Toyota 8.2 Rear Differential Master Kit for Factory Locker

A 4Runner, FJ Cruiser or Lexus GX460 that has started to whine on the gas or coast, rumble at highway speed, or weep gear oil from the pinion seal has a rear differential that needs bearings, not just fresh oil. This master overhaul kit, part T8.2-LOC, is built for the Toyota 8.2 inch rear axle with the factory electric locker. It is also the kit you want on the bench when you regear for bigger tires, because a new ring and pinion should never go in on old bearings and a used crush sleeve. The listing cross-references Toyota bearing numbers 90366-35157, 90366-40132 and 90366-75001.

What the master kit does in a Toyota 8.2 with the e-locker

The pinion rides on an inner and an outer tapered bearing, held under a set preload by a crush sleeve and the pinion nut. The carrier, which on these trucks houses the electric locker, rides on two carrier bearings that also set ring gear backlash. When any of those bearings wear, the gear mesh moves, and the ring and pinion start to howl long before they actually fail. The locker carrier is not the same as the open carrier, which is why the major gear makers sell separate locker and non-locker master kits for this axle. As pictured, this kit contains both pinion bearings, both carrier bearings, crush sleeves, a new pinion seal and pinion nut, ring gear bolts, sealant and gear marking compound with a brush.

Symptoms of worn 8.2 bearings

• Whine or howl that changes between acceleration and coasting, a sign of pinion bearing wear or lost pinion preload
• A steady rumble or growl that rises with road speed, typical of carrier bearing wear
• Clunk on throttle changes from excess backlash
• Gear oil seeping from the pinion seal at the front of the housing
• Metal glitter on the drain plug magnet or bright flakes in the old oil

How to confirm before you buy

Drain the oil and look at what comes out: a fine gray paste is normal wear, while chips mean a bearing or gear is coming apart. With the truck safely supported, grab the pinion flange and check for in-and-out or up-and-down play. Rotate the wheels and listen at the housing. Tire noise and wheel bearings can sound like a differential, so drive over different road surfaces and note whether the noise follows load (gears and pinion bearings) or speed (carrier bearings and wheel bearings). If the ring gear or pinion teeth are pitted, order a gear set along with this kit.

Fitment

Listed for the Toyota 8.2 inch rear differential with the factory electric locker in the 2010-2019 Toyota 4Runner, 2010-2014 Toyota FJ Cruiser and 2010-2019 Lexus GX460. Trucks without the locker use an open carrier and a different kit, and the 4Runner was offered both ways, so check for the rear locker switch and look at the axle before ordering. Owners of earlier FJ Cruisers or later 4Runners should send us the year and VIN so we can check the bearing numbers against the axle. If your axle is the open version, the Toyota 8.2 differential bearing kit is the other option to compare. More axle and driveline parts are in our hard parts and rebuild kits sections.

Install notes

• Mark everything and pull the carrier, noting the side adjuster or shim arrangement, then pull the pinion and keep the original depth shim.
• Press the new bearings on and drive the new races in square; a bearing race and seal driver set keeps them from cocking in the bore.
• Start with the original pinion depth shim, then tighten the pinion nut in small steps against the new crush sleeve until you reach preload. Never back the nut off; if you overshoot, fit a new crush sleeve.
• Install the carrier, set backlash and carrier bearing preload, then paint the ring gear and read the contact pattern before closing up.
• Seal the cover, refill with the GL-5 gear oil grade in your owner's manual, and check that the locker engages and releases before the first drive. Axle seals are not in the listed contents, so order them separately if the axles come out.

Browse our tools for the dial indicator and torque equipment this job needs.

Will this kit fit a 4Runner without the rear locker?

No. This kit is listed for the 8.2 inch rear with the factory electric locker. Open-carrier axles use a different kit. Look for the rear diff lock switch on the dash, or send us your VIN to confirm.

Do I need this kit if I am regearing for bigger tires?

Yes. Running a new ring and pinion on old bearings and a used crush sleeve is how fresh gears get noisy. A master kit with new pinion and carrier bearings, a crush sleeve, pinion seal and ring gear bolts is what you install with new gears.

Does it come with gear oil or axle seals?

No. The listed contents are the pinion and carrier bearings, crush sleeves, pinion seal, pinion nut, ring gear bolts, sealant and marking compound. Buy gear oil to your owner's manual spec and axle seals separately if you pull the axles.

Can I reuse my old pinion nut and crush sleeve?

No. A crush sleeve is a one-time part and the nut is meant to be replaced, which is why both are included. Tighten to preload gradually and never loosen the nut to correct an overshoot; fit a new sleeve instead.

Is this a job I can do at home?

It is a precision job. You need a press, a dial indicator, an inch-pound torque wrench for preload and marking compound to read the gear pattern. If you do not have those, take the kit to a driveline shop.