Thread: Wrong HD axle drive flanges?

Originally Posted by purt

I replaced the rear drive flanges on my 95 130 this week with HD Bearmach units, from a well known UK LR parts store. when I wound the outside cover nuts on over the half shaft ends the nuts seemed too tight, but I didn't think much of it. When I went to use the vehicle next day the first corner I turned produced nasty loud banging noises from rear diff (I have a detroit locker). Returned to shed, removed the drive flanges, and then upon comparing with the old units, realised that the old worn flanges were ca 6mm thicker than the new ones. The nuts had been forcing the halfshafts into the diff and causing the banging noises when the diff was trying to unlock. I couldn't find any dowty washers or anything solid to use a spacer to keep the nuts fron contacting the half shaft ends, so I have temporarily fitted large o-rings so that the shafts have clearance.
I'm just wondering why the new units are different, as there was only one type listed on the shop where I purchased them. Has anyone encountered this? Is it a 130 thing? I have previously fitted the same HD units to the front with no problem. I have done my best to search this forum for other instances of this with no luck.

Please help! Thank you

Sounds like you have been given County flanges, the PCD of the holes is slightly different, the tightness should have been your first clue. Remove and compare with the old one. Remember to never force components.

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The PCD is identical, it's the actual thickness of the flange from the surface that contacts the hub to the outside of thread that the 2" dust cover nut screw on that is different. I have done a bit more trawling through landy stuff on the net, and it seems that earlier 200tdi flanges were thicker than 300tdi flanges. Is it possible that mine are somehow 200tdi spec??

What rear axles are you running?

I used to have the old style Maxidrive rear axles in the Defender and drive flanges to suit. The axles are slightly longer than standard and therfore the flanges were noticably longer in the inner spline. So much so that when running alloy rims it wasn't possible to fit the centre cap in the alloy

This was only the case with the rear axle, I had not problems fitting flanges to the front

Were you running standard flanges before hand?

Are you in Launceston? I'm happy to come have a look sometime if you like

Originally Posted by purt

The PCD is identical, it's the actual thickness of the flange from the surface that contacts the hub to the outside of thread that the 2" dust cover nut screw on that is different. I have done a bit more trawling through landy stuff on the net, and it seems that earlier 200tdi flanges were thicker than 300tdi flanges. Is it possible that mine are somehow 200tdi spec??

Anything is possible with a Land Rover
A previous owner could have replace the rear end,or rear hubs.
I just did a quick check with a vernier on my 200Tdi,and the flange thickness is approx.14.5 mm.
The other measurement I took ,was the depth of the Nut,which is 23.5 mm approx.
And yes,there are different specs available.

Thanks Jock,

I'm not sure what axles they are. They were in the vehicle when I bought it a few years ago. The old flanges I was replacing were not the standard type with plastic cap, they were aftermarket with the screw on nut caps. So it's possible the axles aren't original either. I hadn't considered that possibility....

I have previously replaced the front ones with the same type of HD units that I have put on the rear, with no problem (the fronts were oem until I replaced them).

I am from North Motton (near Ulverstone) usually, but I am in Ingham, Qld for one more week of work before driving to the Cape, and then home sweet home! Thanks for offering your assistance! It's a great community here on aulro.

Thanks all, I have worked out what's going on...

I pulled one flange and halfshaft out to measure and compare with LowRanger's measurements, and noticed on the end of the shaft and on the flange was stamped "MDE 1724x" and "MDE 859x" respectively. With Jock having mentioned Maxi Drive, this got me thinking, and after a bit of searching, soon found these part numbers in the Hi Tough Engineering section of the Les Richmond Automotive site!
I was pleasantly surprised, as I can now cross heavy duty rear halfshafts off my Landy list, and will just need to order some more flanges!!

Originally Posted by purt

Thanks all, I have worked out what's going on...

I pulled one flange and halfshaft out to measure and compare with LowRanger's measurements, and noticed on the end of the shaft and on the flange was stamped "MDE 1724x" and "MDE 859x" respectively. With Jock having mentioned Maxi Drive, this got me thinking, and after a bit of searching, soon found these part numbers in the Hi Tough Engineering section of the Les Richmond Automotive site!
I was pleasantly surprised, as I can now cross heavy duty rear halfshafts off my Landy list, and will just need to order some more flanges!!

hi purt im cairns qld mate, how do you find the detroit locker thinking of putting one in my 110 got the complete maxi drive conversion as well as the stronger cvs your opinion would be appreciated thanks.

Originally Posted by mudder110

hi purt im cairns qld mate, how do you find the detroit locker thinking of putting one in my 110 got the complete maxi drive conversion as well as the stronger cvs your opinion would be appreciated thanks.

I think I can jump in here as well.I have a Detroit in my Defender and have used it quite a lot offroad.I think it is the best bang for your buck in a Defender.They are cheap to purchase from the U.S.,and relatively cheap to fit,compared to an air locker.
They are only suitable for the rear,but as you mentioned C.V.s if you are looking for something for the front,then you need to look at a Tru Trac or an Ashcroft A.T.B.
In all the time that I have had my Detroit in the rear of my truck,I have only found it to be a disadvantage once,and that was on an extremely slippery and very steep side slope.
In every other situation you don't even notice it is there,apart from when you go around tight turns,if you have your window down,you can hear the tyres biting into the ground.
You will find there are a lot of nay sayers,especially the air locker brigade.And everyone seems to have a friend of a friend that has had one and hated it blah blah.
I have had mine now for quite some time,and it has had a lot of really hard use,and I couldn't be happier.