[Phil]

I have a aluminium front diff on my GV. Would a bash plate be sufficient protection or would the stresses and pressure of 4WDing be enough to destroy one of these diffs?

Ideally i will want to replace it with a steel diff down the track but would a bash plate be enough?

[got_bar_work]

Its not impact its a spinning wheel comeing to a stop that rips them apart
A strap over the pinion helps and so does a locker

[Phil]

Thanks for that info. I'm sure i can organise a strap in the meantime until i find myself a steel diff housing. The locker is going to be a lomg way off but hopefully will happen one day.

[got_bar_work]

Just take it easy
Dont go putting foot down if a wheel comes off the ground

[klutched]

Get a steel asap! My alloy just blew. Picked up my steel housing for $265

[Phil]

got_bar_work wrote:

Just take it easy
Dont go putting foot down if a wheel comes off the ground

Sounds like sound advice. Thanks.

klutched wrote:

Get a steel asap! My alloy just blew. Picked up my steel housing for $265

Yeah, someone else told me about the steel casing but you beat me to it. I don't feel so bad missing out this time as you were in much greater need of it than me.
That was a good price as well.

[klutched]

I think swifty said theres one up at narangba. They were meant to call me but thry didnt... i picked mine up from browns plains.

Have a look on gumtree for people wrecking MANUAL GVs. They should 99% have a steel diff, except huxlees.. Im not sure if the swb had a steel diff.I got quoted around the $450 mark on a couple...

[Phil]

Thanks. Mine is the 4 cyl, 2L model. Do you know if they used the same diff as the 6 cyl?

[Joe]

Phil wrote:

Thanks. Mine is the 4 cyl, 2L model. Do you know if they used the same diff as the 6 cyl?

Yep steel diff will bolt in you will just need to make sure you have the right ratios

[Phil]

Ok, thanks Joe.

[Mike_B]

Going back to got_bar_work's comment about the strap over the pinion, I have had a look at my front diff and can see a way to do that, and have also seen a picture of one which from memory had some sort of rubber bush at both ends, so my question is do you need the rubber bush at both ends of the strap, or can you bolt directly to the cross-member on the drivers side? Then, if you should use a rubber bush between the strap and the cross-member, is there a commonly used, easy to get part that works?

[atari4x4]

i'd say the 2nd bush would be to isolate any transfer of noise/vibration etc to the chassis. just use another set of stock rubber bushes (hit up anyone wrecking a vitara in the forsale sectoin)

[Mike_B]

Thanks Atari, that makes sense. I also thought the 2nd bush was to reduce noise transfer.