Outer Limits 4x4 Board

My 1988 (89 shape, 2.8D) Hilux runs the stock 4.3 diffs
I can get my hands on a pair of near new 1981 4.88's at the right price
(they came out of a lux that had 8000 kms from new and the donk was binned in favour of a 327 Chev 8) , a taller ratio required to drop the revs on the V8 )

Question: Ive heard a rumour that the earlier r+p wont fit the later model diff heads???????
any clues on this one??????

Cheers Mike

are you getting complete centers

ive got a 90 4 runner and im running a 80 sumfin model in the rear of it.
dont quote me on it but i think the only differance is the size of the carrier bearings

If you are getting the whole diff head it will bolt straight in. If you are getting the R&P only then they will prob not fit your carrier and housing combo. The early R&P's were smaller in size and bearings. I think there are 3 different sizes for the lux diff:

70's and early 80's are thin ring gear and small pinion bearings.
Late 83 on have a thicker ring gear and larger pinion bearings.
V6 / Later Surfs diff is bigger again and has huge pinion bearings and side bearings.

Basically, except for the V6, you can use the carrier in either diff but it works out easier if you keep the R&P with the factory housing. I have fitted a 1989 LSD carrier into a 1977 Hiace 5.29 no probs.

hey yeah sorry boys, should have made it a bit clearer,
i can only get the bare 4.88 ring and pinions, no diff head ie: ring and pinion swap only

Do ya think they will fit ????? 1981: 4.88 r&p>>>into 1988: 4.3 diffhead

Thanks, Mike

try them and if they dont fit just get the oxy out and make em fit

Short answer Nope !
The ring gear is thinner than your 4.3 so the side bearings cannot be adjusted enough. I've seen one here with a spacer between the ring gear and carrier to make it work !
Bugga tho i think I've tossed all my old housings ?? will have a look tomorrow and se if I can find one
Depends then if its worth sending it up from Chch to Auck ??

suprasurf wrote:Short answer Nope !
The ring gear is thinner than your 4.3 so the side bearings cannot be adjusted enough. I've seen one here with a spacer between the ring gear and carrier to make it work !
Bugga tho i think I've tossed all my old housings ?? will have a look tomorrow and se if I can find one
Depends then if its worth sending it up from Chch to Auck ??

If this were true then there would be 2 different ARB centres to suit a hilux.
I beleive it will work and you will get enough adjustment out of the carrier bearings.

If this were true then there would be 2 different ARB centres to suit a hilux.
I beleive it will work and you will get enough adjustment out of the carrier bearings.[/quote]

i think that there are 2 diffrent types of hilux air lockers 1 for small carrier and 1 for big carrier

plus i've put a 92 limo carrier into a 82 hilux center and it worked

There is a RD01 which has small style carrier bearings which usually suits up to '88 and then there is an RD23 which has the large style carrier bearings which suits '88 on.
But these centres as long as you use the right bearings will fit either.
I run an RD01 in the front and an RD23 in the rear and have bought and used 4.88 ring and pinions from all model diffs on both of these centres.

The carrier is the same size/thickness in all luxs' ( except I think the late V6 carrier has bigger side bearings ) but the thickness of the ring gear is different. ARB have 2 carriers because of the size of the side bearings.

If you look at an older diff (1981) compared to a later one (1985) the position of the pinion in the housing is different to compensate for the ring thickness.

eg: you can move a carrier from one diff housing to another but the R&P must fit into the original housing. Like I said I have fitted a late 80's carrier with an early hiace (1977) 5.29 ring gear BUT the R&P have stayed in the original housing. You cannot shift the early R&P into a late housing because the ring gear is too slim and the side bearings will not adjust :(

POS and myself were discussing this on the weekend and we came to a conclusion similar to what suprasurf is saying, that you are best to get the entire carrier from earlier model!!

rather than have to stuff around (it was to tell troy)

but yeah..........if he wants the centres, just swap him yours!