Chevy tracker with bad tranny

[medictracker]

Hello Everyone,

So i have my 2000 Chevy tracker 4x4 Auto with a bad tranny, and a bad rearend. Here's my question.

Can i swap out for a 97 or later Geo tranny? Will it fit the 2.0?

I wanted to put a locker in the reared, can't I do that instead of replacing the diffs internals?

[GeoHacker]

So i have my 2000 Chevy tracker 4x4 Auto with a bad tranny, and a bad rearend. Here's my question.

Can i swap out for a 97 or later Geo tranny? Will it fit the 2.0?

I wanted to put a locker in the reared, can't I do that instead of replacing the diffs internals?

Don't know the answers, just didn't want you to think no one read your post. My knowledge range is only circa 1992. I had to look up what a locker was, which I guess aids in 4 wheeling somewhere out in mud land.

Yours an automatic or manual? I see used automatics for $550, which given the fix these things yourself, I would recommend. I'd recommend it if it cost $1,000. Or $1500, installed. Because I'm doing it right now, and it's not fun really. (5 speed manual).

Good luck.

[fixkick]

Hello Everyone,

So i have my 2000 Chevy tracker 4x4 Auto with a bad tranny, and a bad rearend. Here's my question.

Can i swap out for a 97 or later Geo tranny? Will it fit the 2.0?


I wanted to put a locker in the reared, can't I do that instead of replacing the diffs internals?

swaps are the most difficult questions of all... and for sure automatics, the trans is TCM shifted and if you cars TCM does not like your 97 trans, then what (software. unhappy)?


that is a hard question. mixing parts from pre 99 cars is problematic.
in general.
the bells don't match. radially different partnumbers.. nor do the tail extensions (very different)
G16 Auto trans on to a 2000 J20 engine. hummmmm..../????

the pre 99 transmission has only one VSS speed sensor the 1999 plus, has 2.

how can you make that work. why cross the 1999 barrier,,..???



lockers , this means converting the internals from open to closed systems. (there are many closed systems.)
LSD
vacuum or electric locks (actuators)
locked for ever locks. (for offroad only) or even welded spider gears....(back woods hacked)..
and gyro locks, that detect speed slips... (chevy trucks run Eaton locks like this... nice too)


a locker keeps power on both rear axles no matter what.... that is what it does... making 4wd really 4wd,,, see?

one way to find out the tranny question is to ask the tranny sellers. (both wreckers and rebuilders use the Hollander data base to do that)
the Chebby tracker (i have one) has a 4speed, A/T . its really just a re- badged SQ420 Vitara. (mines a v6, SQ625)

if you try to buy a transmission, they well avoid showing 1997... to you.
in fact suzuki shows 99/00 is only 2 years fit.

but fit has different meanings.. fits/ runs or runs bad but works,? or?


in the end, it must fit. and the TCM must be happy. doing that is not easy. with swaps..


read the axle setup here, first.
see all the work and steps to do one.
first.
then decide.
lots of complex issues. too large tires ,force many to change gear ratios here. new gear sets.
these axles run gear carrier, they unbolt. and come out.


see sections 4 here. 4B is for rear and has the gear setups , and is non trivial.
this covers the axle work

http://www.acksfaq.com/trackerfsm.htm

[medictracker]

ok sp long story short stick with the 99+ Auto from the Track/Vitara. I wanted to eventually do a diesel swap that's why i wanted the 1st Gen tranny.

[medictracker]

btw way it is confirmed i went to change out the diff oil and it had chunks of metal in it....So for sure the Diff will be out here In the future...I was thinking of just replacing with lock right? I have never worked on diffs and crap so i don't know much about them...will i need anything from the existing diff?

[Kirk]

btw way it is confirmed i went to change out the diff oil and it had chunks of metal in it....So for sure the Diff will be out here In the future...I was thinking of just replacing with lock right? I have never worked on diffs and crap so i don't know much about them...will i need anything from the existing diff?

You might want to find someone with a lockrite style locker to see if its' idiosyncrsies are acceptible to you. They take some getting used on pavement, because they will lock and unlock as you go round a corner unless you pay attention to how much gas you are giving the car. If you have a significant other driving the vehicle, he/she may not have the patience to learn to use it on pavement. My wife, and my son's wife hated them, and you could hear them coming as they turned the corner to home. Kabang, kabang, kabang...

Off road, these style of lockers are amazing. For instance, if you are going up a steep hill full of potholes and water breaks, the locker smooths out the ride so there's no lurching and bouncing up and down.

If I remember correctly, the lockrite slips inside your carrier, replacing the spider gears. There's no set-up or adjusting of the gear mesh, because you are not disurbing either the crown gear, or the pinion. Before going any further, I'd advise opening up your diff and tracking down the source of those mysterious metal chunks you found. If you have a lot of expensive damage, it might be better to find a wrecker with a good rear end. If you have a pick-a-part style wrecker near you, their prices are extremely reasonable, and they will cross reference what they have to your car, so you don't end up with a different ratio in the rear than the front (that's a big no, no)

[fixkick]

ok chucks of metal.
well maybe the last guy
1: had a axle end bearing go totally bad (wrecked) and when doing the 2 seals at this job (always done) the metal chunks, got loose.
the axle bottom plug on the axle drain, will catch and hold it with its magnet tip.
2: broke an axle>/? or the spline failed and was replaced (whole new axle?)
finding metal there proves nothing, it can be a now thing or and echo from the past.....

if serious get LSD carriers.... they work off road and on road. (dual sport serious) or is this only offroad or on road.>?
usage factors matter, as does who;'s driving, wife and you, kids (teen) ?


some of these cars have them now, did you do the LSD test first (it was an option on some)

[medictracker]

Ok it will be just me driving the tracker. Also this year does not have the LSD. I can tell you the passenger side rear wheel had a wheel seal go bad on it, or it is bad, so my guess is at one time the PO ran it with oil and either damaged the axle or the diff itself. Either way the whine that comes from the rear end sounds like a failing diff...While I never worked on the diff, i have had my fair share of replacing wheel seals, and anytime we did seal jobs, we flushed the axle and put new oil in it. but i think this sucker is bone stock and just has a crap ton of miles on it...BUT i figured i could just replace the spider gears with a drop in locker...

Whats the largest wheel size a guy can fit without having to cut the fenders?

[fixkick]

lsd is hard to find, not sure where or what years offered..
the seal goes bad because the bearings go bad and beats the seal to death, top causes. (humpty was pushed)

the replacing of the gears, force, setting up the ring and pinion lash and, angle. (dept setting mesh up)
it's not trivial at all.

use a stethoscope at 4 places, with axle running, left ends, axle ends. L/R then at pinion front and last at rear of casing to see if the main gear or ring gear whines.
at one of those points it will be loudest.

lockers are not drop in, carriers (3rd member/pig) are. only. (unless a real JEEP )

http://www.subcompactculture.com/2013/06...ocker.html


when those 4 big bolts are removed or loosened the setup is lost.
lash etc.

the page trivializes it,,, by having Eric Bewley , doing the hard part.
jeeps have drop in,, locker (ratchet type)

here is a much better page, PDF that covers this very well

http://www.acksfaq.com/pdfs/Backlash.pdf

Andrews page,. super nice...

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nice pdf, never seen one ever that good, tooks lots of effort on his part.....

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a lot of cash to spend and work to do it
and if you dont like it? after, real sad.
the LSD is better if you can find one.

The front LSD isn't very common and was only fitted on some X-EC models and in markets such as Saudi Arabia.
AFAIK Calmini only supply the Suzuki manufactured rear LSD.
also seen in Italy vitara's
i thinks the calmini is gone.
LSD is no good for crawlers, it will act odd, say one tire going up a huge rock and other tire breaks free. LSD is not for that
its best running fast on dirt,etc.
if its not best, drag the brakes and on open axles work.

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ok here is one.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Suzuki-Sidekick-...0681571064


but ends in 1998. oddly
id ask them if they have others, for newer cars.

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personally if i wanted this, id find some vacuum or electric operated locks
but are getting hard to find on obsolete cars. like this.
long in tooth it is....support fading away.

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like this.

http://www2.izook.com/?s=kam

this is a sweet setup.;but seems samurai only

http://www.kamdiffs.com/

[medictracker]

parts are hard to find for this little truck.....is there a rear end swap a guy could do...? Also the tire question went unanswered