I just got myself a used Toyota E-locker that I would like to put into my 15 yr old son's 87 4Runner. What I would like to do is get a used rear axle so I can build it without an time pressure. My question is what rear axle can I use for the 87 4Runner? I think I saw somewhere that the axle on a pick-up is 1/2" shorter than a 4Runner axle. Is this true. I seem to live in an area that I can not find many 4Runners in junkyards, they seem to only have pickups. Up to what year 4Runner axle fit?
I'm new at this so any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Wow you sound like a great father, are you adopting? <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I believe that you will be fine with the pickup rear axle. The aftermarket axle shafts made for these trucks (from places such as All-Pro) do not specify whether the vehicle is a truck or 4Runner, so I think the width difference is just a rumor. All 86-95 trucks and 4Runners should have the same width rear axles, although the 90+ 4Runners will be set up for coil springs, not leaves. I assume you have already read about how to modify the housing. Another option would be to get the whole rear axle from a Tacoma that is already set up for the electric locker.

i think you'll want an '86-88? axle. around '89 or '90 toyota went to a 3" wide spring perch and you'd need to swap spring plates and u-bolts(or do the u-bolt flip thing).

other than that, any 8" rear axle will work fine for the modification <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> however i the taco TRD axle is 3" wider than your axle, and has the e-brake set up on the wrong side, or so i've heard. also heard rumor of weaker axle tubes on tacomas <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

No no, the elocker rear end is the same width as a 4runner rear end.

The "8.4" Tacoma/T100/Tundra axle is the one with the weak tubes supposedly.

Good call Kyle, I forgot about the different perch width. The springs themselves are the same though, I imagine that as long as you get the spring plates from the donor vehicle you are OK.

if i'm not mistaken, 4runners got wider in '95.5 just like tacomas.

Your right. According to Pirate4x4 heres the widths

Toyota Rear Axle Widths:
55" wide, '79-85 4wd trucks/4runners - 6 Lug
58" wide, '86-95 4wd trucks/4runners - 6 Lug
56" wide, '79-95 2wd Trucks - 5 Lug
60.75" wide, '95.5-up Tacomas/4runners
66.75" wide, '93-98 T100 trucks


I've just never heard anyone say anything about the different widths when swaping over the entire axle.