</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">Originally posted by Aurora Sandman:
<strong>
Here is another way to tell the 2 apart. The 4Runner one has letters and numbers on the center part. The taco does not.

Steve</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">My CarQuest axles have numbers printed on the green shafts...

From Steve:

Hey Jeff-

The roller difference is subtle. They way "we" Myself and Mark Mason found it was that we tried to use my spare unknown to me Tacoma axle to build up the spare ORS axle. We tore the spare Taco axle apart and tried to put the inner cup over a 4Runner tripod. Would not fit. Then I was confused. Was this an 96 or 97 4Runner axle or did they change something over the years or what? Then I teamed up with Mark G. he had a Tacoma axle out of Karltons 2001 SAS'd Show Truck. So the pics on my site at my ORS spare versus Karltons old 2001 Tacoma axle. And my ORS spare versus the unused parts from my 4Runner axles.

I crawled under Steve Hunts 4Runner. He has Tacoma axles from ORS for his hub kit and they are the smaller type as well. When you guys have Mike Brown's remanufactured axle crawl under your 4Runner and compare the inner tripod cups. You'll see.

Steve Schaefer

I just called the CarQuest store to ask them to do a visual check on the axle that came in for me from their warehouse. The gal said it's completely straight, not tapered. So that sounds like it's a Tacoma axle. I then asked her to look up their part number for the Tocoma axle and the 4Runner axle to see if, by chance, they're the same. And guess what, they are. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Frown]" src="images/icons/frown.gif" /> (The manual hub Taco is different, which is not surprising, but irrelevant to this issue.)

So now what do I do? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="images/icons/confused.gif" /> Keep ordering it until they get me one that's correct? (Doesn't seem too practical.) I guess maybe I could ask them to call their warehouse and ask them to send me one that they can see is tapered. Any other ideas??

<small>[ April 15, 2003, 11:55 AM: Message edited by: Aurora Sandman ]</small>

If the shoe fits....

What's so bad about running "tacoma axles" anyways? Don't forget that you're buying a remanufactured axle... all of their axles are remanufactured at the same place in the U.S. with similar components. Does it really matter whether it started its life as a 4Runner axle or a Tacoma axle?

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">Originally posted by phong:
<strong>Does it really matter whether it started its life as a 4Runner axle or a Tacoma axle?</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">See 6 posts above where I have my message and Steve's response. (Read Steve's response.)

<small>[ April 15, 2003, 12:21 PM: Message edited by: Aurora Sandman ]</small>

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">Originally posted by Aurora Sandman:
<strong> </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">Originally posted by phong:
<strong>Does it really matter whether it started its life as a 4Runner axle or a Tacoma axle?</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">See 6 posts above where I have my message and Steve's response. (Read Steve's response.)</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">I already did. So the tripod joint bearings are bigger... whoopdee doo. That's not where the axle usually fails. And I'll take a thicker shaft over a thinner shaft anyday.

In your case, I would try to get the 4Runner axle... just so it matches the other side. But IMO, there are no major disadvantages in using a Tacoma axle.

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">Originally posted by phong:
<strong>...So the tripod joint bearings are bigger... whoopdee doo. That's not where the axle usually fails. And I'll take a thicker shaft over a thinner shaft anyday.

In your case, I would try to get the 4Runner axle... just so it matches the other side. But IMO, there are no major disadvantages in using a Tacoma axle.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Tahoma, Arial, Helv, Helvetica, Sans">I agree.

Ideally, one of us should eventually get on a ramp and check how close the Taco tripod bearings are to the end of the tripod shell when used on a 4Runner at full extension. I remember that my original 4Runner axles had wear areas that were definitely more than 1/4" in from the ends of the joint, but I don't remember how much cushion room there was. The only disadvantage would be that threat of how close it gets to the end of the tripod shell for strength.

There's also this unforeseen problem that some people who buy the ORS 4Runner manual hub kit might unknowingly have CarQuest Taco axles and actually need the ORS Taco kit instead of the 4Runner kit so it matches whatever axles they have.

So Mike, if it's possible to get your replacement axles from a different store, I'd consider that, just so you have matching axles. Hopefully there isn't a restocking fee.
Jeff