Yer shittin' me, right? They changed the f'ing carriers? Why? That explains why you had probs and I didn't. I have a 2000, and it's standard kick stuff. Why smaller? I mean, they run v6's in them now.
Or is this because they are maybe doing the changes on purpose so they can't be built for off-road? I mean, why change what works?
Oh, if it's a 2-dr Tracker auto, it prolly is a 4.62 gear, just like when it was a Kick. Stoopid that they changed the carrier size.
But is that all? Are the axles the jap 26-spline? Will they match a older Kick carrier? If so, why not, grab a Kick rear 3rd and add that? Stick Kicks (5.12) are easy to find and cheap, and would get you lower gearing to boot?
Or is that what you are already doing?
*don't mind the idiot behind the green curtain* "
It appears the change was made when the 2 litre came out. In addition to the ring gear inside diameter being smaller, the carrier dimentions change a little also.
My Tracker is a 2 dr 5 speed but had a 4.63 in it, not the 5.12 as advertised! Hawk Suzuki and most likely Calmoni (talked to them earlier on a LSD) were the only ones that seemed to know what was going on, RRO didn't, who I got the ARB from. Hawk said to get a third member from a 1998 or earlier 12 bolt and it would work. I did and it did. But, I had not planned on the extra expense. RRO had told me the ARB would work on the 2002 without having to use another third member, etc! I am trying to negotiate with them on covering some of the extra cost, doubled the cost) because of their lack of knowledge was a cause. Not much luck with that yet! RRO did offer to have the ring gear machined to fit over the ARB but after talking with Hawk and several other folks, i decided this was not a good way to go. The other dimensional differences in the carrier was too graet a risk that even with a larger ring gear inside diameter, things still would most likely not fit.
I had the 26 spline axel.