Thread: Discovery diffs

Hi Shane,
I have the rolling remains of a 1996 D1 that I took panels off to fix mine after it was sideswiped. I drove it home and didn’t notice any diff noise. The motor (v8) has been sold and the gearbox (manual) has a crook 4th gear, but the rest looks like it had an easy life. It may be easier to swap the brakes, too, as the Disco has different front calipers. If you are interested I would be happy to consider an offer for the whole thing. I’m in Sunbury so not too far away.
Woolly,
0417 013 220

Originally Posted by Woolly

Hi Shane,
I have the rolling remains of a 1996 D1 that I took panels off to fix mine after it was sideswiped. I drove it home and didn’t notice any diff noise. The motor (v8) has been sold and the gearbox (manual) has a crook 4th gear, but the rest looks like it had an easy life. It may be easier to swap the brakes, too, as the Disco has different front calipers. If you are interested I would be happy to consider an offer for the whole thing. I’m in Sunbury so not too far away.
Woolly,
0417 013 220

Thanks Woolly,

That certainly sounds interesting. sunbury is only a bit over an hour from here.

It sounds like the diff housings will just bolt straight in ? There is a '97 3.9v8 disco 1 for sale in ballart that runs and drives for around $500 (its here if you want another parts car .... Go on ... save me from getting into trouble with the boss women Facebook Marketplace: 1997 Land Rover Land Rover 3.9 – Cars, vans & motorcycles – Ballarat, Victoria ...) She's never overly impressed when another "treasure" arrives home

The local place with farm junk for sale has one out the back .... I could probably get for less (sounds like he picked it up for nothing as a non-runner ... he had a quick look and said the fuel pump isn't working). They seem to be cheap enough to just drag home and rob for their later, less worn driveline parts

I guess the main thing is to make sure I don't accidently grab a disco II ..... and to avoid the early discos as they probably don't have 24spline diffs (I'm hoping this means less lash .... strength is less of a concern. I run standard wheels and have no intension of doing full throttle low 1st runs at bog holes ).

seeya,
Shane L.

Hi again Shane,
One easy way to differentiate between D1 and 2 is the tail light position, D2 has them high on the D pillar, at window level, also the wheel stud pattern is different, and yes I think early Discos had 10 spline axles.
I have been doing swivel seals on my ‘80 Rangie and the brake calipers and drive plate arrangement are different to my D1. At the back, the Disco has a donut on the diff instead of a uni joint, and both shocks are on the same side of the axle, not like my early Rangie. I’m sure these differences could be worked around, I get the impression you are handy with tools from all your posts.
Good luck with whatever you decide to do.
Woolly

Well I've been keeping my eye out for a old disco 1 to drag home .... a bit hard at the moment when your not supposed to be out and about..... I haven't worried much about the huge lash in the ****boxes driveline ..... last week I was driving it and for no reason at all it occurred to me .... why isn't the diff howling if its lash isn't that bad .... My immediate next thought was..... it could also be a broken suspension mount allowing the entire rear suspension to move....



basically the car is telling me I'm a moron that needs to do some basic servicing. this lash didn't show at all when it had a slugomatic gearbox in it.

LOL! on the 'lash' in the video.
Brings back memories of having to do mine every 6 months or so.

I know lot of folks don't like them, but the best bet for that specific bush is the poly types.
As I recall in my '79, I reckon I changed mine 200,000 times in 6 klms! (yeah, ok ... maybe the other way around).
Last set of rubbers were from Rangie Spares with their modded moulding of that bush, and it lasted OK.
But the polys I then replaced them with(Nolathanes) lasted the last 400K odd klms no worries.

Have you also checked the A frame ball joint?

OH! and you can use D2 diffs. Fit.
I'm using my D2 parter diffs to build up ATBs for my D1.
So one day soon when my lazy @$$ed mechanic mate builds them for me(as I'm a diff dunce!) .. I'll have a pair of usable D1 diffs sitting waiting for someone that may need them.
Only problem is no idea when this will happen, and it's been in the works for over 2 years now!

Oh it gets better.. Its one thing to be, er, "relaxed" with upkeep like I tend to be ..... But I just removed the rear link arms .... and was looking at them while they were still on the car..., and they both look slightly banana shaped ? bizarre, I've never noticed they were curved before.... So I went and looked at the parts Rangie .... dead straight. Then the penny dropped. The bunch of asshats that did the insurance quote on it .... they damaged the exhaust, the LT230 was leaking oil badly (when it never leaked before ).... and obviously they also bent the rear link arms with there damn forklift. Why in the hell would they forklift around a car that runs and drives .... and has the damn keys in it ... AAAARrrhhhhh. Guess what my next job is

seeya,
Shane L.