Thread: Rear diff disappointment again

Just been told that the 5th rear diff replacement in 30000 KM for my puma has not yet arrived at my dealers,so it it will not be available before I go on a 3 month trip. I intend to still go but will have to put up the noisy diff the whole time. Does anyone know if these noisy diffs can develope into something more serious,like destroying themselves or can I confidently head though the deserts and the like. Ever since I purchased the Puma, I always seem to be waiting for diffs. Come on Land Rover, get them right.

the problem is the bearings wear a little and as they are so close together this lets the pinion move out of the correct meshing position and this causes noise,

it may well be fine for many more miles like this but I would advise to maybe put a new ring and pinion and timken bearing set in
this is a very very common problem in the late 110 rear axle, and the issue as I see it is that the diff is just too small, I like the idea of making a bolt in upgrade :

new ring and pinion, make the pinion 50mm longer, to get the bearings further apart, less leverage and load on them,
shortened rear prop, (salisbury may fit to keep it stock LR)
make new hypoid casing, about 1.5" offset, low pinion, loads stronger
35 spline 4340 halfshafts, (never break)
air locker as standard
new stub axles, machines hubs and new bearings due to bigger shafts
new 10 bolt drive flanges

You can spend half of that on an ARB and 24 spline HD shafts and the diff is just as weak,

what do you think ?

Dave Ashcroft