Thread: maxi drive lockers

Originally Posted by isuzurover

For maxi drive lockers the sals kit was much cheaper, $1100 vs 1800 for a rover kit. That is because md (now mr auto) modify the existing centre rather than replace it.

How long ago was the $1100 for the Salisbury MD and is this just supply or just fitting? Last time I looked into it, it was going to be over $3000 to buy and install a Salisbury MD Locker.

I had considered transferring the 28 spline MD lockers from the RRC to the 110, mainly because I already have them so there is minimal outlay and then I have a more legally modifiable vehicle with better range for touring. Its just its less comfortable.

Originally Posted by discoRRc

can I run 35s on a stock Salisbury with maxi axles?

easy, i run 33 12.5 15 daily, and thats with stock axles

In 2011 I paid about $1800 for a sals maxi with axles (supplied) and another ton to install ($2,800 supply and fit).

Yes a stock sals will handle 35" rubber. And yes a rover diff with an aftermarket centre will handle 35" rubber. Plenty of RRCs and defenders running around on 35" rubber. I'd recommend changing your C&P ratio if you go 35". It's a lot of rubber for a 200Tdi and R380 to turn on stock ratios. After all it's when you are in low range that you want the correct ratios. If you do any technical crawling you might find the stock ratios too tall.

sals C&P next to a rover C&P.





If you plan to buy a sals equipped truck it seems odd to me to go to a rover or P38 diff. Having gone the other way I pulled out the P38 housing from my Puma 130 and bolted in the sals. Sure i lose clearance but the diff will still be turning long after I've lost my license from old age and infirmity.

MLD

No one is saying the rover is as strong as a sals,just the sals is over board for a diff,LR missed the boat with diff's,60 years ago they should have hypoid the rover with Ashcroft sized CW&P and axles and be done with it. Pat

When i buy it, i think the plan will be just to run 33s on the stock diffs, until i can source front and rear rover maxis with 4.11 gears then ill put the 35s on

Originally Posted by GuyG

How long ago was the $1100 for the Salisbury MD and is this just supply or just fitting?...

That was late 90's. Supply only - I installed myself.

My point was that an MD locker for a sals was ~$700 less than the rover equivalent, because the rover needed a new 4140/4340 6-gear (2 pinion shaft) case, whereas the sals already had that - it just needed somewhere for the locking dog to engage.

The CW&P failures I am referring to were mostly LROCB members from 1995-2005, usually running 33's and 3.54 diffs with MD lockers. Many swapped to sals axles because they got sick of rebuilding diff centres. This was of course before the ashcroft gears became available. However we are talking a serious $$$ investment to get a rover diff to get anywhere near the strength of a sals.

Basically MLD's pic tells a thousand tales. It is also the reason when I went to look for my defender I looked at nothing younger than a 2003 as that's when they stopped putting sals in 110's.
Your looking at the expensive route also. Why go air locker, 1800, air compressor, 2-500, installation, hole in diff, axles 6-800, end caps, rover or p38 diff$$$?, diff guard, diff strengthen$$$? etc The cheaper and easier alternative is Hy-tuff axles/ end caps in the sals , about $800 and a Detroit locker from lucky8 at around 650 delivered depending upon exchange rate.
Now with a Detroit and a sals you don't need air that can fail, tubes that can pop or block and the only time I've noticed it was on off camber roundabouts going a bit to heavy on the juice , or with 1 flat tyre, which probably prevented me being in an accident.
http://lucky8llc.com/Products.aspx?ProductID=3341

But I would also love to get a max/Ashcroft ATB/locker for my front diff as well.

So what makes a maxi centre so much better/stronger than a Ashcroft locker centre ?