Exchange diffs and diff parts for Wellington
Wellington is the closest North Island region to our Christchurch workshop, with the Cook Strait ferries carrying the freight across, and a unit dispatched from Sydenham typically reaches a Wellington address in two to three working days. For a city with steep streets, tight parking and a shortage of workshop space, an exchange diff that arrives ready to bolt in is a practical answer to a noisy rear end.
The regional fleet has two faces. In the city, the Hutt Valley and Porirua it is Commodores and Falcons that have been driven hard on the hills, trade vans and utes, and a growing number of Ranger and Hilux utes that tow boats out of Mana and Seaview or head over the Remutakas at the weekend. Across the hill in the Wairarapa it is sheep and beef country, with farm utes and Land Cruisers on metal roads from Featherston to Eketahuna.
We keep rebuilt exchange units for all of those on the shelf, in open and LSD form for most. The price includes the refundable core charge, freight is free in both directions, and the return label for your old diff is in the box.
How it works from Wellington
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 Wellington
Commodore and Falcon rear ends, Hutt Valley trade vehicles and the Wairarapa farm fleet. Wellington region shortlist.
Made to order Holden Commodore VT-VZ Diff Rebuilt Exchange 3.73 M80 LSD Holden $2,495 incl GST and $250 refundable core charge Add to cart 
Low stock · 1 left Holden Commodore VT-VZ Diff Rebuilt Exchange 3.08 M80 LSD Holden $2,295 incl GST and $250 refundable core charge Add to cart 
In stock · 5 units Ford Falcon BA BF Rebuilt LSD Exchange Diff Ute Ford From $3,195 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 Toyota Hilux Rebuilt Exchange Diff Toyota From $1,795 incl GST and $250 refundable core charge Choose options 
In stock · 5 units Toyota Hiace Rebuilt Exchange Diff Toyota From $1,795 incl GST and $250 refundable core charge Choose options 
Low stock · 1 left Holden Commodore VE/VF Disctrac LSD Holden · Disctrac $1,395 incl GST Add to cart 
In stock · 4 units Borg Warner IRS M80 Bearing Kit Gearhead Diffs $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
Wellington, Lower Hutt, Upper Hutt and Porirua have plenty of general and performance workshops that will fit a diff head, and the Commodore and Falcon IRS units come with notes on what is different about them. Across the Remutakas, Masterton, Carterton and Featherston all have mechanics who look after the farm fleet. The team will talk to any of them by phone if there is a question about a model before the job starts.
For the Commodore and Falcon crowd, an exchange is also a chance to go to an LSD or change ratio. Both are stocked in more than one form, so ask when you order.
Guides worth reading before you order
All articles
Upgrades Best LSD for Street Use: Helical vs Clutch-Type LSD Helical or clutch-type LSD for the street? How each limited-slip diff works, the real pros and cons, and which is best for your daily driver. 
How-To Guides Choosing the Right Diff Ratio For Your Wheels and Transmission Discover how the right diff ratio affects performance, drivability, fuel economy, and drivetrain reliability. 
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 Wellington: common questions
Does my old diff have to come to Christchurch before mine is sent?
No, and that is the whole point of an exchange. Waiting for your diff to travel to Christchurch, be rebuilt and travel back again would take a week or more. Instead the rebuilt unit comes to you first and your old one follows it back on the return label in the box.
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.
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.
I ordered online without a rego. What if it is the wrong unit?
Call before fitting it. An unfitted, unfilled diff can come straight back and be swapped for the correct one. To avoid the round trip altogether, put your rego in the order notes or send it through the enquiry form and the team will confirm the ratio and housing type before it goes out.