Vitara Alloy Front Diff Breakages......

[Rob_macca67]

Hey all, Just after some advice..... (I've posted this on other forums to get a wide range of advice )

I've came across a couple of posts in AZ where people have broken their front "Alloy" Diffs on their Vitaras and from the Pics that I've seen, they all have seemed to break in a similar spot around what "I think" is called the 3rd Member (or Diff Alloy Carrier that bolts to the Alloy housing)

Couple of Questions:
1. Does it always break in this same spot or around this spot that I've mentioned above AND HOW COMMON OF A PROBLEM IS THIS???
2. Has anyone ever broken the Alloy Housing that the "3rd Member" bolts into? If not, is there any need to have this replaced with a Metal one out of a GV then ??
3. When these alloy front diffs do go, does it also damage the Crown Wheel & Pinion as well, resulting in having to buy another Diff Centre as well?
4. I been told that GV's came out with "Metal 3rd members" (if that's the right terminology) from around 2002 onwards and that it's best to source one of these and swap over the 5.12 centre into one of these.... is that correct & Do u just get the Metal 3rd Member or do u also get the "Metal Diff Housing" as well?
5. Are these a simple bolt in or is there "Other mods" req'd?
6. What would one expect to pay for one of these???

Just wanting to stay informed (so I know what to do "if" or when it happens to my Vit) as I been told it's inevitable that sooner or later it will happen if u want to play hard in the bush....

Here's a link to one on AZ..... http://www.auszookers.com/index.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=7157
(Check out the pics further down the post)

any advice/help would be most helpful

cheers....
rob

[Gwagensteve]

Yes, the 3rd members break in the same spot. Basically, the pinion tries to flex away from the ring gear.

Yes, I have seen the alloy axlehousing break. It's worth going to a steel one (alloy is metal too )

It's the luck of the draw if it will damage the R&P when the 3rd goes. Might.... might not.

Not all GV's have steel 3rd members/axlehousings. Manual V6's and all XL7's have steel thirds and axlehousings.

5-6- others will have more info - I've been involved with swaps that also had other axle work done like custom short side axles etc. As for cost, it depends on the source.

Steve.

[Rob_macca67]

So I suppose the more you modify (ie add Crawler Gears; Larger Tyres; Diff-locks) the more likely the Alloy Diff is to break or would some of these mods help in the sense that u don't have to drive it as hard ??

[Gwagensteve]

It's kinda 50/50. Torque through the front end is the problem. A stock car can't put much torque into the front end at all, but as you add traction, and gearing the torque loading can get too much.

Alternatively, if you drive really hard and bounce the front end hard under power it won't matter what gears/diffs you have - it's on borrowed time.

I've heard on one going on a small log crossing with small tyres when the driver was left foot braking an auto GV - open diffs too.

Sometimes they seem to take heaps of punishment and sometimes they seem like glass. They only way to know it isn't going to be a problem is to go steel.

Steve.

[Rob_macca67]

Does anyone know if u can get a Crown Wheel & Pinion > 5.12 ratios??

Like 5.33 or greater -- I u can, do u know from Where ???

rob

It's kinda 50/50. Torque through the front end is the problem. A stock car can't put much torque into the front end at all, but as you add traction, and gearing the torque loading can get too much.

Alternatively, if you drive really hard and bounce the front end hard under power it won't matter what gears/diffs you have - it's on borrowed time.

I've heard on one going on a small log crossing with small tyres when the driver was left foot braking an auto GV - open diffs too.

Sometimes they seem to take heaps of punishment and sometimes they seem like glass. They only way to know it isn't going to be a problem is to go steel.

Steve.

[PCRman]

info from suzuki forums

91 4dr 1.6L TBI 5 speed man. 5.375
89 2dr 1.3L carb. 5 speed man. 5.625

info from zuki world

4.30:1 Non overdrive 2 dr auto 1.6L 16v


4.625:1 2dr auto 1.6L 8v


4.88X:1 Listed elsewhere in the Vitara section


5.125:1 Most all 4dr's (Non Vitara) * Most all 5-speed Track Kick's * Most all Autos
with overdrive


5.38X:1 Early model 1.6L 8v 4dr 5-spd Track Kick's (RARE)


5.63X:1 The early 1988-1989 1.3L powered Track Kick (RARE)

Then there is always the mythical 5.83 gears that are often found under unicorns and at the ends of rainbows

[Rob_macca67]

These (if they exist ) are obviously sourced overseas ???

info from suzuki forums

91 4dr 1.6L TBI 5 speed man. 5.375
89 2dr 1.3L carb. 5 speed man. 5.625

info from zuki world

4.30:1 Non overdrive 2 dr auto 1.6L 16v


4.625:1 2dr auto 1.6L 8v


4.88X:1 Listed elsewhere in the Vitara section


5.125:1 Most all 4dr's (Non Vitara) * Most all 5-speed Track Kick's * Most all Autos
with overdrive


5.38X:1 Early model 1.6L 8v 4dr 5-spd Track Kick's (RARE)


5.63X:1 The early 1988-1989 1.3L powered Track Kick (RARE)

Then there is always the mythical 5.83 gears that are often found under unicorns and at the ends of rainbows

[PCRman]

as far as I'm aware, yes. Others can confirm but I dont think a TBI 1.6 Vit ever made it here in any year (let alone 91). I don't know about the 1.3 carb 88-89 one, maybe a Au model???

I'd love to get hold of a VIN# for either of the above two models and get people I know who live in the US and Europe see if they are available from Suzuki in their part of the world.

Did anyone ever get the global parts list torrent working to try and find these odd ratio R&P's?

[dmould66]

[quote="PCRman"]as far as I'm aware, yes. Others can confirm but I dont think a TBI 1.6 Vit ever made it here in any year (let alone 91). I don't know about the 1.3 carb 88-89 one, maybe a Au model???

I'd love to get hold of a VIN# for either of the above two models and get people I know who live in the US and Europe see if they are available from Suzuki in their part of the world.
ive got a 8v tbi auto swb 1992, its in dubbo ,though i did import it myself. i could supply you the part numbers if you let me know exactly what parts you require,

[PCRman]

if its got a 5.38:1 R&P I'd love the part number's

Cheers

[Rob_macca67]

if its got a 5.38:1 R&P I'd love the part number's

Cheers

x2

There was a 5.68 ratio as well that I would like to get the part numbers for

[Guy]

if its got a 5.38:1 R&P I'd love the part number's

Cheers

x2

There was a 5.68 ratio as well that I would like to get the part numbers for

These gears were made very very soft to keep the tiny tiny burr like teeth from shattering