Thread: In the market for a 130 - Advice needed plz

I’ve defiantly got a lot to learn, googles getting a belting.

Many will disagree with this, with 1 caveat, i would put the transfer case ATB mod way way down the list. The caveat: if you do lots of high speed dirt driving that transitions from firm to loose surface. Most of the time for most of us we have the time to stop to engage centre diff lock for loose surfaces and disengage when the road firms up. If you burn out your centre diff so be it and replace it with the Ashcroft unit.

There are better things to spend your money on. An Ashcroft MT82 output shaft mod comes to mind. It replaces the greasable output shaft with one oil fed from the gearbox. Much better for servicability.

If the VHC is your play ground you will want for nothing more than what i said is a balanced set up. I concur with those that recommended owning and driving a 130 in various situations to work out what works for you, what doesn’t. Only then get your cheque book out.

Yep that's what I've decided to do,

I'm going to have a look at the Red one on carsales on the weekend, spoke to the fella and he sounds a genuine sort of bloke,
Had a good chat about it and sound like a nice well looked after truck.

Have a look and let me know what you all think?
& if there's anything I should be looking for. I'm going to get the vehicle inspected for a bit of peace of mind.

Who's Defender Guru in Melbourne?

Originally Posted by Ankaz

Pod, thanks for the info buddy, has the Ashcroft gear handled to your expectations mate?
I'm not mechanically minded enough to be replacing things out in the bush and I often head out just me and the dog who's not the best with a spanner either.
My aim for this truck is to get it as bullet proof & capable as I can afford.
It also has to look and sound mean,
The turning circle will take some getting used to I think,

The ashcroft driveline components have been perfect, no regrets at all with choosing their gear. I'm plenty mechanically minded but that's no reason to want broken axles or CVs in a remote area. The ARB rear locker gave me a lot of trouble early on, if it fails again it'll go on eBay and be replaced with an ashcroft locker in the rear as well.

As for the rear-steer, maxidrive had a setup using a 101 front axle in the rear end and a hydraulic steering setup that was locked out in high range. Was well over $10k back in the day. Would cost more than the vehicle to do it now.

Is there a complete kit available for upgrading Axles, CV's, Uni Joints, and whatever else could do with some strengthen up under there?

I do a heap of solo trips and don't have the knowledge to be fking around trying to fix bit & pieces out on the tracks.
I feel it would be money well spent.

What would you recommend?

Ashcroft can supply you with all your axle shaft, cvs, crown wheel and pinion , diff needs.

The is also Hi-Tough Engineering here in Aus (Gold Coast) that still makes the old Maxidrive axle shafts. These are every bit as good as the Ashcroft axle shafts.

Regarding the Maxidrive rear steer, the only 101 FC components used where the CVs. If their portal'd rear steer RRCcvs used. The housing was rear Sals or rear rover depending on application. These where shortened and modified. The swivel balls where completely made in house by Maxidrive. AS the rams, Tie rod, axle shafts etc.

One point to fitting an ATB in Tdci's t/case is it eliminates the absolutely crap and cheap two pin centre diff later ones are fitted with.
The ATB eliminates that stupid weak point and takes out a lot of backlash.

I agree with the revised/greased spud shaft first though.