just called a wreckers and found front and rear diff with 4.56 gears for $500 a piece so looks like this isnt a bad thing after all

 

still sucks. what kind of crap do they make the front ends out of anyway??? lol

 

4.56s are going to be badass gears! High speeds will suck, but who cares! Lol. Do you have the 4.7 Fitz?

Now correct me if Im wrong, but Ive read that there is a design flaw with the front diffs. Of course, some people would say these trucks have no flaws at all. But Ive read that the front diff isnt supported right and it will actually "jump" and thats what makes it crack. The fix was to run a few supports to it to prevent it from moving. There is nothing wrong with the case, just all the torque causes it to move and thats what tears it apart.

 

hmm interesting looks exactly like what mine did. Dude that sux same thing happend to me a few months back and looks almost identicle. it cost me 2 grand

 

the 4.56's were out of an 05, didn't pick them up. looks like to get the 4.56's to fit the previous owner grinded down the teeth to get the spider gear shaft to get them to go in. also looks like the housing was grinded down as well. could see fracture marks on the inside of the housing. Picked up stock 3.92's for $620. Will start install tonight. Keep you informed with lots of pics

 

Grinding the Teeth to get the shaft in is normal on 4.56's as long as it is done right, you wont loose any strength

Housing Cracks not so much, what did he grind down on the housing?

 

looks like they didn't take off enough on the teeth and the ring gear was rubbing on the case so they just took the grinder to where the teeth were contacting the case

 

anyone know what this tube is on the new diff?

 

breather tube... I am pretty my 05 has one and it runs up next to the battery. Not sure where it connects.