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3.0lt and 3.5lt rear diffs?

Posted: Sun May 25, 2008 3:42 pm
by hudson44
I have a 94 NJ 3.0lt and can get my hands on a complete rear diff with factory locker quite cheap. Problem is it's out of a 96 3.5lt. Does anyone know if they are the same ratio and will the complete diff bolt straight in or is the pinion / tailshaft bolt pattern different? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers Gabe

edit: Actually is it possible to change the pinion and crownwheel between the two diffs if the ratio is different?

Posted: Sun May 25, 2008 4:16 pm
by -Scott-
The 3.0 has a 9" crownwheel, the 3.5 is 9.5" - can't interchange those. Check the Tech database for ratio information - from memory, I think your chances are good.

Housing wise, I suspect there's little difference, but don't know for sure. The larger rear diff was normally mated to a larger gearbox/transfer case, so it's quite possible that the tailshaft is a different length. I suggest you break out a tape measure...

Posted: Sun May 25, 2008 6:08 pm
by hudson44
I couldn't find actual diff ratio's in the database. Where is the compliance plate located with diff info? The mitsy one under the bonnet gives me no diff info.

I was wondering if i could just swap the diff centre and axles? Does anyone know if the 3.5 centre would fit into the 3.0 housing? I'm really hoping this will work as i can get a whole rear diff and compressor for $200!

Posted: Sun May 25, 2008 7:09 pm
by NJV6
G'day.

What you have is not a dilemma, Its fawken awesome!

I have done this and been through it.

You will need to get the entire rear housing, disc to disc including the alxes.

It'll be a 4.636 ratio and won't fit your housing. Are you 4.875 or 4.625 currently? If you are 4.875 you can buy the diff and SEND IT TO ME as I broke mine.... :D

You may need the front diff as well to get the ratio's correct but the 4.636 fronts are a dime a dozen and just bolt in to replace yours.

I am currently getting a 4.875 (smaller 3.0 one) to go under mine as the bigger ones are so rare.

Posted: Sun May 25, 2008 7:10 pm
by NJV6
O and on the compliance plate it is under trans axle and doesn't include a decimal so a 4.875 will read 4875.....

Posted: Sun May 25, 2008 7:38 pm
by hudson44
Ok i just checked and i am running the 4.875 rear diff. So are all the 3.5 gen2 diffs 4.636? So i will need the front diff as well to bring the ratio's the same?

With regards to bolting the bigger diff into the rear, is it a straight swap? Does the drive shaft line up? Wont the callipers be bigger and will need 16" rims?

Posted: Sun May 25, 2008 8:07 pm
by NJV6
Mine has the same rims as yours. But yes everything just bolts up - o actually now I think about it I don't know.

Can't be sure that the ddriveshaft bolts up. I can check tomorrow for you as I have one of each in the garage.

My 4.636 and 4.900 (the only two ratios of the bigger diff) both came with 15 inch rims and the brakes were the same. If they didn't you could put your disc and calliper onto the bigger diff housing

Posted: Sun May 25, 2008 8:13 pm
by hudson44
Just spoke to him and the diffs are 4.636. He can do me both diffs and compressor for $400. Does the front bolt straight in? are the cv splines the same? Also does the ARB locker fit the taller front diff as i'm thinking of locking the front at some stage.

The other thing i'm thinking is that its a slightly taller ratio than i have now. I'm wondering how the less powerfull 3.0 will go turning slightly taller gearing and 32's and will i loose much in low range?

Cheers for your help NJ, i'm just weighing up whether i should go to all this effort or wait till a 4.875 one comes up.

Posted: Sun May 25, 2008 8:18 pm
by -Scott-
hudson44 wrote:I couldn't find actual diff ratio's in the database.
You must be wearing your girlfriend's glasses. :lol:

It's here: T/case & Final Drive Ratios
Bitsamissin wrote:T/case & Final Drive Ratio's

Gen 1

2.3TD = 4.875, 5.29
2.6 / 2.5TD = 4.625, 4.875
2.5TDI = 4.625, 4.875
3.0 V6 = 4.625, 4.875
t/case = 1.944:1 low range for 2.6, 2.3TD & 2.5TD, 1.925:1 for 3.0 V6

Gen 2

2.6 = 4.875
2.5TD & 2.5TDI = 4.875, 5.29
3.0 V6 = 4.625, 4.875
2.8D = 4.875
2.8TDI = 4.90
3.5 DOHC V6 = 4.636
t/case = 1.925:1 low range for 2.6, 2.5TD, 2.5TDI & 3.0 V6, 1.90:1 for 2.8TDI & 3.5 DOHC V6

Gen 3

2.8TDI = 4.90 5sp man
3.2 DID = 3.90 5sp auto or 4.10 for 5sp man
3.5 SOHC V6 = 4.30 5sp man & 5sp auto
3.8 SOHC V6 = 4.30 5sp auto
t/case = 1.90:1 for all
:D

Posted: Sun May 25, 2008 8:23 pm
by hudson44
-Scott- wrote:[url=http://www

You must be wearing your girlfriend's glasses. :lol:


:D
I think i was wearing YOUR girlfriend's glasses............. :twisted:


Cheers scotty, i think i am going blind!

Posted: Sun May 25, 2008 8:28 pm
by -Scott-
hudson44 wrote:Does the front bolt straight in?
Should do - unless you have the auto? I think it will still fit, but might require more parts to be swapped over.
hudson44 wrote: are the cv splines the same?
From here: Axle Data
Bitsamissin wrote:Axle Data

Gen 1

2.6, 2.3TD, 2.5TD & 2.5TDI (some) :-
front axle = 25 spline, 29mm diameter, diff = 7.25" diameter (low pinion)
rear axle = 28 spline, 30.5mm diameter, diff = 8" diameter
3.0V6 :-
front axle = 28 spline, 29mm diameter, diff = 8" diameter (low pinion)
rear axle = 28 spline, 30.5mm diameter, diff = 9" diameter

Gen 2

3.0V6 :-
same as Gen 1 except for NH & NJ auto has 7.25" diameter front diff (high pinion) NH & NJ 5sp man has 8" diameter front diff (high pinion)
2.5TDI :-
same as NH & NJ auto
3.5V6 & 2.8TDI :-
front axle = 28 spline, 29mm diameter, diff = 8" diameter (high pinion)
rear axle = 31 spline, 33.5mm diameter, diff = 9.5" diameter

Gen 3

3.5V6, 2.8TDI, 3.2DID, 3.8V6
front axle = 28 spline, 29mm diameter, diff = 8" diameter (high pinion)
rear axle = 33 spline, 36mm diameter, diff = 9.5" diameter

Note :- Mitsu factory Aisin manual hubs (found on some models - Gen 1 or Gen 2 base models & Tritons) are interchangeable and will retrofit to all Gen 2 models with super select.
These will not fit to a Gen 3 model as they run solid one piece hub flanges (non-removable)
hudson44 wrote: Also does the ARB locker fit the taller front diff as i'm thinking of locking the front at some stage.
Will fit the front diff from any 3.5V6 Paj.
hudson44 wrote: The other thing i'm thinking is that its a slightly taller ratio than i have now. I'm wondering how the less powerfull 3.0 will go turning slightly taller gearing and 32's and will i loose much in low range?
Compared to 4.875, yes, you will lose a little with the taller ratio. But the 3.0V6 came with 4.625 ratios (I would have expected your LWB to have them) and they run 32s, so I wouldn't expect you'll have significant problems.
hudson44 wrote: i'm just weighing up whether i should go to all this effort or wait till a 4.875 one comes up.
It would be a 4.90. ;)

Posted: Sun May 25, 2008 8:48 pm
by NJV6
If you have the smaller front diff (automatic 3.0) you will need the driveshaft as well as it is longer with the smaller diff.

The CV's still fit, it is the 4.9 drivers side that is different to any others.

The ARB catalogue says the RD110 (front locker) won't fit the 3.5 but that is bollocks - they fit.

You will loose a bit of grunt - depends if you can put up with loseing a bit. It is a lot of work to do but you get a diff lock. If you can wait for a 4.875 one then it is obviously alot easier.

They will be getting more common as people blow up JTop's with factory ones.

Posted: Sun May 25, 2008 8:51 pm
by NJV6
Gabe, I suspect the locker on Ebay is one that will suit you better.

Going by the photo's and his description it might be a smaller diff.

BUT, I could well be wrong and cannot be sure about it so may pay to check with him, I have asked in the other thread about it if someone can ask how many bolts holt it to the axle housing.

Posted: Sun May 25, 2008 9:58 pm
by hudson44
Cheers for your help fella's. I think i'm going to give it a miss for now and keep looking for a 4.875 one which will be just a straight diff centre and axle swap. It was just the price that grabbed my attention.

For anyone that has a 3.5 with 4.636 diffs and would like a factory locker, give these guys a call.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll ... :IT&ih=005

$200 for a complete rear diff isn't bad.

Again, thanks for your help boys.

And Scotty, tell ya missus i'll give her glasses back tomorrow night! :finger:

Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 7:10 pm
by icemanpaj
that bloke just emailed me and said that the locker is 8 TOOTH PINION AND 39 TOOTH CROWN WHEEL
RATIO IS 4.875
10 BOLT FLAG