Anyone know why the IFS diff mounts incorporate rubber bushings?  I'm guessing because the stock diffs are made out of aluminum...  the bushings help manage the torque on the aluminum diif case between the power coming out of the transfers case while in 4WD against the resistance/shock from the axles on the ground.   Might have a secondary benefit of reducing some driveline noise being transfered to the cab (for passenger "confort").  These are only my speculations.  Does anyone have the facts?

The reason I ask is IF the IFS mount bushings are necessary primarliy because of the fragile aluminum diff construction (to reduce stress fractures) ... then why cannot someone take a standard rear steel diff, trim it and mount it in the front using solid locally fabricated mounts?  It sounds too easy... so what am I am missing here?

Or...

You can just use the OEM steel front axle/diff housing.

Yeah, I've read several threads about this option, but say, for conversation purposes, if you don't have one and can't find one in your local area.... ? 

I haven't found one around here in the local yards and the local Suzuki parts department guy where I checked said his parts manual (digital) "didn't show any steel diffs for the front of any Vitaria/GVs or XL7s (99-2004)" and "they were all aluminum".   I'm skeptical of his info source  but I'm not going to vault across the counter, muzzle punch him,  and take over his computer by force to find out.  Even if they did, being Suzuki, the price tag on a new housiing (versus used)  would probably be $1,000-$1200 +.  I can find rear diffs for Tracker/Suzuki in the local yards (occasionally)

I haven't came across a lot of threads on this site concerning the subject, but on Zuwharrie, I believe there is a guy named Whitfield (I believe) who mentioned this as an option in a thread of his, but again, I don't recall anyone actually doing this.

So, this is where my question was derived from.  So my base question copncerning the mounts remains.... specifically whether the bushings are required because the housing is aluminmum or could steel diffs mounts be fabricated without using bushings. 

Steel diffs come out of 99 and up GV V6 Manuals , I believe that about 2004 or 05 they are all steel on the V6's but don't quote me on that. I have a 99 GV V6 Man and yep all steel up front.

BTW: Here in NZ a steel banjo is $750 and a front third steel is $430.

Good luck with your quest.

I expect that the front end is rubber mounted to cut vibration down, pretty standard with OEM stuff.

Or try this:

http://www.zukiworld.com/forum/index.php?topic=21156.0

Thanks for your response info and the thread link ZeusZuki.  Mucho gracious!

Norm   

      

Anybody lookin for steel housings and or 3rds check hawks. New housing just shy of 400 and new 3rd for 289

Rubber for vibration. But if you are going up a rock and you start to loose traction and start wheel/tire hop the axles would take all the shock but the rubber bushings help this.

I think it was more of a vibration thing.

Hawk is a good bet.  They are in Merlin, Oregon, about 30 miles North of me.  They have been doing zooks for many years.  They do a lot of rebuilds for serious off-road.  Trying to find stock body parts there was difficult.  I did get a used EGR valve (under 20k miles) for 50 smackers.

There is a place in Medford, Oregon, (where I live) that might be avle to help you out also.  They are Trail Tough Products.  www.trailtough.com  I am seeing them today about some front end body parts and CV joint issues, and maybe talk suspension lifts.

Hope this helps.

Pat

quote author=CG98x link=topic=22379.msg193658#msg193658 date=1227730873]
Anybody lookin for steel housings and or 3rds check hawks. New housing just shy of 400 and new 3rd for 289
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