Axle Differences / Brake Differences

[dickyjoe]

Hi

I am building a Series 2 hybrid vehicle and I intend to fit axles from a coil sprung vehicle. Currently I own a set of axles from a 1985 Range Rover.

As the Series 2 will be parttime four wheel drive I am looking for the best axle on the 2nd hand market and was thinking that later axles from a Discovery may be a better choice.

Would Disco axles be stronger and better to use compared to the Rangie axles? I read somewhere early RR axles are a 10 spline halfshaft and later models are 24 spline but the differences are not just in the shafts. I beleive the diff centre is also stronger.

If I were to use the 1985 axles I have already, would Disco brake rotors and calipers fit so I can use single front brake hoses instead of two. My axles have no brake rotors or calipers.

Does anyone know the specifications of Disco and Rangie master cylinders?

Richard

[mark2]

Later discos were fine spline, I think the early ones were 10 spline.
Disco fine spline axles would have to be stronger, also you can fit maxi drive axles to these centers. Conversely 10 spline centers are very cheap to replace if you break them. You'll generally pay more for a fine spline center.

Did you know that early non-vented disco front calipers were twin pipe like the rangies?
I know disco front vented rotors and calipers will fit early county front axles so they should be pretty much interchangeable.
I would be sourcing Defender front calipers and rotors as about 25% more braking area than disco/rangie front calipers.

[Slunnie]

I know the purists will cringe, but I've fitted Toyota LC60 axles and its not a complex conversion and probably a lot simpler than RR axles. They are 4.1's unlike the RR's 3.54's, and they are very wide for a Series Landy, but they're strong. I've so far maintained the leaf setup though. If you're coiling then the RR's are probably an easier setup to do.

[mark2]

The rover type axle fitted to late Defenders is probably the strongest rover axle however they are expensive second hand. A Rangie axle with Maxi Drive center and axles is probably as strong or stronger.

[dickyjoe]

So would my rangie axles with their supposed 12 splines be okay until i get the maxidrive axles down the track when i can afford it.

rich