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Home - Trucks & 4x4 - Trucks & 4x4 Tech - Toyota Differential Identification

Toyota Differential Identification

Nov. 01, 2000
By ORC STAFF

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Differential Identification
Toyota has provided 4 differential types in pickups and 4Runners -- the 8" standard, the 7.5", the 8" V6/Turbo, and a
new one in the Tacoma and third-generation (96+) 4Runners.
The most common is the 8" standard. It is used in the rear axle on '79-95 (96?) 4WD trucks and 4Runners, and 3/4
and 1 ton 2WD pickups, and it is also used in the front axle on 79-85 (solid beam) pickups and 4Runners.
The 8" V6/Turbo axle is found in some turbo and V6 models, and is a little beefier. It is a 4-pinion design, whereas the
regular 8" is a 2-pinion design. Many V6's had 2-pinion cases too.
The 7.5" differential is used in the front of IFS trucks ('86 and later). It is also used as the rear differential on some
2WD trucks.
The 8-inch Toyota axles are strong and utilize a third-member setup, much like the 9-inch Ford. This means the 'guts'
of the axle can be easily removed for servicing or gear and differential carrier changes. It also means that its easy and
fairly cheap to buy and ship third members from differential specialists.
I don't know much yet about the Tacoma/96+ 4Runner differential. There is a factory option for a manually-operated
locker. If you buy a new Tacoma or 4Runner, Get this option; it will improve your off-road ability tremendously.
Working on the Axles
Setting up ring and pinion gear clearances properly is said to be a difficult task best left to professionals. So if you
want to change your gearing or your differential carrier, unless you really know what you're doing, consider taking it to
a professional that specializes in such work. Most 4x4 shops set up diffs frequently. Figure $150-$200 per axle just for
the labor. I've been quoted between $1000 and $1500 for a complete gear change (both axles, including parts, labor,
gaskets, fluids, etc.).
Another option is to buy a third member that is already set up the way you want, and install the entire third member as
a unit, which is much easier to do yourself than a full gear setup. NWOR and West Coast Differentials sell complete
Toyota third members ("Starting at $325").
Otherwise, you can buy the gears and do it yourself.
Gearing
I could use some help here figuring which codes are common! Please take a moment to email me with your
C/TR/A/TM code, engine type, transmission type, model year, stock tire size, and country of purchase of your truck,
and I will update the table below. I'm trying to figure out exactly which gearsets were offered with the various
engine/transmission combinations. If you have other Toyota vehicles, give me those codes too; I'd like to make this
table as complete as possible, and would like to see if there are other cheap swap possibilities.
Most Toys sold in the US have 4.10 axle gearing, but this isn't always the case. Four cylinder models with auto
trannies often have 4.30 gearing, (4.87 if they came factory-equipped with 31" tires). All V6's with 31" tires and
4-cylinder manuals with 31" tires usually had 4.56 gears. And still others have been changed by their owners, to move
oversized tires.
One way of determining your axle type and stock gearing is to look for an Information Plate on your truck, on the
firewall (prior to 1989) or door jamb (1989-current). It will look something like this:
C/TR/A/TM 138 HR11 G282 A130H or C/TR GJ7/KQ41 A/TM G251/R150F
These numbers are the Color (paint) code, Trim Code, Axle Code, and Transmission Code. You will also need to
check the first few digits of you VIN #.
The first position of the Axle Code is a letter which identifies the diameter of the ring gear. Toyota trucks and
4Runners have always used the 7.5" and 8" diameters, but the others are listed here for completeness. The first table
applies to Japanese-built Toyotas, which have VIN numbers beginning with "JT". The second smaller table applies to
North American vehicles with a VIN beginning with "4T".
For example, my Japanese truck's code is G282. This means I have an 8-inch (rear) axle, 4.30 gears (which is
common with automatic transmissions), and a 2-pinion design (common in 4 cylinders).
The highlighted cells in the first table are the values you are most likely to find in Toyota 4Runners and Pickup Trucks.
Toyota Differential Code Decoder - Vehicles with JTxxxxxx... VINs
First Position Diameter of ring gear

1 of 3

Final Position - number of pinions in the

carrier

Positions 2 & 3 - Gear Ratio

A = 138mm

01 = 3.300

25 = 4.556
31" tire option

B = 145mm (NOT in
trucks or 4Runner)

02 = 3.360

26 = 5.571

49 = 3.729

2 = 2 Pinions
Common in 4 cylinder models, but has been
used in some V6 models
50 = 3.400

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C = 6.25"

03 = 3.545

27 = 3.364

51 = 3.736

D = 6.662"

04 = 3.556

28 = 4.300
AT, 225/75

52 = 3.722

E = 7.1"

05 = 3.700

29 = 4.100
Very common

53 = 3.250

F = 7.5"

06 = 3.889

30 = 3.727

54 = 3.941

07 = 3.900
4x2 4R V6 AT
also '81 4x4s

31 = 3.909

55 = 3.333

H = 9.0"

08 = 4.111

32 = 6.591 or
4.807

56 = 2.821

J = 9.25"

09 = 4.222

33 = 7.503 or
5.583

57 = 4.058

K = 9.5"

10 = 4.375
'80 4x4

34 = 6.781 or
4.786

58 = 3.238

11 = 4.444

35 = 7.636 or
5.600

59 = 3.234

G = 8.0"
All 4x4 4Runners and
Pickups

L = 10.5"
M = 12.5"

12 = 4.625

36 = 4.778

60 = 3.519

N = 13.5"

13 = 4.790

37 = 3.583

61 = 2.724

P = 14.0"

14 = 4.875
31", AT 22RE

38 = 3.417

62 = 2.892

Q = 12.0"

15 = 5.125

39 = 3.154

63 = 2.655

R = 162mm

16 = 5.286

40 = 5.375

64 = 4.312

S = 6.38"

17 = 5.600

41 = 3.308

65 = 3.837

T = 6.7"

18 = 5.714

42 = 6.500

66 = 3.071

U = 6.0"

19 = 5.833

43 = 3.550

67 = 3.526

V = 10.6"

20 = 6.167

44 = 3.214

68 = 3.095

W = 15.5"

21 = 6.667

45 = 3.533

69 = 4.176

X = 142mm

22 = 6.780

46 = 2.929

70 = 5.857

Y = 158mm

23 = 6.833

47 = 3.944

71 = 2.962

Z = 202mm

24 = 7.640

48 = 3.356

3 = 2 Pinions (LSD)
(I've not ever seen this code in a
pickup/4Runner)
4 = 4 Pinions
Common in V6 and Turbo models
5 = 4 Pinions (LSD)
(I've not ever seen this code in a
pickup/4Runner)

72 = 3.949
73 = 4.285

I could use some help here figuring which codes are common! If your truck or 4Runner (heck, even your car) has
code elements which are NOT highlighted above, please email me with your C/TR/A/TM code, engine type,
transmission type, model year, stock tire size, and country of purchase of your truck, and I will update the table.
Toyota Differential Code Decoder - Vehicles with 4Txxxxxx... VINs
First Position - Diameter of ring gear Positions 2 & 3 - Ratio Final Position - Differential type
A = 7.5"

01 = 3.42

02 = 3.58

A = 2 Pinion, Open

B = 8"

03 = 4.10

04 = 4.56

B = 4 Pinion, Open

05 = 3.15

06 = 3.91

C = 2 Pinion, OEM Limited Slip

We've found a number is discrepancies in this second table, so don't take it as gospel. The first table has so
far proven to be accurate.
Differential Types
Open Differentials
Until recently, all Toyota trucks came from the factory with open differentials, though the '96 4Runner has a factory
locker as an option (get it!). Open diffs are cheap, reliable, and provide smooth highway performance, but can get you
stuck easily on ice or sand, because power goes to the wheel on each axle that has the least traction. 4WD with open
diffs means you can count on only 2 wheels to get any power, and they will be the ones on each axle that are slipping.
Spools
A spool is carrier setup that turns both wheels on an axle the same speed as the ring gear. Spools are lousy on
pavement because there is no differential action, and they eat tires (especially if you ever turn corners :). But you can
always count on power to both wheels. Spools are common in drag racing. I don't know of any manufacturer that
makes spools for Toys - but there's an easy way to fabricate one: Just take your open diff, and weld your spider gears
to the carrier. This is often referred to as a "Lincoln Locker" because there is a good chance your welder was built by
Lincoln Electric. I can't think of many situations where a spool would be a preferable modification to a Toyota 4x4,
except maybe on a trail-only rig. Don't put it on the front anyways; not if you ever want to steer.
Limited Slip (Positraction)
These operate mostly like an open diff, but when one wheel slips, the diff (through a series of clutches), transmits
some torque to the side that is not spinning. This is a nice choice for people trucks that see a lot of pavement, but like
to go off-highway once in a while and need a little help in the traction department. Limitied-slips give more traction
than an open diff, but less than a locker or spool. The highway performance is like an open diff. Limited-slips
eventually wear out their clutches, and need a special diff oil additive to work properly. Downey and NWOR both list
Toyota limited-slip diffs in their catalogs.
The Detroit TrueTrac is advertised as a 'torque-proportioning' differential that is entirely gear-based, which means it
needs no clutches or special oil. It is available for the front and rear of all toyota 4x4s through 1995. It behaves like an
open differential most of the time, but when a loss of traction occurs, its small pinion gears (which basically perform
the same function as spider gears in an open differential) separate slighly from the side gears and wedge into a
pocket on the carrier, which sends torque to the non-slipping wheel. The picture below is the internals of a TrueTrac.
Lockers
A locking differential has characteristics of both open diffs and spools. There are many available for Toys. A locker

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http://www.off-road.com/trucks-4x4/tech/toyota-differential-identificatio...

behaves normally much like an

open diff, but somehow (either
automatically or manually,
depending on the model) locks up
like a spool.
The ARB Air Locker is a highlyregarded locker that is manually
operated via a switch that controls
compressed air that locks up the
diff. When it is off, the diff behaves exactly like an open diff. When you press the switch, you have a spool and its
awesome traction. This diff is expensive and hard to install, but having manual control is very nice for a rig that
spends time both on and off the pavement.
Automatic lockers operate on a 'ratcheting' principle. Neither wheel on the axle can turn slower than the ring gear, but
they can turn faster. Automatic lockers take some getting used to when turning - the inside wheel powers your truck
around the corner, while the outside wheel is 'freewheeling'. With an open diff, the outside wheel does the powering.
Automatic lockers are cheaper than the air locker and provide the same traction, though there is some ratcheting
noise and wheel hop on the freeway. They can cause some spooky steering on slippery surfaces. Because of this, a
lot of people don't suggest using them in the front axle. Some lockers, such as the Lock-Rite and Detroit EZ-locker,
can be installed without changing some of the critical adjustments in the third member, so installation is much quicker
and easier (i.e. you can do it yourself) than other types of carriers.
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