Thread: Advice Please..... Ashcroft or My Local

Originally Posted by ThorneGator

Hello all,

My gearbox is growling and whining at me, and before I loose a bearing while out bush I think it's time to get the gearbox overhauled (had the transfer completed last year). My dilemma is do I order a rebuilt R380 from Ashcroft and have my mechanic install, or let my mechanic rebuild the box?

My mechanic is M.R. Automotive north of Brisbane, in Redcliffe. They have been great, and I have no reason to doubt their work, but I am asking if there is a reason that I should order an Ashcroft anyways?
The R380 with upgraded rear bearings would be at my door for about $2600 AUD, then installation costs, quoted around $1300 hrs.
The other option is they pull my gearbox out and replace and rebuild any needed parts (including the upgraded rear bearings). They can't predict what the gearbox would need, but they said if it needed everything, then I could expect about $2600 (their price for one of their off-the-shelf gearboxes), and the same cost above for installation.

So.... for about even money (worst case scenario) which way do I go? I suspect that my gearbox isn't terrible, and just will need bearings, seals, and maybe syncros; so there is a solid chance that having my gearbox rebuilt will be substantially cheaper.

Would appreciate your advice.

Hi,
I have had the same problem and I have spent 2 weeks shopping arround. I have been quoted 3,800 to 6,000 in the end I got one from matland nsw. For 2,600. This is the emale address from where I got mine from matthew@4wdindustries.com.au
And this is the phone No 1300 652 605 I spoke to Matthew who was very helpful.

It was a hard decision for ne to make. As I live in Albury nsw. Not much to choose from. My mechanic said that was a good price.
Hope this helps.


My 5th and reverse were stuffed.

If you're doing a gearbox rebuild as preventative maintenance, I would say take it to the workshop and get them to do it. I'd say this for a couple of reasons:

1. Ashcroft are great, but if something goes wrong with an ashcroft box you had installed by M.R. Auto, you essentially have 2 parties to deal with for warranty etc, and Aus consumer protection law doesn't necessarily extend to the UK. So if something goes wrong it's just another level of complexity you dont need.

2. You may be 100% sure it's the gearbox, but if it's just noise, you dont know until you pull it out. Could even be the transfer you had done realistically. So if you buy an ashcroft box yourself and take it to them, they do the job, still making noise you're going to be thousands out of pocket and have no recourse with the workshop really.

3. When you take your car to a mechanic half of what you pay for is expertise and diagnosis, so you tell them what you think is wrong based on the symptoms and what effect you want: i.e. a rebuild to a standard better than original maybe? and they get the job done. These are land rover specialists, they might even use ashcroft kits etc.

It would be different if there was a huge saving by buying direct from ashcroft, but doesnt seem so in this case.

Just my 2 cents.

Originally Posted by Wicks89

If you're doing a gearbox rebuild as preventative maintenance, I would say take it to the workshop and get them to do it. I'd say this for a couple of reasons:

1. Ashcroft are great, but if something goes wrong with an ashcroft box you had installed by M.R. Auto, you essentially have 2 parties to deal with for warranty etc, and Aus consumer protection law doesn't necessarily extend to the UK. So if something goes wrong it's just another level of complexity you dont need.

2. You may be 100% sure it's the gearbox, but if it's just noise, you dont know until you pull it out. Could even be the transfer you had done realistically. So if you buy an ashcroft box yourself and take it to them, they do the job, still making noise you're going to be thousands out of pocket and have no recourse with the workshop really.

3. When you take your car to a mechanic half of what you pay for is expertise and diagnosis, so you tell them what you think is wrong based on the symptoms and what effect you want: i.e. a rebuild to a standard better than original maybe? and they get the job done. These are land rover specialists, they might even use ashcroft kits etc.

It would be different if there was a huge saving by buying direct from ashcroft, but doesnt seem so in this case.

Just my 2 cents.

Great points, all three of them! I think that make s a lot of sense, and potentially saves me from some bigger, unforeseen issues.

I just bought a R380 from Ashcroft. My reasoning was that I wanted the heavy duty 5th gear bearing and to my knowledge, no one else does that. I also opted for the longer V8 5th gear ratio.

Freight was about 250GBP and duty, GST and handling fee would have been around $430 from memory.

I'd go with Ashcroft again if I needed another gearbox.

Cheers
Joachim

I would have thought that MR Automotive would be pretty good. Surely if they're manufacturing Maxidrive equipment these days (Low range transfer gears?) they would be good for rebuilding boxes.

Originally Posted by Slunnie

I would have thought that MR Automotive would be pretty good. Surely if they're manufacturing Maxidrive equipment these days (Low range transfer gears?) they would be good for rebuilding boxes.

My thoughts exactly.

Ashcroft make good gear, but MR are no slouches. If the OP was fitting the parts themselves then going direct to ashcroft would be appropriate. Given he is using a workshop (In this case MR Auto), he might as well let them solve the problem rather than needlessly complicating matters. After-all, as I mentioned they may even use the ashcroft gear or Im sure they would if he asked.

I've used ashcroft rebuild kit on my transfer case, and I have some ashcroft 4.11s sitting in the shed waiting to go in. It's good stuff no doubt. My one gripe is that the LT230 'Master rebuild kit' doesnt come with shims. Me being a complete amateur didnt realise that when I ordered it, and partway through the rebuild caught out with no shims. If I lived near MR Auto and I was going to use them I'd just get them to do the whole job, they've probably done it a million times and would be far more painless for all involved.

Great points all, thanks!

M.R. has been great to me and I have no reason to doubt them. I did very much want the upgraded rear support bearing, but I don't know if the added complication and potential room for error are worth it. Both Ashcorft and M.R. have done infinitely more gearboxes than I, so I think either will be good, but I think keeping the process simple is the way to go. If I was doing the job myself, Ashcroft would be to go, but I think keeping it all with M.R. is the smart choice.

i had the R380 in my 130 rebuilt by MR about 12 months ago.

it failed at 7 months, the rear bearing was the culprit, by all accounts

they rebuilt it at no cost to me and it seems to be behaving fine now

the truck isn't worked that hard and only occasionally pulls a 1 tonne van

they fitted a rebuilt transfer case for me just prior to cooma at very little notice for which i was very grateful

it's been my experience that MR back their work and I have never had an issue that hasn't been sorted by having a chat to them.