Hello, All. Can anyone confirm a bolt-in set of 4.88's for my 96 Sidekick? Can I use a 04 or 05 Grand Vitara in my 96? I know it seems like a weird request considering I currently have 5.125's, but there is a method in my madness I assure you.

So, will the 04/05 GV front axle, gears, carrier, bolt in on my 96 non-sport? I realize the 96-98 Sports had a 4.875, but I have a line on a 04 with these gears.

I am having a hard time finding confirmation on this.

Thanks for any help you can provide.

T.

should bolt right in but you might have to change the CV axles and  mounting brackets to your original ones cause the new models are shorter and CV's are longer

I really appreciate the reply. I just found an 03 Grand Vitara (2.5 auto) that looks to be steel with 4.88's. While it is out, should I be putting in an ARB if I can afford it?

What kind of trouble am I asking for here? With my original 96 fully intact, and a full carrier, and 3rd from an 03 GV (minus the axle/cvs), can I make a working unit? What ARB model do i look for?

I apologize in advance for all the questions, but I don't want to buy things I can later not use

Thanks for any help. Feel free to point me to links, but it seems good Zuk info is hard to come by.

the front carrier will be aluminum but check to see with a magnet. the steel only came in the GV with 5 spd  and with an ARB in the front with 488 I think that there is a lot or machining involved, just because some guys here put lockers in the rear with 488 and had to machine ring and pinion to get it too work. One I know of is capt woody and he changed gears to 512. also with the 03 diff will have sotf carrier which you should search to se if you can remove or lock the mechanism so that you can use 4x4

VERY helpful, thanks. So, it is easier to put in an ARB if you have 5.125 gears?

Makes no difference to ARB what gears are run...

sent from an anus from an asus

The inside diameter of rear ring gear of the 2nd gen trucks are apparently narrower and require about a quarter inch of the inside diameter to be machined out and the inside corner edge radiused before the ring will fit over the ARB diff assembly.  That is the situation Cpt woody dealt with  when he had an ARB installed into the rear axle of his Tracker, as beagle-t explained. 

I don't think you will find any application where an ARB will install directly into a 2nd gen front diff.  The construction of the diff carrier is different on the 2nd gen trucks because it has an air actuator built into the diff. 

 As beagle-t suggested, you would probably have to use you 1st gen carrier with the 4.88 ring gear you want to run in order find an ARB for the front axle.