Defender axles help.

[Bigbird]

Hi guys i am looking at buying a TD5 defender ute and have just been informed by a mechanic friend that they have weak axles,is this true? the last thing i want to do is carry a spare axle around or break one out in the bush where i travel often,i have heard of axle problems with the early model series rovers but not the defenders but he insists that they have a weak axle,can anyone in here put my mind to rest on this issue please.....cheers Wes.

[Psimpson7]

Hi Wes,

They aren't that weak really.

If its pre about 2002 it will have a Salisbury rear which is basically a Dana 60 and they are almost unbreakable really. Upgraded shafts are available.

If its post 2002 it will have a 4 pin rover which isnt as strong, but upgrades are also available

The front end will be fine on normal size tyres.

I run 33's or 35's on mine and have only ever broken one long rear half shaft.

If you aren't very rough with it, I cant see you having an issue.

[long stroke]

As Pete said if it has a salisbury in the rear you shouldn't be breaking that in a hurry;)
We run 10spline standard axles in the front of our county (10 spline axles are the weakest) with lockers front and rear and have only broken 1 axle and that axle was the original (460 000kms) that was before we got lockers:)
The defender your looking at would have 24spline axles...much stronger;)

CHEERS TIM.

[tempestv8]

It all really depends on what sort of 4x4'ing you are planning to do with the Defender. If it is outback touring, the stock axles will be fine.

If it is bog hole driving with Simex Centipedes fitted, you might want to invest in the following items, in order of priority:

1. ARB lockers (simply because they are stronger than the standard differential gears in the Rover diff)

2. Maxidrive half shafts

Eitherway, the standard Rover axles are stronger than Prado diffs or Land Cruiser diffs, just as a comparison. Toyota diffs are no good for doing a reverse snatch recovery - they go snap crackle and pop! :p

[Sprint]

Toyota diffs are no good for doing a reverse snatch recovery - they go snap crackle and pop! :p

i doubt you'd wanna go doing heavy reverse snatch recoveries with any 4x4, virtually no differential is capable of its rated torque in both directions

[rangieman]

Its not the axles that are so weak its the drive flanges that wear which can be overcome with either maxidrive flanges or upgraded axles with the heavier flanges fitted
If your not running lockers you wont bust a axle

[slug_burner]

Even 24 spline axles have their issues. When they changed the method of lubricating the wheel bearings from diff oil to grease the axle splines fret. When I changed the defender's axles to maxidrives I also changed to diff oil lube, no fretting splines yet. The flogged out splines cause a fair bit of slop in the drive line.

[Blknight.aus]

150K Km no dramas yet.

[BigJon]

As others have said, the problem lies with the axle splines and the drive plates at the hubs. The splines run dry because there is no way for them to be lubricated.

An upgrade to Maxidrive type axles and drive plates along with oil lubed wheel bearings cures the problem.

[Aaron]

If you upgrade to a heavy duty flange, wont that be like a hot knife through butter on the standard axle splines?

[BigJon]

Not as long as they are properly lubricated. The issue isn't the spline strength as such, but the fact that greased wheel bearings don't provide any lubrication to the splines.

[long stroke]

I don't mind the idea of having standard drive flanges with standard axles, better them brake then the axles:D
We have stripped 1 drive flange, only cost us $30 for a pair of new ones and they are dead easy to replace:cool:
But if we got stronger axles you'd wan't to go the drive flanges as well.

CHEERS TIM.

[scott oz]

For what it's worth I was told that when LR changed from 10 to 24 splines they down-graded the axle (metal) quality. What you gained by having more surface area with 24 splines over 10 you lost in tensile quality?

Assuming the axe quality is the same 10 v 24. Increasing the spline number to 24 increases the surface area however it also increases the potential l(twist) Load on the axle.

Spline wear (slop) I would have thought if it is a lubrication issue would be unaffectedf by the number of splines.

[BigJon]

Spline wear (slop) I would have thought if it is a lubrication issue would be unaffectedf by the number of splines.

Most 10 spline stuff has either oil lubed wheel bearings (Series LRs, etc) or has the drive flange as part of the axle (early Range Rover).

In either case there is no spline wear issue due to correct lubrication or no spline to wear.

[scott oz]

Most 10 spline stuff has either oil lubed wheel bearings (Series LRs, etc) or has the drive flange as part of the axle (early Range Rover).

In either case there is no spline wear issue due to correct lubrication or no spline to wear.
Bigjon

Agree.

In which case increasing the number of splines will make no differance if you are snapping axles etc. In fact it would make it worse?