Samurai front diff member/Grand Vitara Steel Diff Housing

Chairmen · Post by **Chairmen** » Sat Jan 12, 2013 2:05 pm

I put a crack right the way around the front diff housing today, oil all drained out of crack an on to the track in under a minute.

Now i'm thinking along the line of the Calmini Anvil kit or the Grand Vitara steel housing,

Has anyone on the forum used the grand vitara steel housing? An is it a straight bolt up replacement for the older model vitara/escudo (1997)?

I'm new to buying suzuki parts, could some give me a realistic price on what i could expect too pay for a Grand Vitara steel diff?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers,
Clay

zukmeista · Post by **zukmeista** » Sat Jan 12, 2013 2:19 pm

How did you break it, doing hektik doughnuts on grass?

Here is some info on front diff upgrade:http://www.auszookers.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=6953&hilit=steel+diff

Chairmen · Post by **Chairmen** » Sat Jan 12, 2013 3:05 pm

zukmeista wrote:How did you break it, doing hektik doughnuts on grass? Here is some info on front diff upgrade:http://www.auszookers.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=6953&hilit=steel+diff

HAHA nah mate that was a one off time doing skids.

I was climbing a hill, hit a bump than came down landing straight on the housing lol, defiantly want to go with steel housing so this doesn't happen again, Correction doesn't happen in a long time......

Thanks for the input

kbushnz · Post by **kbushnz** » Sat Jan 12, 2013 4:55 pm

Good to see yah got home ok.....

Chairmen · Post by **Chairmen** » Sat Jan 12, 2013 6:15 pm

Cheers Calvin,

An thanks again for the tow out of woodhill today!

Chairmen · Post by **Chairmen** » Sat Jan 12, 2013 6:27 pm

Ok correction, after having a look under the truck it's not he diff housing that cracked its the diff member.

Have any of the samurai people know if its possibly too use the samurai front diff member in the vitara? As i'v heard the Samuria's have a steel diff member/Member housing...

Are these Samurai front diff member rear too come by? Would it be possible too find a Samurai front diff member with the 5.12 ratio? And how many spline/teeth do the Samurai front member side gears have?

Cheers

zukmeista · Post by **zukmeista** » Sat Jan 12, 2013 7:17 pm

It would take a bit of modification to fit a Samurai center, and you would still be left with a weak alloy housing. The leaf sprung Samurai's are all 3.7:1 ratio, Coily's are 3.9:1 and high pinion, SJ413's are 3.9:1 ratio. All are 22-spline front. SJ413's have a 4-pin front diff, Samurai's are 2-pin.

UBZ · Post by **UBZ** » Sat Jan 12, 2013 8:19 pm

A Samurai or SJ413 3rd member ( diff head ) will bolt straight into a Vitara housing . the bolt pattern is the same and the axle alignment is the same .

the problem will be the ratio . you could fit the Vitara ring and pinion to the SJ centre and 3rd housing . this requires the use of a retainer ring between The centre and the Ring gear to hold the cross pins in place .
The whole diff needs to be rebuilt to do this.
the retainer rings can be brought for lowrange offroad .

have a search on the net for info regarding fitting the Vitara (escudo / tracker ) ring and pinion into an SJ / samurai .
it's just the reverse process to do it for a Vitara.

a Sj steel third , GV steel housing ( if you can find one ) and Vitara R&P would be about as strong as you can make the front end without going to a SAS

I have an SJ413 front diff you can have cheap of you decide to go down this path .

only thing I am unsure of , is weather the Vitara drive shaft flange with bolt up to the SJ 3rd ok .

zukmeista · Post by **zukmeista** » Sat Jan 12, 2013 8:27 pm

^^^ You will still have to make a mount for the pinion on the 'snout' of the diff.

Weemsy · Post by **Weemsy** » Sat Jan 12, 2013 10:07 pm

i priced all this up recently and its not straight forward

using the alloy housing with a steel 3rd is just a waste of time. i only broke one 3rd member housing, and 7 casings :evil:

however - the calmini anvil has hanger mounts welded on and they dont fit the v6 escudo as the chassis rails are further apart to accomodate the v6 motor :roll:

you could get the anvil modified though, and i think it would be relatively easy to alter - but do you want a new anvil hacking up after you just paid for it

look on the 'bitz4vitz' site and find the 'granvil' modification link. then go and sign up on 'shropshiresuzuki.co.uk' and beg a complete steel diff and pay the shipping from uk.

i found this would be the option for me. but i just sold my zuk as it was a bit too small for the family and camping gear etc

i do have a lift kit for an escudo though, if you havnt already lifted it?

weemsy

Weemsy · Post by **Weemsy** » Sat Jan 12, 2013 10:09 pm

i priced all this up recently and its not straight forward

using the alloy housing with a steel 3rd is just a waste of time. i only broke one 3rd member housing, and 7 casings :evil:

however - the calmini anvil has hanger mounts welded on and they dont fit the v6 escudo as the chassis rails are further apart to accomodate the v6 motor :roll:

you could get the anvil modified though, and i think it would be relatively easy to alter - but do you want a new anvil hacking up after you just paid for it

look on the 'bitz4vitz' site and find the 'granvil' modification link. then go and sign up on 'shropshiresuzuki.co.uk' and beg a complete steel diff and pay the shipping from uk.

i found this would be the option for me. but i just sold my zuk as it was a bit too small for the family and camping gear etc

i do have a lift kit for an escudo though, if you havnt already lifted it?

weemsy

Chairmen · Post by **Chairmen** » Sun Jan 13, 2013 4:28 pm

Thanks for the good advise guy,

I'm going too try hunt down the Grand Vitara steel 3rd and housing worth its weight in gold it seems :shock:

, As for what i under stand is the housing should bolt straight up to the alloy housing mount's

.

Unfortunate about the Calmini anvil housing :evil:

, as you say Weemsy wouldn't want too buy a brand new Anvil then start hacking it up too make fit

.

Dame i hope i can find a Grand Vitara Steel 3rd/Housing before winter, :?:

I might give the auzzie wreckers a try :idea:

, as the guys on 'auszookers' seem to talk about them like there a dime a dozen. :evil:

Weemsy · Post by **Weemsy** » Sun Jan 13, 2013 4:33 pm

i had my mate, who works for a 4wd wrecker in gold coast, looking for some steel diffs.......................

just as difficult to get hold of over there too, apparently.

i will ask around my mates in uk, see if anyone can ind something lying round in the back of the workshop

Chairmen · Post by **Chairmen** » Sun Jan 13, 2013 4:45 pm

Weemsy wrote:i had my mate, who works for a 4wd wrecker in gold coast, looking for some steel diffs.......................

just as difficult to get hold of over there too, apparently.

i will ask around my mates in uk, see if anyone can ind something lying round in the back of the workshop

Oh cheers mate, I appreciate it......

Samurai front diff member/Grand Vitara Steel Diff Housing

Samurai front diff member/Grand Vitara Steel Diff Housing

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Samurai front diff member/Grand Vitara Steel Front Diff Hous

Re: Samurai front diff member/Grand Vitara Steel Diff Housin

Re: Samurai front diff member/Grand Vitara Steel Diff Housin

Re: Samurai front diff member/Grand Vitara Steel Diff Housin

Re: Samurai front diff member/Grand Vitara Steel Diff Housin

Re: Samurai front diff member/Grand Vitara Steel Diff Housin

Re: Samurai front diff member/Grand Vitara Steel Diff Housin

Re: Samurai front diff member/Grand Vitara Steel Diff Housin

Re: Samurai front diff member/Grand Vitara Steel Diff Housin