Front Diff Housing?

[Thai]

What is the front diff housing made of?? Is it cast iron, steel, or aluminum??

The reason i am asking is that, in my surfing of other forums, there seems to be a high incidence of front diff explosion/failure in vehicles with IFS and aluminum housing. Examples: Range Rovers (MKIII), Nissan trucks (apparently but i have not researched this), and Hummer H3's and early H2's.

Just wondering....

 

[jbs]

I just changed the diff oil this weekend. Looked like cast iron to me if I remember right, but I wasn't really paying that close attention (hadn't seen this post).

broc

 

[Good Times]

from what I am aware of it's alum and has been for a long time.

 

[jbs]

Well, you got me curious, so I double checked. A magnet will stick to mine and there is a bit if surface rust around some edges. Definitely doesn't seem like aluminum. Based on the texture I am sticking with cast iron, but could be steel... Transfer case is definitely alum as mentioned elsewhere.

broc

 

[Good Times]

thanks for the correction.

 

[Thai]

That is good news!! That is awesome!