Diff repair of HJ60 in Marocco
 

Hello all,

I am leaving to Marocco in april. The problem is that the front diff of my Toyota HJ60 is not moving smoothly anymore (bearrings not fine) so i want to do a complete revision.
We have some excelent HJ60 experts here in the Netherlands but the prices are high (60 euro's a hour) and its a job I heard for more than 1 day! So i was thinking about letting the job to be done in Marocco! Anyone has experience with this or knows a good Landcruiser guy who could do the job for me for les money?

Thanks for answering,

Willem van Ballegooyen

Hi Willem,

I've used Aziz at Garage Iriki in Zagora for many years. He's an excellent mechanic and has done superb work on my Land Cruiser and many of our clients' vehicles.

However, I would get your diff fixed before you leave home. Are you taking all the replacement parts with you or expecting a Moroccan garage to source them? What if your diff fails on the long journey south?

I'd recommend finding a good mechanic nearer home. Try a search on the 60 series section of Landcruiser.net here:- 60 Series

I'll be in Morocco in April in my 78 series so stop me for a beer!

Happy trails,

Peter

Hi peter,

Thanks for your advice. BTW i can drive without problems without the front diff turning around. Gonna use only 2 wheel drive all the way to Marocco.
Any idea what a good moroccan mechanic is getting payed for an hour?

We have a bear, beerlets keep in contact, also planning to go to Spanish Sahara !

Willem

60 series are rare as hen's teeth in Morocco.
You would have to bring the parts.
In West Sahara, there are some 60 series but not many,
Finding a good mechanic is easier, there's a sticky thread for recommended garages.

I was driving my family to Agadir airport once, had the side window down a bit and a truck ahead of me threw a stone that hit the edge of the window and shattered it.
I found a replacement only a few kms away at Ait Melloul (one of the largest junk yards in Morocco) but they asked €100 and I thought wow, I can surely find one cheaper as I go south? And cut a piece of plastic sheet for the time being.
Wrong!
I tried every junk yard and parts dealer in Tiznit, Guelmin, Tantan, Tarfaya, Borjdour, Laayoune and Dahkla with no success. No 60 series anywhere. 40. 70 and 80 yes. Many hours spent, an exercise in futility.
Later in Nouakchott I found the glass right away for €30.

Don't know the hourly rate but it's a lot cheaper than in Europe.

I'd still get it fixed before I left home, though.

Peter

I've paid about 100 euros for a days work iirc, but it varies. The mechanics in Zagora are very good and I've used Team Ali Nassir twice. Last time I was in town most of the garages were working on the Dakar rally vehicle competing in the OiLibya Rally. There are also Toyota dealerships in Agadir, Marrakech and Casablanca

No doubt they can fix things but the parts would be a problem

Touristy places like Erfoud tend to be more expensice, wanted €300 for doing rear suspension on HJ60 as an example. Paid €100 including two extra leaves per side in Taroudant, normal cost in Morocco.

Maybe you can find some cheap Chinese parts on ebay as well Willem......I don't know what kind of work you do, but if you're not willing to pay a Dutch expert his normal rate, you shouldn't have bought a 60 in the first place......:(