rear axle housing leaking

[david livesey]

hi all and happy new year maybe someone can help the rear axle housing is leaking on my 1998 defender 110 we towed our camper trailer to the daintree and i noticed the housing has a slight leak i checked the breather and it was jamded full of crap cleand it seemed to slow it could this have caused it or should the maxi drive seales have blown first or could be more sinister like maybe a cracked housing any feed back appreciated:wasntme:

[Bundalene]

Where is it leaking? At the hub behind the discs, at the breather? Somewhere else?

Erich

[david livesey]

sorry should have been more precise its leaking where the axle tube meets the diff thanks

[malsgoing130]

hmm mines leaking at the same spot, on the left looking from the rear, its very odd, interesting to hear if its a 'standard defender leak' or some thing worse!!
Cheers
Mal

[Slunnie]

sorry should have been more precise its leaking where the axle tube meets the diff thanks
Hmmm, I'm sure I read somewhere recently that this is where the Salisbury's weak point is, and the reason why the Defender went to the P38 axle as they could truss it stronger than the Salisbury housing to give a greater load capacity for the Milspec vehicles.

Sorry, not any help though.

[bcj]

Is this a drip or just a wet spot-mines always collected dust where it's pressed together but not dripped

[isuzurover]

A few have cracked there - especially those used for touring - and it seems having an MD locker fitted may make it more likely.

The tubes are only a press fit that is plug welded though, so it may just be a leak.

However it would be a VERY good idea to degrease thoroughly (and or wirebrush) the area to see exactly where the oil is coming from.

The sals apparently has thinner-walled tubes compared to a Dana 60.

[david livesey]

sorry should have been more precise its leaking where the axle tube meets the diff thanks
seems to mainly leak when towing the camper trailer not as much if at all when unloaded ?will give it a wire brush and check its a bit of a worry gota go to doomadgee in the gulf in a couple of weeks weather permitting

[rick130]

Yep, axle tubes pulling is why the UK Mil ones originally went to the heavily trussed P38 style rear end.

I think leaks around the plug weld spots have been common for years, even from the factory. From new there were prominent stickers proclaiming the rear end had passed a leak test. Mine sports a smudge of oil on each spot, has done since I took ownership many years ago.
I'll de-grease after a service and the oils smudges come back pretty quickly, but that's all they are.
As Ben said, do a really good de-grease and re-asses, I'd hate it to be a tube working slowly in the cast centre, but with a Land Rover anything's possible...:(

Oh, and as per a Clarkie post a fair while back, 130's use a heavier wall axle tube (smaller ID, same OD) than 110's, so can take a heavier load.

[djam1]

There were a few Series vehicles manufactured in late 1972 that had the same issue the issue was corrected at the manufacturing process the problem then went away until the late 90s.
Telstra had a lot of issues like this with their vehicles, the Perentie had heavier tubes to my knowledge and the earlier Series Army vehicles had heavier axle tubes pressed inside the original tubes.
This doesnt help you but its not an unknown issue I know one broke on the Canning Stock Route a few years ago but it was attributed to the Maxi Drive installation.

[isuzurover]

the problem then went away until the late 90s.

I know of one mid 80's county sals which cracked all the way around the tube. Only the MD actuator mount was holding it together.

Anyone who is worried can always buy one of these and weld it on:
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/
Though on a 110 it may interfere with the a-frame ball joint...