Swapping OEM e-locks

Buddy with a '97 just found a taco in a junkyard with the factory elocker.

The guy will give him the third member for $150.

I don't know anything about taco rearends, i know he needs to get as much of the wiring harness as possible, the in dash switch, and the actuator. I assume the actuator is bolted to the third member, not the axle housing?

Let me know if there is anything I am missing so i can tell him before he goes to remove it.

Thanks.

What is does he want to bolt this into?

If you want to drop it into a non-elocker 8" housing, you will have to do some grinding and stud relocation. Talk to Homer about this. It will not fit in the Taco 8.25" housing. Yes, the actuator is part of the 3rd member not the housing. Also, there is a 4WD control unit under the dash. Jack has one if you can't find it. I hope this helps.

CruisinGA said:

Buddy with a '97 just found a taco in a junkyard with the factory elocker.

The guy will give him the third member for $150.

I don't know anything about taco rearends, i know he needs to get as much of the wiring harness as possible, the in dash switch, and the actuator. I assume the actuator is bolted to the third member, not the axle housing?

Let me know if there is anything I am missing so i can tell him before he goes to remove it.

Thanks.

Click to expand...

Thanks Tom, he checked today, the computer at the junkyard said it wouldn't fit.

It is an elocker from a '96, going to a '97.

he is going to call tomorrow and see if he can get the whole axle.

If he can get the whole axle, then he just needs to get the wiring harness, switch, and 4wd control box under the dash, correct?

I would assume that if necessary the locker could be custom wired to be operated by a simple switch and relay?

How would he know if he has the 8.25 vs 8" ?

Thanks for your help.

If he can get it, he would need the parts as you described. The wiring harness that he needs plugs into the main harness under the carpet below the drivers seat. This harness includes everything behind the cab (lights, ABS, fuel gage). Be sure that he checks the gear ratio. This can be determined by a 4-digit alphanumeric code on the decal in the door jam (http://www.tacomaterritory.com/faqsection/content/gearcode.htm).

Inchworm sells a kit for the e-locker that works well. It is a good alternative to transplanting the entire harness. Also, there are some articles out their which give good details and schematics as how to DIY (4X4Wire?). Homer had investigated this option. He found that the parts required nearly reached the cost of the Inchworm kit. E-lockers cannot be simply operated with a switch as they have internal switches that send out a single to a relay to tell it to stop actuating. I found this out the hard way by running current directly to the actuator and over-extending the internal spring…whoops-s***!

All 4WD Tacos have an 8.25” ring gear in the rear unless using a e-locker. If using a e-locker it will be a 8” ring gear. This e-locker is the same used in 4Runners. The front ring gear for all Tacos and ’95-up 4Runners are 7.5”.

I can't be of much help to you... but google "Phong 4Runner".

A guy named Phong retrofitted an e-locker into his 4Runner - if I remember correctly, he found that much of the wiring was already in place.

If your gears don't match, get the front diff too!

I appreciate it guys-thanks for the help. Taco's aren't my cup o tea.

I'll let yall know what happens. Hopefully he gets it.