Landcruiser Diff Recondtioning

Submitted: Saturday, May 08, 2004 at 20:20

ThreadID: 12707 Views:11109 Replies:5 FollowUps:12

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Chris Gough

G'day all.

I unfortunately appear to be in need of a little advise on where to take my 75 Series Troopy to have the rear diff looked at and maybe re-built. The symptoms I'm currently experiencing are a rumble that starts at 95 km/h and is gone by just shy of 110 km/h and the diff also has an excessive amount of backlash - albeit a very small excess. The vehicle has had this rumble and backlash since I purchased it so 10,000km ago and realistically it doesn't appear to be deteriorating but I'd obviously like to know it's not going to go bang on the middle of Stockton beach so it's about time I took some action.

I've been searching through the forum and have been unable to find anyone else that's experienced similar symptoms or more to the point, put a dollar figure to the problem. So the question is, has anyone had a rear diff in a Troopy re-built and if so (I'm taking a seat now) what was the damage to the bank balance.

Also, seems the diff appears to have to come apart is it worth having a Detroit centre put in whilst I'm at it or is the work that is already required going to be scary enough that I should defer any mods to a latter date?

-Manic

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Reply By: Member - Pesty (SA) - Saturday, May 08, 2004 at 20:29

Saturday, May 08, 2004 at 20:29

If the diff hasnt gone bang you should be able to get new brgs etc for around $500 plus r&r the diff centre. Good time to put the locker in if your thinking about it and your bank manager is on your side, If not I know one!!!
Is your diff a LSD and how many miles has it done.

AnswerID: 57764

Follow Up By: Chris Gough - Saturday, May 08, 2004 at 20:39

Saturday, May 08, 2004 at 20:39

G'day Steve

I'm not 100% sure if the diff is a LSD or not. I bought the vehicle 2nd hand and was told it has a LSD diff however I have had the vehicle spin one of the rear wheels in 2WD and had to lock in the hubs and change to 4WD on a slippery surface once or twice so I think it's not a LSD at all or maybe it's stuffed. The vehicle has done 116,000kms so it's only a baby I would have thought and I'm a little surprised to be looking at have the work done at all.

Is there anyway of determining from the outside of the diff if it's a LSD or not?

-Manic

FollowupID: 319521

Follow Up By: Truckster (Vic) - Sunday, May 09, 2004 at 13:10

Sunday, May 09, 2004 at 13:10

Toyota LSD is not worth rebuilding, they last around 20,000 ...

FollowupID: 319586

Follow Up By: Member - Jeff M (WA) - Monday, May 10, 2004 at 13:46

Monday, May 10, 2004 at 13:46

Truckser, why is my Tojo LSD still working fine and 95k?, and if you are so convinced my grey import has had the speedo wound back maybe even more. I have no doubt that the Nissan LSD is a little quicker to engage, but the Tojo LSD is still strong and has no dramas getting us up sand dunes when fully loaded. Perhaps some information as to how you came to your fact that "Toyota LSD" "last around 20,000".
Do you own a Toyota? Which Toyota LSDare you talking about? Are they all the same one are they? What's the ratio of Toyota LSD failing after 20,000 to not failing until 500k?
Come on mate, comments like that are just stupid aren't they?

FollowupID: 319728

Reply By: Eric Experience. - Saturday, May 08, 2004 at 21:43

Saturday, May 08, 2004 at 21:43

Chris.
A rumble sounds more like a uni jiont to me. Your diff should be ok still, but if its not you should check for radial movement in the pinion, you can do this by chocking the front wheels, release the handbrake, take it out of gear and then grab the end of the pinion and pull and push on it, if it moves you need to remove the tial shaft and tighten the pinion nut just enough to stop the radial movement. The only cost is my comission. good luck Eric.

AnswerID: 57769

Follow Up By: Member - Pesty (SA) - Saturday, May 08, 2004 at 21:57

Saturday, May 08, 2004 at 21:57

Yes I agree Eric, I was continplating what else it could be and is certainly a possibility as they do come undun, also check for possible crook wheel brg.
Not sure how to tell if LSD from the outside But mine has done 1/2 million and still sounds good. You couldnt find many toyota diff posts as they are very reliable and dont give much trouble.

FollowupID: 319528

Follow Up By: Chris Gough - Saturday, May 08, 2004 at 22:16

Saturday, May 08, 2004 at 22:16

Evening Eric.

Radial movement?

If I rotate the tailshaft there's play which is what I referred to earlier as backlash (I don't know if that's exactly what is meant by backlash or not) - maybe even 7-8mm of play.

If I try to move the end of the pinion back and forwards, toward the front of the vehicle and then towards the rear of the vehicle, there is no play that I can feel.

...my neighbours must think I'm mad stuffing around under the car with a torch at 10:00pm. Hope they haven't called the cops.

-Manic

FollowupID: 319536

Reply By: ross - Saturday, May 08, 2004 at 21:55

Saturday, May 08, 2004 at 21:55

Yes there is a way of determining the type of diff you have.Look for the letters and numbers something like this K 08 3 or K 08 5 would indicate LSD
K 08 4 would indicate a factory locker. K 08 2 would be an open diff.
The K is for 9.5 inch diff ,the 08 is for 4.10 ratio and the number at the end indicated the type,LSD locker ect
I think all 70 variants have a LSD.To my knowledge only the Japanese models have an open diff.
Never had to do one but all the advertised reco diffs are about $500-$600.
Add another $300-$400 for detroit locker.
Yes if you want a locker,now is a good time but take it to someone who has done them before so they know how to adjust the backlash

AnswerID: 57773

Follow Up By: Chris Gough - Saturday, May 08, 2004 at 22:39

Saturday, May 08, 2004 at 22:39

Thanks Ross.

K 085 is stamped on the manufacturer's compliance plate so it would appear to be a LSD. I couldn't find anything stamped or cast into the diff housing though.

I'm a bit worried about taking the vehicle to any of the people that advertise Detroit lockers locally as the price of everything else these people sell appears to be over-inflated - I've never seen them put a price to a Detroit centre.

I don't suppose anyone can recommend someone in Sydney's west that does this sort of work?

-Manic

FollowupID: 319538

Follow Up By: ross - Sunday, May 09, 2004 at 00:02

Sunday, May 09, 2004 at 00:02

Pricing on these items is absurd I agree.They tend to adjust the price based on their conceived idea of the customers intellect.Suspension items are the same.
Its also very annoying when they wont give you separate price on labour and parts.I refuse to deal with any company that does that,it just breeds mistrust.
I think I was a little optimistic on the price of the unit.Its likely higher.
Best thing to do is open up google and put in" diff locker" and learn about all the characteristics of a locked diff.
One of the problems when you go to these shops is they will try to steer you towards products that a more profitable than what you want.
Being armed with knowledge is you best defence.
Your local parts store maybe able to order them in but your best bet is a transmission and diff specialist who is not part of the big 4x4 rip off.

FollowupID: 319552

Follow Up By: ross - Sunday, May 09, 2004 at 00:43

Sunday, May 09, 2004 at 00:43

Chris I found Tractech home site and they say this company in Granville is their distributor.The site has an order form and email for price request.
http://www.locked-drive.com.au/

FollowupID: 319553

Follow Up By: Chris Gough - Monday, May 10, 2004 at 14:11

Monday, May 10, 2004 at 14:11

Thanks Ross.

I've spoken to ‘the mechanic in the family’, now that I’ve been able to track him down, and he's going to take a look at it at some time latter in the week. I haven't mentioned the Detroit Locker as yet but he's done a lot of Ford 9" Detroit Locker conversions in the past (he may have done Landcruisers also) so I'll run the idea by him and see what he thinks. He's owns a XY falcon with a Detroit Locker and has done for over 10 years now.

I'll keep everyone posted as to what is identified as the problem and what the end result turns out to be.

Thanks again Ross and thanks to everyone else that has offered advise on this thread!!!

-Manic

FollowupID: 319733

Reply By: murrayg - Saturday, May 08, 2004 at 22:38

Saturday, May 08, 2004 at 22:38

chris
had the same symptons that you describe in an 88 troopy, was then flange on the front shaft of the dif was loose and had caused the spline to wear. tested it by removing tailshaft and driving in 4 wheel drive to even find out for sure it was dif or bent tailshft or bad universal. from memory cost about $400which included renewing rear brakes
murray

AnswerID: 57785

Follow Up By: Chris Gough - Saturday, May 08, 2004 at 22:53

Saturday, May 08, 2004 at 22:53

Thanks Murray.

I think this is what Eric was suggesting might have been the problem. It sounds like your problem got too far before it received attention and the crown and pinion gears were destroyed which may be the case with mine as the noise is undetectable under 95 km/h.

I have only had the vehicle for 10,000kms and I have no idea how long it's been doing this for. I initially thought the noise was the tyres still having 7.50R15. I guess I might be in for the same work that you had done to yours.

Oh well, I own a Toyota so I guess I can say it - bugger!

-Manic

FollowupID: 319540

Reply By: Janset - Sunday, May 09, 2004 at 19:38

Sunday, May 09, 2004 at 19:38

Hi Manic.

I have been down the diff locker path, not the same as yours, but you did mention Detroit lockers.

I have had considerable dealings with Detroit, the Australian division and all I can say about them is that they would have to be the most_ honorable_ distributors that I have ever come across in any of my dealings. Nothing was too much effort for they.

My run in was with a thoroughly disreputable Diff and Transmission "Specialist" in Jolimont W.A. who treated me like Sh*t after they stole my money. When I tried to sort out problems, they just weren't interested to the point of being rude.

The Detroit mob over East (Sydney I think) bent over back-wards to accommodate me and to ensure that I was satisfied with their product.

I am ashamed to say I have lost their address but if you do a Google search you should be able to find the address. Then ask them, who they recommend fixing your diff should you wish to go with them, not like the germ that I initially dealt with.

Go straight to the horse mouth.

Regards

AnswerID: 57881

Follow Up By: Chris Gough - Monday, May 10, 2004 at 14:21

Monday, May 10, 2004 at 14:21

Thanks Janset.

That's great news for someone like myself that may be in the market for one. I still have to see how the finances are and find out what else needs to be done.

Going straight to the importer of this sort of thing is a good move in my opinion. I've recently been investigating a Safari Clutch for my cruiser and have been told all sorts of things and quoted some ridiculous prices.

The solution to this problem was to phone the Australian distributor that, as luck would have it, is just down the road from me and ask them the questions I wanted answers to like 'is it going to do what I want or is it overkill' and 'who should I buy it from'.

-Manic

FollowupID: 319735