So after realizing something was broken, we trailered the zuki home on a flat bed.  The next day we pulled the rear end and discovered the back u-joint was busted and also the stub that comes out of the rear diff.

After pulling the axles loose and getting to the 3rd member, it looks like the bearings broke.  Basically the stub the driveshaft bolts to wobbles around freely inside the case (not actually broke in half). It also boogered up the gears just a tad from the bit of driving to get it loaded and home.

My lack of 4x4 knowlege leads me to here.  Should a rear overhaul kit take care of this?  Also should i take any chances with the nicked up gears?  The other option would be just to look for another used unit.

TIA

Can you post any pictures of the teeth on the gears for us to look at? That would make it easier to help you in the decision of whether or not to re-use these gears, or go find another set. Based on my experience with diff bearings letting go, I have found it better to simply replace the assembly, rather than clean up the damaged gears, install new bearings and let it rip. I have never had good results in this area. Others may have had better luck on the rebuild and reuse side, though.

figure out what the ratio is too. most of the time its cheaper and easier just to swap out whole thirds. there are a abundance of parts still for these rigs. or a ratio change is worth thinking about right now too. 

I can try to take a pic... gotta wait for cam to charge.  I counted 41 teeth on the gear if that helps on the ratio.

okay. now how many teeth are left on the pinion?

okay. now how many teeth are left on the pinion?

They are all there.  There is just a bit of wear/rough on probably about 3-5 of them.  Its progressive and worst is missing MAYBE 1/16 of depth and only like 1/4 long.

What ratio is this?  History is unknown but def. mods done to this samurai. 

Well, glad to know that all of the teeth are still on the pinion. Now, to figure out the gear ratio, you simply count the teeth on the pinion, and on the ring gear. Then divide the number from the ring gear by the number from the pinion, for example 10 (p) 41(r) you would get 4.10 gears. You try it now...

What ratio is this?  History is unknown but def. mods done to this samurai.  

5.12s will be my guess.  That is, if there are 8 teeth on the pinion.

5.12s are trackick gears....so you will not be able to buy a complete steel samurai third and swap it in (unless you find a samurai third that someone has swapped the 5.12 gears into already).