Disco 3 Rear diff' parts availability?

[OLD4X4]

Hi folks, I've recently obtained a 2006 D3 with a noisy rear end.

Upon close investigation I discovered a few broken and chipped teeth on the ring and pinion gears. I thought that was bad enough until I tried to get replacement parts and every where I turn I am told " sorry, can only get a complete replacement differential for those Disco's".
Is this for real? Have I just picked up a car that is expensive to get parts for?
I've been quoted everything from $800 for a reco, to $1800 for a replacement. What I find difficult to swallow is that if someone can do a reco, why can't I buy the parts and do a rebuild myself? I am capable of rebuilding a diff.
Anyway, don't want to sound like I'm whinging, I got it for a good price, only now I know why. Has anyone else had these problems? Do these D3's break diff's often.
I'd appreciate any helpful advice if anybody's got some ideas. Thanks.

[101RRS]

Cannot comment on parts but this sort of ties in with your asessment. Clearly parts are available - you just need the alternate numbers and brands for parts.

LAND ROVER DISCOVERY 3 RANGE ROVER SPORT REAR DIFF RECONDITIONED - EXCHANGE | eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/LAND-ROVER-DISCOVERY-3-RANGE-ROVER-SPORT-REAR-DIFF-RECONDITIONED-EXCHANGE-/200708729914?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2ebb2c2c3a)

Garry

[unseenone]

I doubt they are manufacturing their own crown wheel & pinions though. I have not seen of any other brand parts out there.

The post appears to be non-locking.

[isuzurover]

Cannot comment on parts but this sort of ties in with your asessment. Clearly parts are available - you just need the alternate numbers and brands for parts.

LAND ROVER DISCOVERY 3 RANGE ROVER SPORT REAR DIFF RECONDITIONED - EXCHANGE | eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/LAND-ROVER-DISCOVERY-3-RANGE-ROVER-SPORT-REAR-DIFF-RECONDITIONED-EXCHANGE-/200708729914?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2ebb2c2c3a)

Garry


An exchange unit with damaged gears and/or case is unusable and will therefore incur a surcharge of $500.00 if you proceed with the purchase of the exchange unit. We are unable to determine the condition of your exchange unit until we disassemble and inspect it.

This implies they can get a complete SH unit with good gears and case for $500.

[unseenone]

They offer a 12mo 20km warranty. The units I am offering are 12mo unlimited km.

The price is calculated assuming you have already sent in your differential.

Please note that your exchange unit is required for inspection BEFORE shipping of the reconditioned diff. We will pay the cost of shipping your exchange unit.*

[unseenone]

Newer and better Ring & Pinion is available, just send me a PM with your e-mail address.

[isuzurover]

They offer a 12mo 20km warranty. The units I am offering are 12mo unlimited km. ...

Since the average Australian travels 14000 km in 12 months, there is no practical difference between the two warranties for most.

[SBD4]

Since the average Australian travels 14000 km in 12 months, there is no practical difference between the two warranties for most.
Yes but what does the average disco driver do? I do 40,000 per year - it would make a difference for me. It's useful to know and to have options.

[isuzurover]

Yes but what does the average disco driver do? I do 40,000 per year - it would make a difference for me. It's useful to know and to have options.

I cannot see any reason why the average disco 3/4 driver would represent a significant deviation from the mean???

It is certainly good to have options, and as you are several standard deviations above the mean then one of the options is significantly better than the other.

[OLD4X4]

Thanks to all those who have had some input into my difficulties.

Certainly given me some direction.
I enquired about the re-co diffs' some of you suggested on ebay, and while they sound OK, they are just fresh bearings and seals, I need new gears.
In my opinion, anyone who is prepared to stand behind a better warranty probably has a better product. My Disco' has nearly 240K on it in 6 years, so it to does more than the supposed average.
I'll be in touch with "unseenone" if the product is better, because stock obviously doesn't cut it.

Thanks again.

[isuzurover]

Thanks to all those who have had some input into my difficulties.

Certainly given me some direction.
I enquired about the re-co diffs' some of you suggested on ebay, and while they sound OK, they are just fresh bearings and seals, I need new gears.
In my opinion, anyone who is prepared to stand behind a better warranty probably has a better product. My Disco' has nearly 240K on it in 6 years, so it to does more than the supposed average.
I'll be in touch with "unseenone" if the product is better, because stock obviously doesn't cut it.

Thanks again.

Might be worth trying to source an e-diff? They are larger/stronger apparently.

[Jamo]

I cannot see any reason why the average disco 3/4 driver would represent a significant deviation from the mean???

It is certainly good to have options, and as you are several standard deviations above the mean then one of the options is significantly better than the other.

"there are lies, damned lies and statistics".

The mean distance travelled as determined for all drivers in Australia is, at best, a vague statistic. It does not take into account vehicle type, demographic, predominant use per vehicle type or any other affecting variable. One could not, with any reasonable accuracy, blindly adopt such a statistic for the average Disco 3 driver.

The mean for Disco drivers may be similar, but then it may not be; especially given the (I would guess) relatively low percentage of Disco 3 owners compared to the overall australian vehicle ownership population.

[isuzurover]

"there are lies, damned lies and statistics".

The mean distance travelled as determined for all drivers in Australia is, at best, a vague statistic. It does not take into account vehicle type, demographic, predominant use per vehicle type or any other affecting variable. One could not, with any reasonable accuracy, blindly adopt such a statistic for the average Disco 3 driver.

The mean for Disco drivers may be similar, but then it may not be; especially given the (I would guess) relatively low percentage of Disco 3 owners compared to the overall australian vehicle ownership population.

Ahh, a post by someone who doesn't understand statistics...

As I said above, I cannot see any reason why the average D3/4 owner would be a significant deviation from the mean of car owners in AU (they could be expected to have slghtly more income on average, but that would be about it). I am sure D3/4 owners would like to think they are special, but in reality I bet they would be pretty average... ;)

There are n=7 D3s for sale on carsales atm, which have averaged between 6000 km/yr and 22000 km/yr. The mean is 16000 km/yr, which is not too far off the 14000 km Australian average. I would bet that a larger sample size would probably end up closer to the average.

Anyway - all this is getting very OT.

[Keegan]

Really are a soft car. I have seen rebuild kits on ebay for over $400 . May not be oem parts, but why the hell would u want oem parts.

[BradC]

Really are a soft car. I have seen rebuild kits on ebay for over $400 . May not be oem parts, but why the hell would u want oem parts.

Err.. why would you dig up a 10 year old thread just to dump ?

[DiscoJeffster]

What I find hilarious is the diff got 240,000km but the factory spec “isn’t up to it”. Well while you’d love it to live forever, it didn’t put in a bad innings, and when you just purchase it and have no idea on how it’s been treated …..

A replacement factory diff is likely to outlive the rest of the vehicle at that age [emoji2369]