[jonno_racing]

I have been planning my. new build for a while now, however I can't find much info on mq's
do they work with nt spring spacing?
are they actually strong?
how much wider than sierra?
what are the ratios like?

id like to keep the truck sua and in the 35-37in tire reagon so sierra diffs are not going to cut it.

[jdk81]

Check OL heaps of info there.

EDIT: You need to change your sig

Cuzz-Tec, because two heads are better than one.

[Gwagensteve]

No, they need WT spacing - the driver's side spring perch is cast into the knuckle.
Yes, they are plenty strong enough for a Sierra.
Can't recall WMS
Ratios are generally 4.3 or 4.6

Steve.

[Fatzook]

Gwagensteve wrote:

the driver's side spring perch is cast into the knuckle.

Knuckle? Or pumpkin/ third housing?

[jonno_racing]

ok thanks guys are all the front diffs the banjo style?
are the spring spacings the same as front of sierra?

[Fatzook]

jonno_racing wrote:

ok thanks guys are all the front diffs the banjo style?
are the spring spacings the same as front of sierra?

As near as makes no difference. BIG pumpkin though, so 35's would give you the same clearance as sierra diffs on 32's. So if you could swing 37's it would be good.

[Gwagensteve]

Ah yes, pumpkin.

The front pumpkin is pretty small.

The rear is huge, but can be shaved pretty hard.

I'm not sure the whole thing makes much sense though. With the added weight and track width, it's debatable whether there's a real increase in capability over built suzuki diffs.

Every Kg you add has to be dragged up the obstacle.

It's one thing to want to run 37's, it's another thing altogether to have to run 37's to keep up with sierras on 33's.

Steve.

[Fatzook]

Hilux diffs would be lighter than MQ i'd wager....

[Gwagensteve]

Not necessarily a better option though, especially for SPUA.

Offset rear diff, spring pads line up etc.

Steve.

[jonno_racing]

does any one have actual mesurments of pumpkin hight and weights of mq's?
they are sounding like a good conversion,more pro's than cons. this is all still a idea process.

[shep]

what are the pro's?

[Gwagensteve]

They are cheap.
They are strong enough for a suzuki based car
They're easy to fit SPUA to a WT.
They already have crossover steering - they just require a custom drag link.

We had two cars in the club setup with MQ's. Critta ran a widened front MQ to get around the spring pad problem. SierraJim's car ran WT spring spacing. They both ran 36" tyres. They were stable (critta especially with the over width front) and didn't break driveline for trail driving - see below), but that was a long time ago. At the time we didn't have anyone running CrMo axles, over 34" tyre, or floater rears with suzuki diffs. We were still changing CV's fairly frequently. At the time, the MQ swap looked very appealing, but if you put either of those cars on the same track as a 35" tyred, CrMo car, I think they would feel heavy and have low ground clearance.

If diff clearance isn't as much of issue where you drive, then maybe 37's an MQ's are viable. I reckon 60 series might be a better option due to aftermarket support. I drove OzRock with Critta in December 2006 and Mock had fitted 38"Michelins for day one. I was breaking stub axles like twigs. The next day we went to Q78's and had no breakage problems. You'd be annoyed if you swapped to MQ, broke stub axles, and didn't have a ready upgrade. The thing is, we've been running Q78's with CrMo sierra diffs for years since and have never had breakage, so from our standpoint, there's no need to swap in all that weight.

Steve.

[Fatzook]

Gwagensteve wrote:

Not necessarily a better option though, especially for SPUA.

Offset rear diff, spring pads line up etc.

Steve.

Yeah but aftermarket support for MQ is non-existant. Atleast the hilux, 60, and even bundera to a certain extent has a very large range of parts available for just about any application. Also spares are in VERY high abundance.

I can't remember the last time I saw an MQ on the road, or at a wreckers.....

[jonno_racing]

mqs are pretty common in tas.
however, thanks for the info, I think I will keep looking.

[zammit]

I'm not 100% sure but I read in a 4wd action mag the have cast iron housing so any welding will be pretty difficult I personally would go hilux just because of the knowledge people have with putting them under a Sierra and the fact that the stock for after market parts is huge

[Fatzook]

zammit wrote:

I'm not 100% sure but I read in a 4wd action mag the have cast iron housing so any welding will be pretty difficult I personally would go hilux just because of the knowledge people have with putting them under a Sierra and the fact that the stock for after market parts is huge

Yeah. much like the Dana diff family, the MQ's have a cast third/ pumpkin housing. The axle tubes are still milled steel.

[31zook]

Phill unless you planning on driving from the shed to the trails then why build something that needs trailering?

I want to build a TT like everyone, but realize how much I would actually use t...

[jonno_racing]

Gus do u ever add anything worth reading?

I have gone the hilux route before, and not that there is anything wrong with that, I'm just looking.

yeah josh is like something like your old lwb as a toy.

[Gwagensteve]

Fatzook wrote:

Yeah but aftermarket support for MQ is non-existant. Atleast the hilux, 60, and even bundera to a certain extent has a very large range of parts available for just about any application. Also spares are in VERY high abundance.

I can't remember the last time I saw an MQ on the road, or at a wreckers.....

This is true, but IMHO the point of swapping to bigger diffs ought to be that there's no requirement for aftermarket parts - they should be strong enough stock. Dropping coin on CrMo stuff once you ave done a diff swap seems doubly pointless - you could have dropped coin on CrMo for the sierra diffs and ended up with the same overall capability on a smaller tyre and with less requirement for added horsepower and a shitload less work.

I am aware that a TT level there's a requirement for the strongest parts possible, but a 37" tyred recreational car shouldn't need unobtainium just to have a bit of fun.

Steve.

[jonno_racing]

I don't care, I am just sick of reading your pointless shit.

how would mq diffs compare to hilux in strength? going lux diffs may end up cheeper and easyer. because of avalbility of parts from low range for fitting etc.

[Gwagensteve]

jonno_racing wrote:

I don't care, I am just sick of reading your pointless shit.

how would mq diffs compare to hilux in strength? going lux diffs may end up cheeper and easyer. because of avalbility of parts from low range for fitting etc.

There's not much easier than bolting in.

Play your cars right and you could score a whole MQ for almost free. If it's an L28 petrol, even better as it has the 4.6 diffs.

Seriously, the front axle bolts in to a WT. You need to weld on lower shock mounts and resolve the drag link. Neither are very hard.

On the rear, it's moving two spring pads.

I can't imagine you'd need to order anything from low range.

Obviously, you'll need to sort driveshafts, brake M/C etc, but that's the same for either diff.

MQ rear will be considerably stronger than hilux. MQ front would be line ball. It seems the weak part of the MQ is the stub axle, but the CVs come apart easily, so it's not hard to swap stubs. Apparently GQ stubs can be used (maybe)

I'm still yet to see anyone complete a hilux diff swap SPUA. I think it would be quite difficult due to centre/chassis clearance. There was a build on Pirate but it died uncompleted.

Thanks to Sierrajim:

Old red car
Ended up with RUF, MQ Diffs, 2" body lift, 35" boggers, 36" Swamper SX's and 36" Simex, 6:1's, 3/4 rear springs, low mount winch










Steve.

[Fatzook]

Gwagensteve wrote:

jonno_racing wrote:

Apparently GQ stubs can be used (maybe)

I've herd this too. It would make finding spares a little easier. Do they make CRMO or longs for GQ? You coul always get a GQ CV/ stub and fit to a MQ axle ( assuming they run the same shaft dia. and spline.)

[Gwagensteve]

I think there are HD CV/stubs for GQ (caloffroad?)

Shouldn't be required though.

Steve.

[Dale]

atari4x4 wrote:

jonno_racing wrote:

I don't care, I am just sick of reading your pointless shit.

how would mq diffs compare to hilux in strength? going lux diffs may end up cheeper and easyer. because of avalbility of parts from low range for fitting etc.

the new forum has an ignore feature, if i really upset you that much i suggest using it.

Jonno isn't the only one who has to read it

[jonno_racing]

Ok so today i found a set of 4.66 ratio MQ's for $50!
im also picking up my new project on monday (1ltr NT tin top)! so this looks like the way to go. i will buy as much as i can before i make a start tho!
can any one tell me what the bolt pattern on the diff flanges is like? im hopeing to use lux shafts

[Fatzook]

jonno_racing wrote:

Ok so today i found a set of 4.66 ratio MQ's for $50!
im also picking up my new project on monday (1ltr NT tin top)! so this looks like the way to go. i will buy as much as i can before i make a start tho!
can any one tell me what the bolt pattern on the diff flanges is like? im hopeing to use lux shafts

Are MQ the same as NT or WT spring spacing???

[jonno_racing]

W/T
no great deal to change.

[Fatzook]

jonno_racing wrote:

W/T
no great deal to change.

The drivers side front perch is already way up on the pumpkin. I seriously doubt you will get it accross 40mm more.....

[jonno_racing]

chassis mounts Pete not diff.

[jonno_racing]

a quick Google search gave me this

nerok.info/differential/gq-cv-conversion

so it is 100% posible to use gq cvs to eliminate the week issue up front.
you were on the ball Steve!