Meru rear axle question

[TEPUI]

Somebody just mentioned to me that the RZJ90 assembled currently in Colombia (and sold in Venezuela as Prado Meru) comes from the factory with a Dana rear axle. Is that true? if so, which Dana axle are thy putting in them?


I've seen some Venezuelan Land Cruisers with D60, but that seems like overkill for a 4cyl Prado.

just curious...

 

[Letsgomoreplaces]

dana axles

I have seen some strange South American toyota stuff. I have seen pictures of late model Hilux w/ Dana rearend. It was stamped and tagged Dana, w dana numbers, etc., but it was a Toyota style dropout rearend

 

[guacharin]

yes thats tru, is Toyota 8"style dropout rearend and have the dana logo, the ring have the same holes but 5mm closer to the center and the pinion is shorted.

regards

 

[Tapage]

yes thats tru, is Toyota 8"style dropout rearend and have the dana logo, the ring have the same holes but 5mm closer to the center and the pinion is shorted.

regards

Did you know the model of this Dana .. thinking it's by DanaVen . ?

 

[guacharin]

i think that is danaven, because this car is made in sofasa colombia
for the vanezuelan market.

regards

 

[Letsgomoreplaces]

Interesting

Hello Michele

Carl Here!

yes thats tru, is Toyota 8"style dropout rearend and have the dana logo, the ring have the same holes but 5mm closer to the center and the pinion is shorted.

regards

 

[guacharin]

jejeje, yes man, so know what caind off r&p is this? have any lsd for this one.

regards

 

[ladyliz68]

Tepui, tell me where and what to look for and I shall go see it on my Meru....:whoops:

 

[TEPUI]

Tepui, tell me where and what to look for and I shall go see it on my Meru....:whoops:

Liz, it would be great if we could see a picture of your Meru's rear axle. Thanks for offering help

 

[JakeA]

The colombian made Series 90 comes with a rear axle made by Transejes de Colombia (DANA) and the BIG difference is that the third member contains a non standard DANA diferential, model 207, made for the Hilux (Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela) and the Prado (Colombia, Venezuela). This is a major set back for owners of colombian made Prados, because we can't use all the aftermarket parts for the Toyota 8 Inch V6 Turbo Differential. The axles are Toyota, but the differential is not. Another BIG difference is that the this Dana differential is weaker than the Toyota 8 inch V6 Turbo. (not that you will break it, but when you are buying your Toyota 4wd you expect the Toyota quality an resistance). Why is it weaker you may ask, well the BIG difference is that it only has two pinions (planetarios) inside the differetial carrier instead of four, also the differetial carrier is adjusted in the thirb member housing via shims and not with adjustable nuts.

If you want to improve your rear differential in the colombian made Prado, you'll have to change the third member with gears and all, for an original Toyota one. It will fit the axle housing with no problem. I looked into the matter and a complete third member with a Detroit TruTrac and 4.3 gears came to USD1400.

If anyone wants the service manual for the DANA differential in the Prado email me. It was given to me by the training area of Transejes de Colombia (DANA).


For in dept info on Toyota 8 inch diff go to: www.gearinstalls.com

 

[Letsgomoreplaces]

8" 3rd members

We can build complete bolt in 3rd members as well with your choice of ratio and LSD/Locker/open diff.

The colombian made Series 90 comes with a rear axle made by Transejes de Colombia (DANA) and the BIG difference is that the third member contains a non standard DANA diferential, model 207, made for the Hilux (Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela) and the Prado (Colombia, Venezuela). This is a major set back for owners of colombian made Prados, because we can't use all the aftermarket parts for the Toyota 8 Inch V6 Turbo Differential. The axles are Toyota, but the differential is not. Another BIG difference is that the this Dana differential is weaker than the Toyota 8 inch V6 Turbo. (not that you will break it, but when you are buying your Toyota 4wd you expect the Toyota quality an resistance). Why is it weaker you may ask, well the BIG difference is that it only has two pinions (planetarios) inside the differetial carrier instead of four, also the differetial carrier is adjusted in the thirb member housing via shims and not with adjustable nuts.

If you want to improve your rear differential in the colombian made Prado, you'll have to change the third member with gears and all, for an original Toyota one. It will fit the axle housing with no problem. I looked into the matter and a complete third member with a Detroit TruTrac and 4.3 gears came to USD1400.

If anyone wants the service manual for the DANA differential in the Prado email me. It was given to me by the training area of Transejes de Colombia (DANA).


For in dept info on Toyota 8 inch diff go to: www.gearinstalls.com

 

[ladyliz68]

Liz, it would be great if we could see a picture of your Meru's rear axle. Thanks for offering help

Tepui, sorry I have not been around for a while... so, where should I photograph? Por debajo?

 

[FloridaFJ80]

Yeah my rear end is Also DANA..

 

[GZERO]

The colombian made Series 90 comes with a rear axle made by Transejes de Colombia (DANA) and the BIG difference is that the third member contains a non standard DANA diferential, model 207, made for the Hilux (Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela) and the Prado (Colombia, Venezuela). This is a major set back for owners of colombian made Prados, because we can't use all the aftermarket parts for the Toyota 8 Inch V6 Turbo Differential. The axles are Toyota, but the differential is not. Another BIG difference is that the this Dana differential is weaker than the Toyota 8 inch V6 Turbo. (not that you will break it, but when you are buying your Toyota 4wd you expect the Toyota quality an resistance). Why is it weaker you may ask, well the BIG difference is that it only has two pinions (planetarios) inside the differetial carrier instead of four, also the differetial carrier is adjusted in the thirb member housing via shims and not with adjustable nuts.

If you want to improve your rear differential in the colombian made Prado, you'll have to change the third member with gears and all, for an original Toyota one. It will fit the axle housing with no problem. I looked into the matter and a complete third member with a Detroit TruTrac and 4.3 gears came to USD1400.

If anyone wants the service manual for the DANA differential in the Prado email me. It was given to me by the training area of Transejes de Colombia (DANA).


For in dept info on Toyota 8 inch diff go to: www.gearinstalls.com

just a little clarification, what he was trying to say is that the axle has only one planetary.
The axle case is toyota, but the rest is dana, they are very weak and i've seen them break a lot. The strenght of the USA tacoma 8" is far superior. Also, the axle breather is non existing, is just a lil plug in the axle, no hose or anything to raise the breathing point. Well, it has many flaws.
Thats just the back, the front is hideous. :/

Gustavo

 

[FloridaFJ80]

GZERO - have you done any upgrades to the rear axle? What about the front? Any pics and suggestions??

 

[worldcruiser]

If anybody needs any information on this specific differential I can get you any data as the owner of Transejes de Colombia is a personal friend of mine.

 

[Dariusz]

I change my rear axle using a Prado Japan made one, the bolt-on is perfect and I win rear disc brakes too. With this made I install a ARB locker without problems.

The fron axle is identical to the japanese one, don´t need mayor work to install a locker or upgrade the pinion, etc.

 

[GZERO]

GZERO - have you done any upgrades to the rear axle? What about the front? Any pics and suggestions??

If you're looking for the cheaper "fix" that would be to find a japanese made third member and slap that in. There shouldn't be any modification.
Also, you could try to buy a complete axle as well, just make sure its from a coil spring car, since removing the leaf springs mounts to well the coil springs mount etc. would be a PITA.
Front as far as i know (and the diesel guys can tell you) is a piece of s***, the only thing you can do is drive the car nicely, because the front is weak...of course, whithin limits.

 

[Letsgomoreplaces]

90 series 3rd members

Yes this would be an easy solution. We offer several options complete ready to bolt in (no core charge either)

For rear:
http://www.ringpinion.biz/index.php?cPath=27_68_222&osCsid=eb285817cc80b6891a25fa5f1ce7337a
or
http://www.ringpinion.biz/index.php?cPath=27_68_223&osCsid=eb285817cc80b6891a25fa5f1ce7337a

For front:
http://www.ringpinion.biz/index.php?cPath=27_68_221&osCsid=eb285817cc80b6891a25fa5f1ce7337a

If you're looking for the cheaper "fix" that would be to find a japanese made third member and slap that in. There shouldn't be any modification.
Also, you could try to buy a complete axle as well, just make sure its from a coil spring car, since removing the leaf springs mounts to well the coil springs mount etc. would be a PITA.
Front as far as i know (and the diesel guys can tell you) is a piece of s***, the only thing you can do is drive the car nicely, because the front is weak...of course, whithin limits.