Ashcroft ATB/Torsen Diff Front, Centre & Rear Install

**ProjectDirector** · 5th December 2016, 01:30 PM

Originally Posted by DazzaTD5

The LT230 transfer case in the Defender TDCi (puma) has changed from what was used in the earlier model Defender, Discovery 2 except the detent position for the range selection, the extra ribbing on the case, what has changed though is the method of how they were doing the preload on the centre diff. The two selective shims on each end of the diff are a one size fits all, instead of using the correct thickness to obtain a good pre-load. On every Defender TDCi I've checked the preload, they have all been very average to poor.

Add to that.... A LOT of new Defender TDCi (puma) owners are new to owning a Land Rover, let alone a Defender, and have not been shown (or read) the need to engage the centre diff lock for anything more than gravel, assuming in part that the traction control would do whats required, this in turn causes excessive wear on the copper shims on the side gears of the centre diff.

Re HTE rear axles / drive flange, they fit for the standard Defender alloy wheels, BUT the centre plastic cap wont clip on. Other alloy wheels such as what was fitted to the SVX model, also fit, but again the plastic cap wont clip on.

Regards
Daz

Daz

I have been using my 110 for the last 3 1/2 years and the diff is locked soon as I am off the bitumen. I always drove part time 4wds in the past and had to lock hubs.
I certainly have lots of back clash and axles were replaced once under warranty but now is the same crap.
I can change axles and flanges to HD now but waiting for more cash to also look at Aschroft equipment in the middle.

Cheers

**MarkM** · 5th December 2016, 02:49 PM

Hi Beery,

TO your original question, I have no experience with them other than just purchasing parts, but do you know what these guys are like as a workshop? I ask as they are reasonably close to you.

All Four X 4 Spares - Australia's 4WD Spare Parts Supermarket

Mark

**DazzaTD5** · 5th December 2016, 02:57 PM

Originally Posted by ProjectDirector

Daz

I have been using my 110 for the last 3 1/2 years and the diff is locked soon as I am off the bitumen. I always drove part time 4wds in the past and had to lock hubs.
I certainly have lots of back clash and axles were replaced once under warranty but now is the same crap.
I can change axles and flanges to HD now but waiting for more cash to also look at Aschroft equipment in the middle.

Cheers

Yes the standard axles / drive flanges are one of the causes of the clunk clunk, I change out Defender TDCi (puma) axles / drive flanges as soon as possible, leaving them in until out of warranty will let all the metal particles into the wheel bearings etc, see my facebook post, look at the pics.
[ame]https://www.facebook.com/aztech4x4/posts/1076156172457197[/ame]

and youtube vids here
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0g...Uwpq2Qivaj_wbg

pwehhh ... just a big spam of social media there.... I feel so cheap when I do that...

Regards
Daz

**Beery** · 5th December 2016, 03:24 PM

Originally Posted by MarkM

Hi Beery,

TO your original question, I have no experience with them other than just purchasing parts, but do you know what these guys are like as a workshop? I ask as they are reasonably close to you.

All Four X 4 Spares - Australia's 4WD Spare Parts Supermarket

Mark

No idea Mark. I've been wondering the same.
There is also 4wd Industries at Maitland who call themselves LR specialists, but have no idea what they're like.

Not sure if they are members on here either.

**AK83** · 5th December 2016, 11:18 PM

Originally Posted by Beery

....
There is also 4wd Industries at Maitland who call themselves LR specialists, but have no idea what they're like.

....

I can recommend 4wd Industries.
Very good service.
Got my LT230 T/C changeover done there. (D1)
I'm from Melb, and worked out a day for me to get up there.
They were straight onto the job while I wandered around town.

Also got them to service Auto and basically check potential major weak points.
I was expecting them to come back to me with a long list of stuff to get done.
But the young chap that did the actual work was pretty straight up and said the car is pretty tight.
So TC done auto serviced and he altered me to a loose serpentine belt idler and the rubber donut thingy that pretends to be a rear uni joint.
Asked how much to do them and how long.
About an hour more work, basically no extra charge and just the extra $'s for the parts.
1 serpentine belt, which I would have got anyhow as a spare.
1 rubber donut
1 idler pulley contraption.

I have my own do it all mechanic who hasn't let me down in about 30 years of usage(mates via our respective dads), so I'm loathe to use mechanics I don't know.
In fact the times that I've been forced to use local mechanics have always been disastrous for me .. so I avoid them and do much stuff myself if I can't get to 'my mechanic'(he's 100klms away, so not always practical).

So I have a intrinsic distrust of unknown mechanical workshops ..
like the idiot that my brother used to service my dads car (here locally) and he didn't tighten up the front calipers up enough and one fell off and ruined a wheel and caused us grief in the bush!

But 4wd Industries were good to me, so I'm placing them high up on a recommended list. Only problem is they're 1300 klms away from me so not practical to use them more often!

As a guide to their labour pricing: they did 6 hours work and I paid them about $500 for their efforts(according to the invoice).

**Beery** · 7th December 2016, 08:35 AM

Thats a great review, thanks AK83. That gives me a bit more confidence

**dazzler** · 8th December 2016, 09:00 PM

Originally Posted by Beery

Thats a great review, thanks AK83. That gives me a bit more confidence

Beery

Ordered my kit today, (3 ATB only) as I already have the ashcroft Outputshaft, lets see how that goes

Again thank you for the clarification.

Cheers
pd

**dazzler** · 21st December 2016, 05:07 PM

Beware folks, got a nasty import duty+GST+other shock of $405 for my ATB kit. Also don't bother with express ship, it is anything but....

**AK83** · 23rd December 2016, 08:07 AM

Originally Posted by dazzler

..... Also don't bother with express ship, it is anything but....

3 weeks is a long time for an express job .. but it is close to Xmas.
Curious as to how long normal shipping would have taken this time o'year so close to Xmas.

**dazzler** · 7th February 2017, 09:11 PM

Beery,

How did you go with your ATB upgrade? Are you happy with it? Mine is going in a couple of weeks.

Thread: Ashcroft ATB/Torsen Diff Front, Centre & Rear Install

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