Topic: Correct me if I'm wrong

[billy hill]

   Are third members interchangable between front to rear? I'd assume that if I was to put a rear third in the front. I'd need reverse rotation gears.

[brainlessfool]

on frist gen trucks, yes they are.

[BigMike]

yup, since they face in opposite directions, they are interchangable.

[Fireimp141]

Assuming u got 2 SA, in my case the IFS front wouldnt work on the rear 

[FIREBALL]

Yes they are interchangable.....No you do not need reverse rotation gears. In trucks and 4runners without ifs, the 3rds are the same, and the gears are the same. When installed in the rear the gears are loaded on the drive side, and when installed in the front the gears are loaded on the coast side (when going forward).
To make it simple....you can take a solid axle truck, and swap the 3rds front to back, and it won't make any diff.
Keeping in mind that later trucks had some differances in the rear diff, such as V6's, Tacomas with larger R&P's.

[billy hill [OP]]

But isn't the coast side of the R&P gears the weak side? Making the front axle easier to break.

[Mike D]

what do you mean by the coast side

[billy hill [OP]]

The gear teeth are directional. One side is straight (drive side) and the other side is kind of rounded (coast side). And from my understanding when you have the power going to the coast side of the teeth. You do not have as much tooth to tooth contact.

[jr9162]

But isn't the coast side of the R&P gears the weak side? Making the front axle easier to break.

You are correct. That's why a high pinion reverse cut gear front diff is desirable. It doesn't run on the coast side of the gear set. However if you put a high pinion diff in your rear axle it will be running on the coast side of the gear set as well.

Best combo is V6 diff in the rear, and high pinion in front, with 4.10:1 or 4.56:1 gears.

   

[billy hill [OP]]

A high pinion would be nice. But I've never seen one in a bone yard around here. And I won't shell out that kind of money for one just yet. Man, I'm lucky to find an EFI engine or a W56 round here. Seems that Dana 60's are a dime a dozen. But Toyota stuff is like gold. as a matter of fact, there's the ultimate drive train sitting about 5 miles from my front door (Dana 70 rear and a HP kingpin Dana 60 front) But the guy says he wants to rebuild the truck. Yeah right. It'll sit there for another 5 years. Man I love farm country.

[FIREBALL]

Yes it is true that you are running on the coast side in the front. That's the way all stock solid front axle trucks are. It is very rare that anyone breaks them. It does happen, but usually by guys that could break a ball bearing in a rubber room. I don't know of anyone that make an aftermarket reverse gear set for a low pinion yota. Check on www.car-parts.com and look up '90-97 or so, landcruiser front diffs. It will list where they are available all over the country, then you could contact the wrecking yard and have them ship it. I've also seen them come up for sale here, ebay, and on the pirate board.

[billy hill [OP]]

I'm not a HAMMERHEAD type driver. So I don't think I'll worry bout breaking one. But it seems wierd that those are like that from the factory.