Thread: Life of Puma Rear Diff's

So back to reality. IF you have a Rover diff with Ashcroft locker carrier and a P38 type diff with Ashcroft Locker carrier, what is the weak point?

R+P....lets say both are stock OEM 3.54....how much difference is there?

The P38 type is thinner, but the carrier has a larger shoulder to help this. The pinion is short and bearings close together but is this a real problem?

Really for those that are now having problems with them it is mostly set up as they are failing in road type driving....If it were due to off roading or overloading and finding the limits then yes a full upgrade is needed, but is it?

I do wonder for those that have had more than one replaced under warranty, is it a matter of the dealership workshop just getting a complete 3rd out of a box and fitting it? in which case, the factory bad set up would be finding its way back in the vehicle....

Have materials used been changed/got worse in the last 2-3 years???

Are people having problems with the Rover fronts in their "Puma's"?

Originally Posted by rick130

I knew someone would pick me on it

I should've taken pics when Ross was last up here with his Defender and I think his camera had died last time I asked for some to post on another thread.

forgot to ask, do you think it was a Rover diff of some sort (Rover, Sals, P38 type?) or another brand???

Originally Posted by uninformed

forgot to ask, do you think it was a Rover diff of some sort (Rover, Sals, P38 type?) or another brand???

It's either Rover or UK Army XD (Wolf/P38a ?)

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

Yep, it'd be more than strong enough for what I do/need.

Originally Posted by rick130

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.

When I was living in Kalgoorlie a defender was dragged into town with an axle tubed welded/ratchet strapped in place. Pat

Originally Posted by uninformed

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....

Trouble is both have good and bad points,the P38 has a stronger center but the rover has Ashcrofts HD CW&P,I don't know why LR just didn't keep the rover diff but fit a hypoid HD center with matching alxes and not bother with the sals or P38,makes you shake your head. Pat

Originally Posted by uninformed

Pics or it didnt happen.

Now as to a custom axle, the rear end on a rover is pretty basic. With the large number of aftermarket fabricated housings in the USA, you can have your choice of: Nissan, Toyota, Dana 60, Dana 70, Ford 9 and 14b all in removable 3rd members. You can get them in the exact Rover offset and overall width, welded on axle flanges. All that would have to be done here is the A frame mount, TA links and shock mounts.....easy

I mentioned that to Dave,there's heaps of diff shops that make complete 9'' diffs from common housings in any width,all it needs is LR hub flanges welded on and trailing arms/A frame mounts so why go to the trouble of making a 9'' casting to suit a rover housing when you can buy of the shelf?,lots of ratio's and axle combinations to meet all markets. Pat

Serg,everyone I know who has had the center replaced did it because of backlash,the dealers replace them with centers with the same amount of backlash.Go figure. Pat