Thread: (More) Improvements to (my) TDCi driving experience

Originally Posted by tact

Ok so in a variety of different threads I had written up how:
- fitting Ashcroft ATBs to my front & rear diffs made a difference both on and off road as well as sorting some of the drive line clunks
- running with a BAS tune made a huge difference with smooth power delivery sorting out a lot of jerking and shunting while driving

Today - just got my barge back after regular (indie) oil service, wheel bearing clean and grease, and fitting Ashcroft HD Drive flanges

Tell you what - this latest change, fitting the HD axle flanges, has wrought yet another big improvement to driving pleasure.

Gone now are nearly all the driveline clunks! First drive had me alarmed - "What have I done!? Driveline feels like a Toyota now! Have I destroyed a large chunk of my Defender's "character"?!"

Serious. Good. Stuff.

Understand where you're coming from...

My D1 I had, fitted lockers, 4.11s and HD axles and shafts...

Setting up the diffs properly reduced backlash so significantly the vehicle felt completely different to drive!!!

I'm just glade the constant P38 diff bashing by the keyboard hero's brigade has stopped and solutions brought about by real owners has taken over.Axle flanges made the single biggest difference in mine. Pat

That's exactly what my next mods were/are going to be.
Ashcroft ATBs and new front drive flanges.
My rears are apparently one piece.
It's a 2003 defender TD5 90.
The last thing that would take it to another level would be an reco Auto from a disco 2 TD5.
I might be selling my beast though.
Gone and bought a 2010 Vogue. Oops

Originally Posted by PAT303

I'm just glade the constant P38 diff bashing by the keyboard hero's brigade has stopped and solutions brought about by real owners has taken over.Axle flanges made the single biggest difference in mine. Pat

Spot on, PAT303. The axle flanges made the biggest difference to driveline slop on my barge too.

I bought the ATBs primarily because I wanted a traction aid but not full lockers.

A lot of reading led me to believe that side benefits of fitting ATB diff centers would include getting rid of a lot of driveline slop and weaknesses supposedly inherent in the P38 & rover diffs. There was some reduction in driveline slop but I must admit to a little disappointment - expected more improvement in that area from what I had read. (Must have been written by those "armchair hero's" you mentioned).

Just the flanges with the std shafts ?

Originally Posted by AndyG

Just the flanges with the std shafts ?

In my case - yes. My only fear was if there was already too much wear&tear as I already had 2yrs & 37,000km on the vehicle.

Told my indie mech that if there was a lot of wear on axle splines then DONT put the HD flanges on. Just report to me, leave stock flanges on, and I will take it to LR to replace axles and flanges under warranty - then only fit the HD flanges.

Fortunately my mech found there was some evidence grease had been used when assembled, and axle splines were all ok. By all accounts if I now keep the grease up as a regular maintenance task then I won't have an issue in future.

Even with standard shafts - replacing the flanges made a big difference.

Originally Posted by tact

In my case - yes. My only fear was if there was already too much wear&tear as I already had 2yrs & 37,000km on the vehicle.

Told my indie mech that if there was a lot of wear on axle splines then DONT put the HD flanges on. Just report to me, leave stock flanges on, and I will take it to LR to replace axles and flanges under warranty - then only fit the HD flanges.

Fortunately my mech found there was some evidence grease had been used when assembled, and axle splines were all ok. By all accounts if I now keep the grease up as a regular maintenance task then I won't have an issue in future.

Even with standard shafts - replacing the flanges made a big difference.

My 110 has 28000km and been complaining of severe backlash and they replaced flanges and axles. There still is backlash but not as bad.
After warranty I will need to get some HD gear in my truck.

I heard from someone that the diffs in the Puma is the same as freelander... Is this right?

PS the mechanic found the splines were worn but not excessively

Well this thread did it for me..

I was booking in my Puma for a 160k service and asked about hi-Tough axles and flanges, I have a bit of slop and it has progressively got worse so they are going to fit Hi-Tough axles and flanges on the rear and seemingly Hi-Tough do a special flange to fit the stock axle it is tighter or something, so I am getting them on the front - hoping that the axles in the front are OK.

I was going to go Ashcroft but their website said it was out of stock, so went local, hope they are as good also the parts will be at Ricks 4wd tomorrow..

Looking forward to the huge improvement I have just read about, bring on Monday