Exchange diffs and diff parts for Bay of Plenty
Orchards, forestry, the port and the beach: the Bay of Plenty asks a lot of its vehicles in a fairly compact area. Kiwifruit blocks around Te Puke and Katikati run utes down wet rows towing bins all picking season. Rotorua and the Kaingaroa forest put 4WDs on pumice and gravel. Tauranga itself has the fastest growing fleet of daily drivers in the country, plenty of them towing boats out to Mayor Island or Matakana.
The differential is the component all of that lands on. We rebuild them in Christchurch and keep around 120 exchange units on the shelf so that when a Bay of Plenty diff gives up, a rebuilt one is already boxed and on the courier, typically two to three working days away, with freight paid in both directions.
If the vehicle is one we do not stock a unit for, the same courier arrangement works for a repair: your diff travels to the workshop, is rebuilt, and travels back, and the fitting happens at your local mechanic.
How it works from Bay of Plenty
Four steps. Freight is on us in both directions.2 to 3 working days, typically
Dispatched from Christchurch, across Cook Strait on the freight network, then out on the local courier run.
Indicative only. Transit depends on the courier network and the time of day the order is placed. Tracking is emailed when the unit leaves the workshop.
- Rural delivery addresses: allow an extra working day each way.
- Oversize or heavy items such as complete beam axles travel with Move Logistics and are quoted by phone before anything is charged.
- Freight on exchange diffs is free in both directions. The return label for your old unit is in the box.
Vehicles we see a lot from Bay of Plenty
Orchard utes, forestry 4WDs and the Tauranga boat towing fleet. What we would expect to send to the Bay most often.
In stock · 3 units Ford Ranger PK / PJ Rebuilt Exchange Rear Diff Ford $2,765 incl GST and $250 refundable core charge Add to cart 
In stock · 5 units Toyota Hilux Rebuilt Exchange Diff Toyota From $1,795 incl GST and $250 refundable core charge Choose options 
In stock · 5 units Holden Colorado RG Rebuilt Exchange Diff Holden $2,095 incl GST and $250 refundable core charge Choose options 
In stock · 5 units Isuzu Dmax Rebuilt Exchange diff Isuzu From $2,495 incl GST and $250 refundable core charge Choose options 
In stock · 3 units Toyota Land Cruiser 80 Series LSD 4.1 Ratio Rebuilt Exchange Diff Toyota $2,395 incl GST and $250 refundable core charge Add to cart 
In stock · 5 units Toyota Hilux N70 Rebuilt Front Exchange diff Toyota $2,495 incl GST and $250 refundable core charge Choose options 
Low stock · 1 left Nissan Navara D40 Rebuilt Exchange Diff 3.69 ratio Nissan $2,995 incl GST and $250 refundable core charge Add to cart 
Out of stock Ford Ranger PJ/PK Mazda BT-50 Disctrac LSD Ford · Disctrac $1,795 incl GST Enquire now Not seeing your vehicle? Around 120 units are on the shelf and not all are online yet. Send your rego and the team will check.
Fitting it near you
Tauranga, Rotorua and Whakatane all have plenty of workshops that will fit an exchange diff head, and the smaller orchard towns have a local mechanic who knows the farm fleet. The unit arrives with fitting notes and the correct oil can be added to the order so it is in the same box. Ask your workshop to call the team if anything on the model is unfamiliar; they are happy to talk it through before the job starts.
Front diffs on 4WDs that have been on forestry roads are worth having inspected at the same time as a rear swap. A workshop can check for play and leaks in a few minutes while the vehicle is up.
Guides worth reading before you order
All articles
Troubleshooting Common Toyota Hilux Differential Problems Learn the most common Toyota Hilux diff problems, including bearing failure, oil leaks, worn LSDs, and crownwheel and pinion damage. 
Troubleshooting Lifetime Diff Oil, Is It Really Lifetime? Manufacturers call it lifetime oil, but is it really? Learn the facts about differential oil and why changing it may save you thousands. 
Troubleshooting Repair or Exchange Diff: Which One Do You Need? Repair or exchange diff - which is right for your vehicle? NZ-wide free freight, 80+ models in stock, and core charge pricing explained. Ordering from Bay of Plenty: common questions
Do I need to send my old diff first?
No. The exchange unit ships first so your vehicle is only off the road for the swap itself. The price you pay up front includes a core charge for the crownwheel and pinion, and that is what covers the workshop while your old unit is on its way back. Once the old diff is boxed and collected, the core charge is refunded if the gears are reusable.
What happens with the core charge?
It is built into the price, not added later. You pay once, fit the exchange unit, and send the old one back on the prepaid label. The refund is processed once the old crownwheel and pinion have been inspected and found reusable. Badly damaged gears mean the core charge is kept, and that is the end of it. No surprise invoice.
Is this a job I can do in my own shed?
Yes, if you are comfortable with it. A diff head swap on a live axle ute is within reach of a careful home mechanic. Follow the fitting notes that come with the unit, use the specified Redline oil, torque everything properly, and the 12 month or 20,000 km warranty stands. If you are unsure, any local mechanic can do it and the team will talk them through anything model specific.
What if the diff that arrives does not fit my vehicle?
The diff is matched to your rego and ratio before dispatch, which catches almost every mix up. If something still does not line up when it arrives, do not fit it. Ring the team, the right unit is confirmed and sent, and the return freight on the wrong one is handled by the workshop.