Remove rear diff gear and run as front wheel drive 4runner? (1 Viewer)

[LongIsland60]

I got a free 97 4runner from a friend since the rear diff housing had a leak in it. We tried sealing it up but didn't do a very good job. I had a whole new rear ready to go but the underside was so rusted we just decided to skip replacing the rear.

Well, the fluid finally got too low and I trashed the gears. Now it won't move.

Can I take apart the housing, remove all the junk/trashed diff innards and disable the rear drivetrain and run in 4wd to essentially operate with front wheel drive?

I like the car - other than the rear and the rot issues it is in really good shape - all glass, interior, body panels are in great shape.

Is this possible, foolish or otherwise a bad idea?

 

[Poser]

Just put a good diff in it...

 

[LongIsland60]

Just put a good diff in it...

That's a good idea - but the cost for labor (I can't do the work myself) would be a lot since the frame and diff and all the mounting stuff is rusted to hell.

I already had the rear before this happened but two mechanics suggested not to replace it - not worth the cost.

One flat out refused to do the work.

 

[raydouble]

You can, don't know how long it will last though.
Obviously it's not made to drive like that.

Just remove the rear drive line. Done.

I already had the rear before this happened but two mechanics suggested not to replace it - not worth the cost.
One flat out refused to do the work.

Did you have a complete rear end? or just the third?

 

[LongIsland60]

You can, don't know how long it will last though.
Obviously it's not made to drive like that.

Just remove the rear drive line. Done.



Did you have a complete rear end? or just the third?

I had a complete rear. But the gearing was 4.10 not 356 like I needed. Would have just swapped the gears but used the new carrier, axles, etc.

I guess the best thing is to find new 3rd/gears and use the new housing, or just sell truck for parts.

 

[cruiser88]

remove the rear shaft and drive home? Besides these rigs are crazy easy to fix........replacing a third by far is quite a simple task

 

[ken_79-fj40]

It's not the third member that's the problem with these. The actual axle housing rots out and if all the other crap attached to it is crusty it's hell to change out. A friend of mine did one in his driveway on a 96 and swore the truck wasn't worth the time. The local dealer here has done quite a few on relatively low mileage trucks. I was working on my wife's 00 last night and the rear housing is really crusty looking. So it's getting some rust bullet or POR 15 soon. However I suspect someone could probably fix one of these with a welder and some time. To me it looks like it would rot out on the front side of the housing near the 3rd member first. If mine rots out I'll be firing up my little Miller 140 and going to work.