Salisbury Front Axle.. Worth the money?

[Sitec]

Rare as chooks teeth I know... Have been told they run the same CV's as std front axles, same hubs, swivels etc just have 'special' short shafts and a shorter double cardinal prop... If that's the case they're not worth he money! Anyone know more?:)

[Vern]

What's 'the money'?

[Sitec]

$1200 plus shipping from Pommy Land.... Are they as strong or is it just a Salisbury diff ctr with Rover ends??

[Bush65]

The salisbury differential is stronger than a rover differential, but as far as I can tell there is practically no benefit so far as half shafts and cv strength goes. The Salisbury is heavy and you loose ground clearance.

The weakest part of the rover diff is the 2 pinion centre. Upgrade this to a Jac Mac or Ashcroft locker, or a truetrac and that area is then covered strength wise, and you have the benefit of a locker or LSD.

If you upgrade the rover axles and cv's, that area is now stronger than the Salisbury, but the rover crown wheel and pinion become the weak link, but there are aftermarket (e.g. Ashcroft) solutions to fix that.

I would upgrade the rover axle assembly in preference to the Salisbury. If I had a serious built truck for comps, then I would look at other alternatives. My 120 is being built (slowly) for touring, and all of the rover drive train is being replaced with stuff that I have accumulated over the years.

[86mud]

Contempleted this last year....looked at ebay uk and a second hand Salsibury front with dc prop shaft, radius arms, panhard etc for 750 pounds...then there was freight...

Defender Front Heavy Duty Axle Salisbury axle VERY RARE [RHD] | eBay (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Defender-Front-Heavy-Duty-Axle-Salisbury-axle-VERY-RARE-RHD-/121055691467?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item1c2f7b42cb#ht_429wt_1141)

After some umming and arghing...I just went ARB Air locker and Ashcroft half shafts and HD CV's for my existing rover type diff.

Cheers

[Loubrey]

The salisbury differential is stronger than a rover differential, but as far as I can tell there is practically no benefit so far as half shafts and cv strength goes. The Salisbury is heavy and you loose ground clearance.

The weakest part of the rover diff is the 2 pinion centre. Upgrade this to a Jac Mac or Ashcroft locker, or a truetrac and that area is then covered strength wise, and you have the benefit of a locker or LSD.

If you upgrade the rover axles and cv's, that area is now stronger than the Salisbury, but the rover crown wheel and pinion become the weak link, but there are aftermarket (e.g. Ashcroft) solutions to fix that.

I would upgrade the rover axle assembly in preference to the Salisbury. If I had a serious built truck for comps, then I would look at other alternatives. My 120 is being built (slowly) for touring, and all of the rover drive train is being replaced with stuff that I have accumulated over the years.

John,

I have serious respect for you guys technically able to build ground up "hybrids".

The only question I have is how do you keep track of what's inside some of these custom built parts and if something should break, wouldn't it end up more expensive to fix?

I've always wondered about it and just interested to know from someone who's busy building such a vehicle.

Cheers,

Lou

[Bush65]

John,

I have serious respect for you guys technically able to build ground up "hybrids".

The only question I have is how do you keep track of what's inside some of these custom built parts and if something should break, wouldn't it end up more expensive to fix?

I've always wondered about it and just interested to know from someone who's busy building such a vehicle.

Cheers,

Lou
My rear axle is based on a 105 series Landcruiser (stronger diff, half shafts and hubs than 80 seies), with ARB air locker. If any parts fail (less likely than rover because of greater strength), they are easy to source. Is the crown wheel and pinion stronger than Salisbury/Dana 60, I don't know, but they are adequate and the axles are as strong (maybe stronger) as Dana 60, 33 spline axles (not as strong as 35 spline, but they are overkill for me.

My front axle has a high pinion Nissan H233 diff, ARB, 80/105 series half shafts and Longfield cv's. Again if parts fail they are easy to source. The half shafts and cv's are far stronger than rover or Ashcroft, the diff is more than adequate - overall stronger than Nissan Patrol or Salisbury.

I would bet I can get spares easier than a front Salisbury.

My 6 speed gearbox is stronger and has a lower 1st gear than any manual found in a rover, and spares are readily available.

...

[Sitec]

Yup, that's the one I was looking at. Very pleasant guy to talk to. Happy to tell me that shipping from UK would be £1200 but that includes the wooden crate.. Had contemplated cutting up a Ser3 rear and fitting Defender flanges,swivels, 354:1 diff etc to it but had come to the same conclusion... Why bother! As said previously, 4 pin or Trutrac (stupidly just let one go when I sold my off roader!), and upgraded shafts wud b the go. Not only that, with the 130 I'd b ploughing two furrows with a front Salisbury!! Cheers all!

[101 Ron]

A 101 landrover has Salisbury on the front with much heavier half shafts than the normal rover stuff.
The CVs fitted are simply huge compared to any other vehicle in its class.
Any salisbury diff is easily shaved without losing strenght for a extra 25mm of clearence, more can be shaved, but at much extra work.
If a salisbury is used on the front , a after market diff cover needs to be fitted, as the standard pressed metal one wil not hack it.
Two problems in finding a 101 diff is just finding one and the other is the standard drum brake set up with 6 stud bolt pattern.
Rover did make strong diffs and axles for Landies, just they refused to do it for the civie range of vehicles.
I suspect the Salisbury front diffs you were looking at in the UK are from the Armoured car version of a Miltitary Land rover.

It would be worth noting front salisbury diffs are offset from centre.

[Sitec]

Cheers Ron, yeah, I ran a 101 on the road for 4 yrs! The best Land Rover I've had! Will try and find a photo of it! Ran a 6 cyl 6 litre Nissan Diesel, overdrive, 4.7 to 1 diffs, and Michelin XCL's. Got my first speeding ticket in it... 92 mph.. Yeah, MPH! I had found one over here just before I bought the 130. The guy was asking silly money for it though sadly. Had planned to 'doctor' a Series rear Salisbury as the tubes are long enough to get the diff in the required position. As said before, I'd still have to use Rover CV's or try and adapt some 101 shafts. Ca Ching ca Ching! So, I've kinda canned the idea. Thanks tho. I did find the aftermarket cover you talk of. Well made Alli thing. Cheers.

[rick130]

[snip]

I did find the aftermarket cover you talk of. Well made Alli thing. Cheers.

Simon, I have a nodular cast iron cover on the rear diff (5/16" wall) and you can get heavy (5/16" and 3/8" wall) plated steel ones too.

They are heat retainers but protect the CWP very well and are needed for when you shave the bottom of the housing to get some clearance.
heavier oil is a work around for the retained heat. Bit of a catch 22 as a heavier oil runs hotter anyway from the increased drag, but it helps protect a hot running Sals.

[460cixy]

I think if you were dead set keen on a stronger front diff a patrol conversion would be the way to go even with a ratio change in the rear to match the patrol diff I think you would still be ahead

[Sitec]

I'm having guilt trips in thinking of fitting a TD42 into my 130, let alone fitting Patrol axles... even though I have a pair in stock! I know where you are coming from tho! Cheers.:)

[86mud]

I've the ARB cover on my rear Salisbury...very tough bit of kit. With this cover I was able to shave about 15mm off the bottom. There are numerous threads on here about this.

[uninformed]

A strengthend Rover housing filled with Rover HD (aftermarket) parts, is going to take a fair bit of abuse from any touring working LR.

[Sitec]

With the 285's ground clearance isn't a prob.... Pretty empting the abuse the axles will cop when I introduced a worked TD42 into the equation was the plan behind a front Salisbury....

[uninformed]

Are sals fronts high or low pinion?

[rick130]

Low (normal) pinion.

[Dopey]

I was looking on EBay UK, and came across this,

land rover DEFENDER DISCOVERY salisbury front axle disc braked l@@k rare | eBay (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/land-rover-DEFENDER-DISCOVERY-salisbury-front-axle-disc-braked-l-k-rare-/261274027481?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item3cd52545d9)

Unfortunately it is collection only, bit of a bugger to post something this size..

Anyways, does anyone have the measurement that a landrover rear Salisbury axle is lower by, than the standard TDCI axle, I.E; how much less clearance is there on standard wheels/tyres?

Mike.

[juddy]

Wow thats pricy for a used ones, we were only talking the other about the new front and rears ones available to buy, all EX MOS stock....

Not sure if theres a market here for them....

[Dopey]

Hi Juddy,
I am potentially interested in both front and rear for fitting to a 300TDI 90.
I have been reading the pro's and con's of the Salisbury axles for the defenders, both in terms of strength and clearance.....
Any idea of a rough cost delivered to West Ryde NSW 2114, for both front and rear salisburys?
Mike.

[MR LR]

Wow thats pricy for a used ones, we were only talking the other about the new front and rears ones available to buy, all EX MOS stock....

Not sure if theres a market here for them....
What are the going to cost? That'll decide if there's a market...

[uninformed]

With the 285's ground clearance isn't a prob.... Pretty empting the abuse the axles will cop when I introduced a worked TD42 into the equation was the plan behind a front Salisbury....

what are you going to gain strength wise with a sals? They run the same shafts, cvs, swivel housings, stubs and hubs as a rover. The housing could be considered same or even weaker than a Rover.

Yes the R+P is stronger as is the center.

It is much easier to strengthen a Rover housing and run up graded inards that will put you close to that Sals front.

Just my opinion