Floating vs semi-floating difference

[StuRR80]

I have a 1958 109 Series 1.
How do I tell if it has floating or semi-floating rear axle?
TIA
Stuart

[101RRS]

The floating axles have a bolt on hub like all later series/defenders.

The semi floating have nothing is just a flat surface.

Floating
172540

Semi Floating
172541

[JDNSW]

Just look at the rear hub - if it is flat, not sticking out beyound the wheel more than a fraction of an inch, it is semifloating. If it looks the same as the front (assuming you don't have free wheeling hubs) it is fully floating.

The full floating hub is a separate casting, that rotates on two tapered roller bearings on the hollow stub axle, and is driven by a separate half axle through the stub axle, splined onto the drive flange, which is bolted to the hub. The two bearings in the hub keep the wheel upright, and carry the weight and side loads on the stub axle.

On the semifloating axle, the "hub" is actually forged as part of the half axle, which turns on a single ball bearing race which is held onto the half axle by a shrunk on collar, and has a bearing carrier that is bolted to the end of the axle housing. The wheel is kept upright by the half axle, which is carried by the wheel bearing at the outer end and the differential side bearing via the side gear it is spline into. The half axle also transfers the weight and side loads to the wheel bearing.

Hope this helps.

[StuRR80]

Fantastic! Thanks guys 😊