Rear Differentials

[kite surf]

I have currently got an A02A rear axle on my 3rd Gen Surf, which suffers from having Rear Drum brakes....

I have also sourced a full Toyota Landcruiser rear axle with disc brakes, which should fit perfectly, apart from one problem.....the rear diff ratio is 4.3:1 (LSD / manual locker - not sure of the code), whereas my A02A is a 4.1:1 ratio.

My first thought was to just swap the half shafts / hubs into my axle.....only the backplate has slightly different bolt centres....

My second option was to swap my 4.1:1 diff into the Landcruiser axle and install the complete unit....only my axle / diff casing (open diff) bolts are regular spacings and the LSD / Locker Diff has one side altered to suit the locker.

Does anyone know if the studs in the axle housing are drilled to suit various diffs, so that when you install open diff the regular holes are used and when Lockers installed, intermediate holes are used?

I cannot find a diagram of a Toy LSD / Locker Diff Casing anywhere to see if I can fit my Open Diff onto the axle housing without modification (drilling and tapping)

Anyone want a 4.3:1 axle with lockers, LSD and Rear Discs?

Damon

[Morr]

Looking at the EPC the LC & Surf use different axle housings, so there can be no guarantee that any parts can be interchanged.
Its hard to be sure what (if anything) can be exchanged, The LC has 2 different axle housings, and 2 different Diff carriers, the non-locking carrier is the same as the Surf, so it seems reasonable that the housings differ depending on the diff carrier fitted, which would seem to indicate that your Surf carrier will not fit the LC housing.

Other options include changing either your front final drive to suit the LC rear, or changing the final drive gear in the LC axle. Both vehicles have 4.1 and 4.3 available.
The final drives appear interchangeable between LC and Surf, but only in the non-locking diff.

Don't know if any of this is of use, just what I can ascertain from studying the EPC

[kite surf]

Cheers for looking....

I have located images of the open and locking diff axle housings and they appear to be the same, apart from additional drillings and cut aways in the locking one.

If I put my 'std open' in the 'locking' axle housing, I should be able to use all but one of the studs on my 3rd in this housing, allowing me to install the rear axle as planned!

Will remove the LC 3rd and check the bolt / drilling spacings before going any further....the darn thing appears to be welded together with rust or something!

Cheers

Damon

[Morr]

This page http://www.sonoransteel.com/phong/re...ic_locker.html details fitting an electric locker into a standard 4Runner housing, the opposite of what you're trying to achieve, but it may prove useful.
Why not try getting the 4.1 gears for the LC diff, more expense and work I know, but you'll end up with a very useful upgrade if you do any offroading.

[kite surf]

That is really helpful thanks....

I have now removed all the ancilliraies from the axle and finally seperated the 3rd member....boy did that take some doing - rust welded together!

After reading the electrical diagrams, I managed to check the locker was working correctly still and am now torn with taking the diff crown gear and pinion out to replace it with mine, thus merely changing the ratios of the existing LSD / Locker! Gaining the benefits whilst having the correct ratios as you suggested.

Only problem is correctly setting up the diff once returned to the housing...

This has turned into one of those tasks that has grown into a much bigger job!

Any experience of swapping the crown and pinion from one casing to another? Sounds like a difficult task?!

Will keep you posted of progress!

Thanks again.

Damon