Rear diff gone... Again. Advice on diff ratio change needed

[Bonzo1 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Bonzo1]

So I've become a member of the diff club for the second time in a year. The first time I did my rear diff if was definitely due to driver error, however the rear diff has gone again 15000km later and this time driving was really not a factor.

Running twin air lockers, the last time they repaired it they put in a second hand crown and pinion with 100,000km on them.

I've been quoted $1800 to put stock standard gears back in. I can get both diffs fully rebuilt with all seals, bearings, etc, and solid pinion spacers + nitro gears for a bit more and that's the path I want to go down so this doesn't happen again.

My question is this:

I can put in 4.56 nitro gears however due to incompatibility of my front ARB locker with these gears I will need a new one so cost will come to about $4400.

I can put in 4.88 nitro gears and keep my current front locker for around $3300.

At 105km/hr my rpm will go from sitting at 2800rpm with 4.10 ratios to around 3100 with 4.56 gears, and to around 3300 rpm with 4.88.

Obviously the lower gears will be better of road, but the higher rpm will place more stress on the engine and driveline at highway speeds.

I want to go with the 4.88 gears and just change fluids more often, but after some advice.

2003 v6 manual Prado with 265/70/r17 tyres

https://www.dropbox.com/s/pdunsuwdao...03621.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/cpl6gkpqow...3626.jpeg?dl=0

[Razorback81 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Razorback81]

i was looking into the 4.3 ratio last year but they were still doing the front back then

is yours the 5 sp or the 6sp ?

[Bonzo1 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Bonzo1]

Mine is the 5 spd