Hey Rene - can you fix that missing image - I'd like to see what the multi-rib housing looks like.

I just took a look under my 98, I count no less than five ribs - three full length - top bottom & center front, and two shorter ones in between.

Edit - OK - it seems there was a database problem over at Suzuki-forums, preventing the image from displaying.

I have the housing in the second picture, which as far as I know is the original - as a matter of fact - that is my front diff - I can tell from the red anti corrosive paint on the cross member.

Looking at the Suzuki EPC, it seems that the "multi-rib" diff housing shown (27611-67D00) was used on manual transmission 2.0 GVs in 98, along with the later automatic transmission 2.5 GVs and also the automatic transmission turbo diesel engined GVs - maybe you should look for a manual transmission front diff and swap your third member over.

That's very interesting about the additional ribbing.  I have not noticed that before. I'm continually amazed these aluminum housings hold up as good as they do because other than around bolt flanges or seal/bearing flange surfaces, they are awful thin.  Maybe 1/8" thick at best?  I probably should consider picking up a spare housing in the near future, just in case.   I would think the steel would need less reinforcement.

Pulled the front out this time without pulling the CVs from the wheel hubs.  Even with the rack and pinion unbolted and pushed up 3-4" there was not enough clearance for the input flange to clear the oil pan.  The result is unneeded scratches on the oil pan that must be repainted to delay the rust.   The passenger side CV also hung up on the passenger side control arm.  To gain more clearance for the flange end and the CV knuckle, we unbolted the front of the control arm and ratcheted it down about an inch out of the pocket (glad I had coated the bolt with anti-seize).  The first time I tugged on the housing the passenger CV literally popped right out.  Absolutely effortlessly.  Then we lacked the clearance to completely remove it (before we winched the front control arm down out of its pocket for the needed clearance) so we pushed it back up, it locked in again and then the fight was on!  The BFG on the prying yoke was in full effect.

 Quite a juggling act.  Quicker overall (as someone on here mentioned a couple weeks ago) but I'll tell ya, it is NOT a one person job (for me).  You also HAVE to have your truck sitting way up on jack stands or sitting on a hydraulic lift to gain the angles to extract it.  I think I'd rather get beat with a 2X4 than do it that way by myself.

When I was changing my oil last night I looked at the ribbing on my front housing.  It has the three rib housing on it too.  I, obviously, hadn't noted this before.

Great information thanks.

My 98' Sidekick JX has the extra ribbed housing as well.