Since I've broken 2 aluminum frontends on my Tracker, I've decided to go GV steel (when I get some money).

First question: Can I use the 3rd member from the GV? Is it steel, like the housing (V6, 5spd) or aluminum? Would I be better off using an XL-7 3rd member? If I do use an XL-7 3rd member, will I have to make a custom mount?

Second question: What are these parts and what do they do?

1. adjusting spanner nut for setting backlash
2. retainer for spanner nut
3. carrier bearing cap

On a side note post pics where these things break. I have a couple on the shelf I'd like to "build up". Thanks in advance.

Thanks for explaing what those parts were

Passenger Side mount (because there's only 3 bolts  ):


And the third member mount. Third member is the one that goes first, I think. Or at least it was in my case(s) of using a bit too much throttle in reverse in 4WD.

Hit me with a pic of the broken third member if you have one. That's what I have left over from my 5.125 to Sami swap. I want to beef up the area with maybe gussets or build it up with material with the t.i.g.

It breaks in reverse, since there's no support when it twists in that direction. To fix this, people use a strap bolted to the crossmember, clamping over the third member to keep it from rotating in reverse and breaking/kicking up. There's an article in the archives about it, too.

Don't forget here
                                                                               

Don't forget here
                                                                               

Holy shit!

How'd you do that?

This is the XL-7 3rd. Almost the same as the GV but the mount.


You will need one of these mounts (factory XL-7)


My frame was tweeked, so I had to drill new mount holes



that pic is the bottom of the cross member.

Check out http://www.zukiworld.com/month_110103/feature_zigsbeef.htm for more info

Zig

So are both the GV (V6-5spd) and XL-7 third members both made of steel? If so, would it be better to just get an entire GV differential assembly from the junkyard and just put my 5.12's in it?

I'm thinking that the diff is exactly the same.  Just the carrier is stronger, and yes, it's steel.  The GV V6/Manual carrier is eye-dentical to the Sidekick carrier except for the hole you'll have to plug, where the air-actuator for the "shit-on-the-fly" passes through.

And for my part, instead of trying to fab up a "snout clamp" XL-7 style, I think I'll just refrain from dumping the clutch in reverse, which is what I did to break my aluminum carrier.

And for my part, instead of trying to fab up a "snout clamp" XL-7 style, I think I'll just refrain from dumping the clutch in reverse, which is what I did to break my aluminum carrier.

You'll still brake it...

Do it right and put a strap on it.  You wont regret it.  You might if you don't

You'll still brake it...

Do it right and put a strap on it.  You wont regret it.  You might if you don't

heh, hard reverse is how I broke both mine... I guess I'm still too stupid to learn fast...

The good thing about the steel 3rd member is that it can be welded back together if it were to break


Another question: Would it strengthen the mounts on the diff housing if I were to weld the mounts right to the housing (kinda like the Anvil is)?

Holy shit!

How'd you do that?

I did it a the unofficail Zukifest last summer at Tillamook State Forest  (a.k.a. Brownscamp, real first time out) I thought I would try some rockCrawling (leaving the area where  Eric and some where Wheelin) and tried to crawl over a rock slowly (darn stock gears) and "CRACK, BANG, BOOM" there it went. I Laughed, (even Eric managed to break something) cause right B-4 it happened, a fellow Zook told me it would break (soon) and how to fix it and even lived in my nieghborhood and he even helped me fix it.

What is the Suzuki model that is sold as the Chevy Tracker? What material is the front diff of that made out of? Steel or Aluminum?