Tired of this sh**

[Pato]

Well, today i broke my third front diff shaft (Toyota 41337-35010), i just can't understand how it broke so easily, my front diff is not an ADD front diff but i'm really thinking about buying an used one and somehow install it on it, it may be stronger than the one i have, also i have a front Truetrac and that may be helping on breaking that shaft and maybe if i put an open carrier diff it would hold up. Any advice from anybody here? I'm just tired of broking this damn shaft for the third time, more so considering i'm running 32" tires only and my 4R is a 3RZ powered truck

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[4runner DOA]

Well, today i broke my third front diff shaft (Toyota 41337-35010), i just can't understand how it broke so easily, my front diff is not an ADD front diff but i'm really thinking about buying an used one and somehow install it on it, it may be stronger than the one i have, also i have a front Truetrac and that may be helping on breaking that shaft and maybe if i put an open carrier diff it would hold up. Any advice from anybody here? I'm just tired of broking this damn shaft for the third time, more so considering i'm running 32" tires only and my 4R is a 3RZ powered truck

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Almost sounds like you're binding more than you should with the trutrac. That's why a selectable locker is better for the front vs lunchbox lockers or limited slip. Open diff would likely alleviate the issue, especially if you don't need locking/limited slip capabilities in the front.

 

[Stairgod]

Have to agree with the boss.
True-trac doesn't have the same torque bias as a true locker, but iirc it is somewhere north of 60% and it is always active when you are in 4wd.
Installing an ADD assembly won't help as that is only decoupling the passenger side axle shaft when you are in 2wd.

 

[Pato]

Here's the moment of the axle breaking:

 

[Stairgod]

Here's the moment of the axle breaking:

Pretty much how I snapped my last CV...except it was slower and in the rocks

 

[Notcrow-of-judgement]

Here's the moment of the axle breaking:

 

[madtaco461]

Did it pop when the front tires touched the ground at the top of the hill?

 

[Pato]

Did it pop when the front tires touched the ground at the top of the hill?

Yes

 

[madtaco461]

Yes

Yeah, oem driveline isn't going to like that shock to the system.

 

[Pato]

It would be nice if some company develops a diff upgrade with 30 spline axles and maybe an 8" ring gear for strength for this trucks, looks like is the only weak spot besides the lower ball joint design, and 4th gen 4runners are getting way too expensive to get

 

[G_Raw]

As others have stated a selectable or open are your best options to cure your woes. If you're looking for a stronger diff you should know that doesn't equate to stronger CV shafts. With that said you could pull a Tundra 9" diff and narrow the tube a bit for clearance and run Tundra axles which are slightly thicker shafts due to size. However at that point you mine as well swap to a long travel setup in the front since your axle will now be able to accommodate that travel. So final thoughts are $100 Napa axles with lifetime warranties that you swap every few months vs $5-$10k in suspension work (depending on your skill set to install).

Now along that same thought and slightly cheaper maybe... stay with a newer 4runner front diff and you'll likely need to do less work to make it all work. I'm just not convinced that going from a 7.5-8 inch and same axle shaft diameter is the cure for your broken CV's.

Either way I'll leave this here for your reading leisure...

This 1996 Toyota 4Runner Proves IFS Doesn’t Have to Be Weak

It is no secret that we like solid-axle rigs here at Petersen’s 4-Wheel & Off-Road. In all of the years we have built vehicles for the Ultimate Adventure, only

www.motortrend.com

 

[Rockdawg84]

I'm actually considering a ford 8.8" 31spline IRS diff from a 2005 ford explorer. Eaton sells a selectable locker for about 800 for it, and your can get gears down to 5.13. I'm planning on centering it. Of course it will need custom CV axles and going to a t100 oil pan, but I'm pretty sure it can be done without breaking the bank. I wish Front Range off Road would release a kit to do what they did. Shortened passangers side tube and basically Rock Crawl Long Travel. They would sell a Ton of them.

 

[thezentree]

I'm actually considering a ford 8.8" 31spline IRS diff from a 2005 ford explorer. Eaton sells a selectable locker for about 800 for it, and your can get gears down to 5.13. I'm planning on centering it. Of course it will need custom CV axles and going to a t100 oil pan, but I'm pretty sure it can be done without breaking the bank. I wish Front Range off Road would release a kit to do what they did. Shortened passangers side tube and basically Rock Crawl Long Travel. They would sell a Ton of them.

I want one. Did they ever do a build thread for that thing? All I’ve ever been able to find is “yeah it’s got a 4th gen front diff.”

 

[G_Raw]

I'm sure if you gave Brian a call at the shop he could give you the run down on things @thezentree . And would probably be willing to help fab anything he had to do custom to make it work. You'll just pay custom prices since he isn't making a kit for the setup like @Rockdawg84 said.

He was well ahead of Marlin with the idea of LT rock crawling IFS setups and Marlin has no intention on making it for the 1st gen Tacomas or 3rd gen 4Runners ( as of KOH 2022) so maybe there's still a niche in that market for Front Range to get in on.

 

[Pato]

If you or somebody else end up doing something like a kit please let us know, i believe there's a lot of interest on something like that

 

[Notcrow-of-judgement]

I hear the Ridgeline is built way better than the 4runner

 

[Itaro]

I hear the Ridgeline is built way better than the 4runner

First gen ridgeline brings all the boys to the yard

 

[Rockdawg84]

I want one. Did they ever do a build thread for that thing? All I’ve ever been able to find is “yeah it’s got a 4th gen front diff.”

I'm sure if you gave Brian a call at the shop he could give you the run down on things @thezentree . And would probably be willing to help fab anything he had to do custom to make it work. You'll just pay custom prices since he isn't making a kit for the setup like @Rockdawg84 said.

He was well ahead of Marlin with the idea of LT rock crawling IFS setups and Marlin has no intention on making it for the 1st gen Tacomas or 3rd gen 4Runners ( as of KOH 2022) so maybe there's still a niche in that market for Front Range to get in on.

Brian is a great guy and very helpful. When they first built that Runner I talked to him and they built a custom mount to put the diff in and It's helpful to own diamond axle to build a custom length passengers side extension. Pretty much everything Brian (Front Range Off-Road) builds is top notch. Im running their full float conversion in the rear and rear upper and lower links. I agree that there is a market for RCLT on the 3rd gen runner and 1st gen taco, much easier than doing a SAS and keeping the good drive characteristics.

 

[Pato]

Those of you that know this Brian guy from Front Range off road should try to talk into it to develop something bulleproof for this trucks since i believe there's a lot of potential customers, me included