckers on. im looking to buy the axle local maybe with a better price. but the locker is a must, i looked like a idiot last year in the mountains when my tires would spin in opposite directions when i hit a little ice "with chains".

you do NOT want a rear locker engaged on ice, especially on any sort of off-camber section. Open diff or LSD is best for that. I only use lockers in deep snow and then usually both front and rear.

[Tacomatrx450]

so do you think best bet sticking with the 7.5" and just regear with a lsd? this is my daily driver so i dont abuse it to much

[hytenor]

Originally Posted by Tacomatrx450

so do you think best bet sticking with the 7.5" and just regear with a lsd? this is my daily driver so i dont abuse it to much

how much snow do you see in Socal?
I'd go for the elocker and just use it when needed.

[hytenor]

what year is your truck? '05+ minis already have the 8" rear...but with 5-lug axles.

[Tacomatrx450]

hey its a 2003, to be honest i really dont do much offroad, but when i take out my quad i like not getting stuck on a small aunt hill. this is my daily driver so i try not to beat it up to much.

[hytenor]

Originally Posted by Tacomatrx450

hey its a 2003, to be honest i really dont do much offroad, but when i take out my quad i like not getting stuck on a small aunt hill. this is my daily driver so i try not to beat it up to much.

have you checked to see what gears are available for the rear 7.5" The CT guys should know more about it. If you can get gears for it along with a LSD it will be a lot better than what you have now.

[d33pt]

put a lockright in it for $200. in fact, i have one i could sell you.

[Tacomatrx450]

sounds good just might go that rout thanks. i have checked out the gear size before by checking the numbers on the door jam but i forgot so i guess ill be regearing, and installing a lsd. do you guys know what kind of labor charges ill be looking at? im pretty mechanically incline, but i hear if they are not installed right they can cause problems later

[hytenor]

Originally Posted by Tacomatrx450

sounds good just might go that rout thanks. i have checked out the gear size before by checking the numbers on the door jam but i forgot so i guess ill be regearing, and installing a lsd. do you guys know what kind of labor charges ill be looking at? im pretty mechanically incline, but i hear if they are not installed right they can cause problems later

a full-time locker on a 2wd would not be such a hot idea IMO. any slick surface and you can wind up 180* in the other direction in a second

First, find out what gears are even available for the rear 7.5"; that will determine tire size, frankly...if you stick with the 7.5". go with 4.88s for 33s

regear cost: parts will be around $400 (gear set and master install kit), labor averages $250 for the setup if you hand the gear shop the 3rd member. Setting up gears is not for the novice and requires some special tools. But, if you have mad skills and the tools...or a friend that has them...it can be done by following one of the many online writeups.

you can swap axle assemblies for a few hundred bucks more, run the OE 4.10s and 31" tires