[lee88]

Hey all,

Currently in the process of changing to a steel front diff in my 95 SWB manual vit & I want to upgrade axles/cvs to 26 spline. (I'm changing all of the insides of my diff into the steel diff)

so for the 26 spline upgrade part - Which side gears will work in my diff center?
So far i think i need 26 spline rear vitara side gears from an earlier vitara?
Will sierra rear side gears fit the front of my diff?
Or do i need to swap the whole center from a newer 96-98 26 spline vitara & change my 5.12 ring and pinion into that diff center? (will these side gears fit?)

The reason im asking is because i need to find the side gears first & know that it will work before i send it to the diff shop..

Originally i pulled out the sidegears from the GV diff but i have since read that these wont fit in my diff.

any help would be much appreciated


Cheers

[christover1]

Vitara rear diffs are larger than front.
So I'm pretty sure they won't work.

You want Sierra rear 26 spline side gears.

And you need a 26 spline passenger side inner Vitara axle.

And both cv/axles from a later model Vitara (Not sure what year)

[atari4x4]

or Vitara 26 spline front side gears

[christover1]

atari4x4 wrote:

or Vitara 26 spline front side gears

Yep thats right, I had a blonde moment.

If You robbing a later Vit for axles, may as well grab its side gears too

[want33s]

I have a few pairs of Sierra 26 sp side gears here if you get stuck.

[lee88]

Thanks guys helps alot!!
ill let you know if i get stuck.
cheers!

[lee88]

I was reading some more about using the sierra rear 26 spline side gears in my front diff -
cant remember where i found it but i read that there is no allowance or recess or something on the sierra side gears for the retaining ring that's on the end of the vit cv?
Will this cause problems? does that mean my cvs will possibly keep popping out of my diff?
the reason i ask is I run a fair bit of a lift in the front i have an OME lifted spring and i think about a 30mm spring spacer in there but looking to change to 3" jimnybits spring in the future..

Will these side gears from lowrange fit? http://www.lowrangeoffroad.com/index.php/suzuki-samurai-26-spline-side-spider-gears-2734183000.html

Cheers
Lee

[christover1]

My vitara has 22 spline Sierra side gears,
and my axles are not falling out.
Can't see why 26 splines be any different.

Not heard or read that before.
I'm not up with the technical stuff,
but mine works ok.

The low range side gears are ok, but I think you'd get a better price of a local.

[lee88]

Just an update & advice/confirmation required -

I have found 2 26 spline side gears from a wide track sierra rear which i am going to pick up tomorrow.
I also found this http://nbs4x4club.com/forum/index.php?topic=14374.0 which has pictures of the different side gears.
Looking at the picture of the 4 gears next to each other, the sierra 26 spline on the RHS look a lot smaller in diameter then the vitara side gears!
(and the rear vitara 26 splines look to be almost an exact match)

Thoughts/advice anyone?
Should i send it to the diff shop with the sierra side gears or try find myself some vitara rears before i send it in?

Note: i am still keeping my open front diff if this makes a difference..

[christover1]

The ring of metal around the Vitara fronts makes them look bigger.
Vitara rear diffs are bigger than the front, and won't fit the front axles.

Photos can be deceiving.

For converting a Vitara front to 26 spline, a rear Sierra 26 spline is right.

[lee88]

Thanks mate!!

Appreciate all your replies very much

Cheers,
Lee

[lee88]

Having trouble finding the 26 spline drivers side CV & axle.
Repco tells me there is only one type of CV for all 1.6L vitaras up to 98 & the one they ordered in for me turned out to be 22 spline too.
I believe the SV series, 2L vitaras & GVs are all wider/longer then the normal vit?
(I've been asking for the passenger side long axle and drivers side cv for a 96 1.6L manual vitara.)
I'm not getting far with the wreckers either no one wants to go around their yard pulling out the cvs to find a 26 spline one..

The diff is in getting done now at the moment with the 26 spline side gears.. but they havent had time to look for the CVS for me & i don't want to be left with a diff i cant use

Can anyone confirm which model vit i source my axle & CV from?
Are the 2L vits 26 spline front? i guess they have the same diff.. so the passenger side long axle will fit if its 26 spline but don't know about the cv.

[lee88]

For everyone's info in future considering the upgrade to 26 spline -

Rear sierra side gears fit ok.

26 spline SE series vitara CVs/Axle don't exist in Australia.

But the CVS (i think) can be done by using an SV620 inner CV and combining it with an early vitara's. *(didnt try this but pretty sure it works)

The Passenger side long axle has to be cut/machined to fit the early vitara center as far as i am aware as i couldn't find any the same length as the early vitara with the 26 spline.
Note -->Suzistore checked in their parts program(the same one actual suzuki has) and there was only 1 part number for the passenger side axle all the way up to 98.
Hence all are the same no change to 26 spline. (at least in Aus)

To all the noobs(like me) make sure you organise the parts and make sure you get all your 26 spline bits FIRST before you get the diff rebuilt with the 26 spline side gears only to find out you cant get the parts.

I ended up just having the diff sidegears just changed back to 22 spline unfortunately for the ease of access to the 22 spline CVS.
Expensive exercise!

Appreciate all the help anyways!
Cheers

[christover1]

I stayed with 22 spline fronts, because I had a pile of spares. Glad I did now.
Shame you found out too late, but life does that sometimes.
I have not had any breakages with 22 spline bits,
but I drive them carefully, and an auto is kinder on parts.
You will be fine I think.