Hi,

I thought the S-10 Blazers were 7.5/7.6" rears with 7.25 on the front. At least that was what mine was. The big problem is the GM stuff is inch based and the Kia stuff is metric so nothing would quite line up.

I do know that the newer s-10 diff is nowhere even close to the Kia diff. I have one of each in my garage right now.

The Kia is 3rd member front and rear. About 7" ring gear in the front and about 8" ring gear in the rear. Our best hope is that Kia, Mazda and Suzuki all used the same Asian OEM supplier for a better chance of part interchangability. We do know that there is some interchangability between Mazda and Kia but Suzuki is still somewhat of an unknown except for knowing the axle splines are at least within a few 10 thousands of an inch of each other (compared to all years on the front of the Sportage and just the older rears) but we have never been able to compare them side by side. They may very well be exactly the same. There is also the possability thet the rear axles on the newer Sporty (the 28 spline ones) might match the splines of some of the Mitsubishi fronts or Mazda truck rears.

What would be really helpfull would be if someone had the spline section of a Sammy axle or a spare Sammy diff. that they could send to one of us that has a Sportage diff. out on the bench.

Ron, the Sammy shaft will be my task for the week (4 nights off work mid-week). It'll be going to ARB for a trial fit in the Kia front diff.

For those that want a rear too (like me) I'll be talking face to face with ARB when I drop the shaft off and I will try to get as much info about the 28 spline Mitsubishi diff and pass on the info to you guys for a best guestimate assessment before we harass ARB again. (but front first as that is what they have in hand........)

Gary, just curious - no rush, when do you think (assuming that ARB manufactures the locker) it will be available by? Just wondering if I need to add something to my Kwanza - er - X-mas wish list. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/mrt.gif" alt="" />

All right guys, sorry for the delay, but here are the measurements from my stock non-LSD differential. It is from a 1998 4x4 KIA Sportage with 28 spline axles.

A = 6.225" (outer diameter of the ring gear mounting surface)
B = 4.650" (inner diameter of the ring gear mounting surface)
C1 = 1.555" (outer diameter of the axle shaft housing/bearing seat)
C2 = 1.555" (outer diameter of the axle shaft housing/bearing seat)
D1 = 1.175" (inner diameter of the axle shaft housing)
D2 = 1.175" (inner diameter of the axle shaft housing)
E1 = 0.810" (bearing seat width)
E2 = 0.810" (bearing seat width)
F = 0.900" (thickness of ring gear mounting surface to bearing seat)
G = 4.450" (distance from bearing seat E1 to bearing seat E2)
*H1 = 2.350" (distance from outer bearing seat edge E1 to where axle shaft would stop)
*H1 = 2.350" (distance from outer bearing seat edge E2 to where axle shaft would stop)
*H1a = 1.155" (distance from snap ring location to where axle shaft would stop) I.e. Spline length inside side gear
*H2a = 1.155" (distance from snap ring location to where axle shaft would stop) I.e. Spline length inside side gear

*Axle spline count = 28
*Axle shaft diameter = TBM (To Be Measured)
*Axle spline length = TBM ( To Be Measured)

Updates as of 5:47 PM Mountain Standard Time 10/21/2004

I will try and update this post with the distance from the outer edge of the bearing seat to the end of the dotted lines in the picture posted in wd8cdh's post listed above. I believe this is the distance from the outer edge of the bearing seat to the end of the axel shaft which is also the inner most side of the differential side gear.

Logansportage <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />

Excellent!!!!!!!!!!

I will pass this onto ARB today.

I have modified the diagram showing the depth from the outer vertical bearing surface to the inner vertical dotted lines as H1/H2 (hmm hummers <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />)

The one measurement we need then is the spline count/diameter and we may be on our way......

I have also made a contact in the Mitsubishi club over here who may be able to help (might have a dead front diff or two lying around for measurements/comparison with our rear)

Hi Logansportage,

Can you also measure the bolt circle and o.d. of the ring gear.

Next, Dave needs to measure the same dimensions on his front ring gear and the i.d. of his ring gear. I'm betting that everything but the o.d. of his ring gear will be the same.

Great info!

Gary---if you can't get a mitsu axle stub or dead diff. I suppose we could buy just one side gear from a Mitsu dealership.

Logansportage-----I think H1/H2 should be the distance to the snap ring clip groove or the end of the splines where the snap ring would expand.


I would love to get a front diff and a rear diff side by side. I am beginning to think that the rear diff is a front one that was just beefed up a little but still has the same dimensions. And the ring gear has the same bolt pattern and i.d. but a slightly larger o.d..

Whichever way you look at it, things are certainly looking up after an extended period of procrastination <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

I don't have the ring gear on this differential to measure. I had to install it on the Eaton LSD when I put it in.

Please explain what you mean by bolt circle.

There is no snap ring in this differential. There is a place for one , but no way to get it in.

I can see what you are looking for though. The measurement I made was from the outermost part of the differential to the innermost part of the side gear. This will tell you how much of the axle is inside the differential. I'm also going to measure the axle spline length on my axle (when I can pull it) to compare against the measurement from the snap ring location to the end of the axle shaft location in the side gear. This way ARB can make their side gears with the correct spline length to fit our axles.

Logansportage <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/patriot.gif" alt="" />

Hi Logansportage,

The bolt circle would be the distance between the centers of two opposite holes that the bolts that hold the ring gear on go. Just like the holes in the wheel for the hub studs.

The snap ring goes into a groove near the end of the axle splines. Our rear diff doesn't need the groove in either the axle or the side gears but our front does need it. I am only guessing that the rear has the groove since it "might" also be used in another vehicle that needs it.

Come to think of it, the only difference between the older 26 spline rear diff and the front diff might be the lack of the groove.

It doesn't matter whether the rear has the groove or not but the front must have the groove on the short side of the diff housing to hold in the half shaft.

I have a brand new, un-bent clip for the front stub shaft to measure.

A rear 28 spline ARB wouldn't need a groove for the clip but a 26 spline ARB would need the groove if it was to be used in the front too.