Prado rear axle setup.

[IRLGW]

I'm going to look at a colorado with a mate tonight. hes looking to upgrade from his pooper trooper to a colorado. However this one is a import so I'm guessing there is no rear locker? If so do they have an lsd or can the axle be readily changed for a uk spec one? He had a notion about a rear locker so not sure if this going to put him off or not

 

[Chris]

Probably just easier to stick an air locker in there. Finding an axle, with a working motor, all the electronics to go with it etc etc. The LSD is good when working, but a solid locker is a real winner.

 

[IRLGW]

so what is standard in an import? Lsd or nowt?

 

[Chris]

LSD. There aren't any that come with nowt.

 

[sae70]

When I smashed the front axle in Fiery someone kindly posted this information up for me;

Have a look at your VIN plate, the bottom row has 4 groups of numbers.
The 3rd group will say which diff you have on the rear. 4.300 or 4.100 and if its LSD, manual or open
It won't tell you the front diff ratio but it has to be the same as the rear if its a permanent 4wd.
Thats why they have a sticker on the front diff to show what ratio it is.
I bet yours says A02B if you have an R17 front sticker.

diff codes
4.100 diff no LSD possibly manual lock A01B
4.300 Diff no LSD possibly manual lock A02B
4.300 Diff with LSD A02A
4.100 Diff with LSD A01A

If it's a Prado then it is very very unlikely to have a rear locker and if it's a Prado with some miles then the LSD will almost certainly need a rebuild to be of any use. To fit an after market locker is going to stand him in about £1400!!! I know this as it's what was paid by Swampy's previous owner for a 4x4 specialist to supply and fit the ARB one in the front axle on Swampy!!! The RD90 ARB locker kit was about £800! That's a lot of wonger in anyone's world and if your m8 is dead set on having a locker he may be better off looking only at UK Colorado's.

 

[Chris]

I'd agree with all of that Steve. But I think that the price for fitting an ARB is hugely different front and rear. D4 told me £70 fitting for an ARB into a standard rear axle diff. Front IFS axle was waaay more. I know because they fitted mine but quoted for a rear by mistake. Rear locker should be about £690 bought in the right place. I think that fitting a rear ARB would be cheaper and simpler than finding and swapping an axle.

With the import of course you get an intercooler and in the SWB you can have an auto. But yes, an obvious plan would be to buy a UK car.

 

[sae70]

It is also alleged that the Prado not only has a Turbo Intercooler on the 3.0TD, but a differently mapped ECU and more power. Not some thing I've looked into myself, but may be worth investigating further as a plus point to buying a Prado over a Colorado.

 

[sae70]

£70 for fitting a locker in a rear axle seems mighty good value when you consider the work involved!!!

 

[Chris]

Well, I guess in a workshop like theirs with all the kit and knowledge, stripping a diff and whacking a locker in isn't that big a job for them. Remember that is for a diff that's removed. They don't service your tuck while you wait. I took mine out and drove down. You supply them with new bearings etc and they build it up. There isn't (comparatively) nearly as much work as fitting an IFS diff. They're not scrabbling around on the floor in the dirt dodging showers like we have to.

 

[IRLGW]

interesting development-

When we rang the seller he said that the truck was an import and had 470,000km on it but that it was immaculate through-out. However as I checked it over it looked more apparent that it was a uk spec with rear locker etc... Anyway it is sweet as a nut with probably the only thing looming may be a clutch within the next 5k so a deal was done fro a very reasonable £1800. We just haven t had time to check out the chassis number and discover whether it has 470km or 470miles on it!

 

[Chris]

Wow! That's all really. Just Wow.

 

[wobbly]

With that mileage a UK spec with rear locker is a better option - the LSD has a lifespan, and it's isn't 470,000 miles or km !

 

[IRLGW]

I must photograph it next time I'm round. Will be interesting to see which (if any numbers match up). Have a feeling that its not on its first engine (very clean in there), but what a story if it is. At that mileage -it was some school run......

 

[Aeroelastic]

I'd agree with all of that Steve. But I think that the price for fitting an ARB is hugely different front and rear. D4 told me £70 fitting for an ARB into a standard rear axle diff. Front IFS axle was waaay more. I know because they fitted mine but quoted for a rear by mistake. Rear locker should be about £690 bought in the right place. I think that fitting a rear ARB would be cheaper and simpler than finding and swapping an axle.

With the import of course you get an intercooler and in the SWB you can have an auto. But yes, an obvious plan would be to buy a UK car.

Hi Chris, bringing up an old thread here. About the fitting of an rear aftermarket locker above and The pricing, is there a recommended transmission shop around? Mine is an imported with LSD and is thinking of getting an aftermarket locker...
Thanks