[ninjamoses]

Chasing the opinions of others here, what would you do in my situation?

Scenario is:
SV420 Vitara with a stuffed rear axle/carrier. While it is apart I want to take the opportunity to swap to 5.12 gears to return the gearing close to standard.

I already have a complete 10 bolt 5.12 rear that I purchased by mistake.

Should I go the quick, cheap & easy method and put the locker in the 10 bolt diff and slot the whole thing in?

Or should I go the lengthy and expensive option and chase up a 12 bolt 5.12 gearset just so I can keep it a 12 bolt (and that is the only benefit as far as I am aware)?

Does anyone have any experiences with both 10 & 12 bolt rears? Is there much difference in strength?

cheers,
Kris

[Polar_Bear]

stick with the easy to get 10 bolt, i cant see it being much weaker than a 12 bolt, its not as tho you've snapped the bolt holding the crown wheel to the carrier, other things will break before they do

[atari4x4]

i'm running a 10 bolt & have done for a good couple of years.

[Polar_Bear]

atari4x4 wrote:

i'm running a 10 bolt & have done for a good couple of years.

yeah, but you drive like a pansy

when did they change over, my 94 swb carby is a 12 bolt rear, are they that hard to come by?

[ninjamoses]

If the silver princess is running one that is good enough for me, cheers fellas the 10 bolt it is. Now I just need to find the axle and a steel front diff

[TheOtherLeft]

I bought a 10-bolt by mistake when I changed ratios as well.

The only problem is the 10-bolt is older then the 12-bolt so has a bit more wear.