Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Hey guys,

Im looking at fitting a rear ARB diff lock to my 99 V6 Grand vitara.

As far as i can tell from researching the bible the rear locker for an earlier vitara is a strait swap in?

Which model vitara do i order the diff lock for? 89-98 Lwb vitara?

Are there any model numbers i need to know?

Does any one know the ARB part no. from previous experience?

Cheers.

Mate, you will also need vitara diff centres.
I am just doing the same thing at the moment.
You might want to do some searches on www.auszookers.com.au
there is plenty on it all for you to read.

Ok well i have a few more Q's regarding installing lockers into my 99 GV.

So im going to get a hold of both front and rear vitara diff centers (5.12:1)

As far as i can tell with the rear vitara diff its a strait swap into the GV so there is a wide choice of lockers and the option to leave it "open" if desired.

My question is: The front diff carrier on the older vitara is alloy i think....

So can i remove the vitara 3rd member from its alloy housing and build it up into my cast steel GV carrier?

Also if i make sure i get a 26 spline front vitara diff is it a strait bolt into the GV apart from swapping it into the GV's steel carrier?

Cheers.

My suggestion is to have a look at all the posts on auszookers, here is a link to one of them.

http://www.auszookers.com/index.php?nam ... pic&t=7557

Yes you can swap your alloy for the steel, I am doing that myself as we speak. I am ordering an ARB RD88 for the front diff and pulling the vacuum system out as I have also put in manual locking hubs. Just going to seal off the Vacuum so I still thinks its working an your 4wd lights will still work.
If you have any further progress let me know as it sounds like we are at about the same stage with the exact same car.

Does it matter if i get a 10 bolt or 12 bolt vitara 5.125:1 rear diff center?

I guess both would fit but require a different ARB part No.?

crazynic wrote:Does it matter if i get a 10 bolt or 12 bolt vitara 5.125:1 rear diff center?

I guess both would fit but require a different ARB part No.?

10 or 12 bolt will fit, just need to get the locker to suit.

Yeah that's what a thought.

If i didn't want to fit a front locker strait away can a 26 spline front vitara diff center be mounted strait into the stock steel GV carrier?

yeah i think so, but you will be paying someone twice unless you can do it your self.

Ok i have decided i want to fit 5.12 with an "open" center in the front..

I need to know if a standard vitara front diff can be used to replace the GV vacuum actuated front diff?

Im going to order the diff centers tomorrow and just need to know im on the right track.

Ok well i was just on the phone trying to organize these diff centers for the install..

I have tracked down a 26 spline 5.12 2lt auto vitara front diff which i belive should fit in my front GV housing..

Now the bloke who im ordering the diffs from said that the rear 5.12 2lt vitara rear diff center wont fit into my 99 V6 GV rear diff housing and wanted to sell me a complete housing drum to drum from a 4 cyl GV to complete the conversion?

This sounds like bullshit and i think they are confusing it with the installation of the 5.12 diff gears in the rear of a sierra..

The bloke was not willing to discuss the differences between a 4cyl GV and v6 GV rear diff housing (probably because there are none)!

Can anyone who has done this conversion please chime in and help me out because any time i mention installing anything into a grand vitara they F%^king flip out...I should of just said im installing them into a vitara!

crazynic wrote:Ok well i was just on the phone trying to organize these diff centers for the install..

I have tracked down a 26 spline 5.12 2lt auto vitara front diff which i belive should fit in my front GV housing..

Now the bloke who im ordering the diffs from said that the rear 5.12 2lt vitara rear diff center wont fit into my 99 V6 GV rear diff housing and wanted to sell me a complete housing drum to drum from a 4 cyl GV to complete the conversion?

This sounds like bullshit and i think they are confusing it with the installation of the 5.12 diff gears in the rear of a sierra..

The bloke was not willing to discuss the differences between a 4cyl GV and v6 GV rear diff housing (probably because there are none)!

thats right, there is none. the gv just doesn't have the a-frame mount on the centre. tell him he is full of shite. THE ONLY vit rear diff that is different is that of the xl7 and the new model, otherwise they all fit. just buyt an early model one and fit it. remember......he's just a wrecker.

i'm doing a conversion on a swb gv next week, and will be doing a full write up on auszookers.

Thanks Joe I thought it smelled like bullshit..

What they where probably thinking was of the 9 inch Xl7 rear diff.

I dont want to name names and bad mouth the place but for a well known second hand Suzuki parts vendor i was surprised at how hard it was to deal with them....They didnt even want to take my order over the phone and said i had to fax it to em! What the f%$k why not just do it over the phone??

Ok now iv got that of my chest i will get the diffs happening and keep you all informed.

PS: I look forward to the wright up on auszookers.

I had a 2000 gv and blew the rear diff up so I decided to put a arb locker in it, you can use the existing GV diff but you need some machining to make the crown wheel line up, let me know if you need the details OF who did this for me as I am not sure of many other that used the GV diff

Mudboy wrote:I had a 2000 gv and blew the rear diff up so I decided to put a arb locker in it, you can use the existing GV diff but you need some machining to make the crown wheel line up, let me know if you need the details OF who did this for me as I am not sure of many other that used the GV diff

you would need to machine the internal dia of the crownwheel larger, something a shop won't like becuase it will destroy thier tooling, or machine down the air locker, once again not a real good idea.

Ok so i received my new 5.125 diff centers today.

The one they sent me for the rear is VERY interesting!

It is 41 tooth by 8 tooth so it is a 5.125 26 spline 12 bolt ring gear BUT its in a cast steel carrier that does not have the upper control arm mount of the older vitara?

It looks just like my GV one but its a 5.125 ratio!

What could this be out of?

They stuffed up and gave me a 4.3:1 ADD out of a GV so i will have to sort that out.


PS. The factory rear diff in my 99 GV has a sticker on the bottom of it that says " 43M 99 5.27" What does this mean?

I assume the 43M refers to the ring gear which would mean its a 4.3:1 does this sound correct?