Thread: Life of Puma Rear Diff's

I know this may cause a stir, but from the reading I have done, a built Rover type diff is not far behind a built Toyota diff in a Rover housing. Forget axles and CV's (these days they are equal). With the new HD R+P available from Ashcroft and GBR, a strong carrier (Ashcroft or AR and pegged they are pretty close. Yes you dont hear about it much but I have heard it from guys running both. And there are Rover guys that have converted to Toy/Rover and broke stuff just as much.

IMO 98% of P38 owners would not need better than good quality after market 24 or 30 spline. If they need to go to 35, then the diff size, Rover or Toyota will not cope. Plus it means new stub axles, bearings and hubs. They would be better off going to a Sals converted to a D60 internal and 35 spline set up at this point.

So Why go to the effort of a whole new casting to get not much gain. Either improve the p38 center, R+P or if going to fit a hypoid, look at bigger than the Toy....Im not sure, but isnt the P38 housing bigger than a Rover? If so then maybe that Nissan H233 center would be better. I know it will be better than the Toyota.

Yes the Toyota has better AM coverage, but it is still a small diff.

Lets look at the total number of sales of P38 rear ends and number of failure THAT ARENT DUE TO SET UP.....Also what else is strong about it, because there must be a reason LR never put a Rover type rear end in the 110 and 130.

Originally Posted by goingbush

Hey Pat, just wondering whats wrong with the Salisbury, Ive never had a issue in any of my Landys, I always converted them to Sals even my Series 2 88 had a Sals with Macnamara diff lock,
I was lucky enough to have bought a TD5 Defender with a Salisbury conversion & Maxidrive axles done. I know people complain that they hang too low which may or may not be an issue in the Victorian Alps but would not have thought it a 'sticking point' in WA.

Personally I have never found the 'dozer blade' moniker to be warranted.
anyway I'd rather be grounded on a rock than reaching for the sat phone.

In the past I've grafted complete Toyota axle housings to a Landy, its not that hard, What about just using complete Nissan assemblies in a Defender and never worry about diff, axle or cv issues again, cheap and easy to do, a lot easier than stuffing about with pumpkins and getting axles made. And only downside is it will look funny with 6 stud rims.

Other manufacturers build strong enough diffs that are half the size and a third of the wieght of the Sals,back in my younger days I did a day a week offroad around appin,wedderburn with mates in RRC's and it was common for them to get through were my defender hung it's guts,I have a photo somewhere of it sitting on a ledge with both rear wheels off the ground,after getting dragged off my mate drive straight over the same place in a rover diffed 2a without a wimper. Pat

Originally Posted by rick130

Dave, the Toyota high pinion 8" centre was a popular substitution for the front diff centre here, but reading the boards it sounds like quite a few found out what the Toyota 79 and 80 Series blokes found it, it goes bang in reverse.

Changed one two weeks ago in an 80,reversed at the tip with a load of rubbish in a trailer. Pat

I'm with Serg,an Ashcrofts rover center would be more than strong enough for 99% of owners on here,tourers are what most have and a bit more strength for towing campers/boats etc is all thats needed,with puma's an LSD center would fit the bill nicely. Pat

Originally Posted by PAT303

I'm with Serg,an Ashcrofts rover center would be more than strong enough for 99% of owners on here,tourers are what most have and a bit more strength for towing campers/boats etc is all thats needed,with puma's an LSD center would fit the bill nicely. Pat

Since the Rover type diff is already covered with AM gear, why not create a new market for the P38 type. Ashcroft already have a decent center/dedicated locker for it. All it needs is some good AM R+P and to be set up PROPERLY

If "I" was going to the trouble of doing a whole new center for the housing, I would not look at the Toyota type already used in Rover conversions.....maybe another Toyota center would fit? 60 series? or other. The Nissan is known to be a good diff. As long as carrier bearings are big enough or can be sorted easy enough to take a 30 spline axle.....

I would not be worried about what Hi or Low pinion works in the front. This is a rear issue only.

For the real hard core either a Ashcroft force 9 or simply get a custom axle made (like a Sixty9 or true high 9 or even the new drop out 14b)

Trouble is Serg people want a drop in replacement and don't want a hog pog set-up.I wouldn't buy a toyota or nissan center with blah blah axles etc,I want a straight drop in rover diff with standard or Ashcrofts parts.Trust me,if your stuck the last thing you want is to find non stock parts. Pat

Pat, do you feel a stock Rover diff much better than a stock P38? Im talking R+P, carrier, side gears, bearings and cast housing....

Originally Posted by PAT303

Other manufacturers build strong enough diffs that are half the size and a third of the wieght of the Sals,back in my younger days I did a day a week offroad around appin,wedderburn with mates in RRC's and it was common for them to get through were my defender hung it's guts,I have a photo somewhere of it sitting on a ledge with both rear wheels off the ground,after getting dragged off my mate drive straight over the same place in a rover diffed 2a without a wimper. Pat

So easy to fix compared to making a decent diff out of a Rover rear.
Shaving it doesn't take that long or is very hard.

Having said that I'm impressed by the bracing and gusseting on 130man's ex Telstra 130 bigcab Rover diff.

Telstra were pulling Sals axle tubes by grossly overloading their 130's so LR retrofitted Rover rear diffs that look like they came out of a Desert racer.

BigJon's seen them as most came from up where he used to work.