Exchange diffs and diff parts for Northland
Northland is about as far from our Christchurch workshop as a New Zealand address gets, and that is exactly the situation an exchange diff was designed for. Instead of freighting your worn unit south, waiting on a rebuild and freighting it back, a rebuilt diff leaves Sydenham and comes to you first. Your vehicle is only off the road for the swap.
The driving up here is hard on differentials. Long stretches of SH1 and SH10, plenty of metal roads out to the coast and the farms, boats on the back heading for the Bay of Islands or the west coast harbours, and a fleet that leans heavily towards utes and 4WDs. The usual result is a pinion bearing that has been whining for months before anyone gets to it, or a carrier that has lost its spider gears after one tow too many.
We stock rebuilt units for the vehicles Northland runs on: Hilux, Ranger, Colorado, D-Max, Navara and Land Cruiser. Freight is free in both directions, and the return label for your old diff is already in the box.
How it works from Northland
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 Northland
Utes and wagons that spend their lives on metal roads and boat ramps. These are the units we would expect to send north most often.
In stock · 5 units Toyota Hilux Rebuilt Exchange Diff Toyota From $1,795 incl GST and $250 refundable core charge Choose options 
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 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 
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 
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 · 2 left Holden Colorado RG Rear Diff Bearing Kit Holden $595 incl GST Add to cart 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
Any mechanic in Whangarei, Kerikeri, Dargaville or Kaitaia can fit an exchange diff head. It is a bolt in job that does not need specialist tooling, and the unit arrives with fitting notes, the ratio tagged on the housing and the oil specification. If your workshop has a question about a particular model, the team in Christchurch will take the call and talk it through with them directly.
Beam axle swaps and front diffs on 4WDs are a bigger job and worth leaving to a workshop with a hoist. If you want to compare what a local rebuild would cost against an exchange, ask for both numbers. The exchange is usually the same price and saves the vehicle sitting on a hoist for a week.
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 Water in Your Diff: How It Gets In, What It Destroys, and What It Costs You Water in your diff destroys bearings and gears fast. Learn how it gets in, the warning signs to watch for, and how to prevent it. 
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 Northland: 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.
How is the core charge handled when I am this far from Christchurch?
The core charge is included in the price at checkout, so there is one payment and no deposit to chase. When your old unit arrives back the team strips it and inspects the crownwheel and pinion. If they are reusable the core charge is refunded to the card or account you paid with. If the gears are damaged, the charge stays with the workshop and there is no further bill.
Can I fit it myself?
Yes. Most rear diff heads are a bolt in job for a competent home mechanic with a hoist or decent axle stands, and the warranty applies as long as the unit is fitted correctly and filled with the specified Redline oil. Fitting notes come with the unit and the team answers questions by phone. Beam axles and front diffs on 4WDs are more involved, so weigh up whether a local workshop is the better call.
What if it turns out to be the wrong one?
Send your rego when you order and the team checks the fitment before anything leaves Christchurch, so this is rare. If a unit arrives and does not match, call before fitting anything. The right one will be sorted and the freight on the wrong one arranged. The key thing is not to fit or fill a unit you are not sure about.