Thread: Is D2 LT230 front housing same as D1 /defender

I was speaking to a bloke with a disco 2 last week who said the lever to engage the centre diff lock was still on his transfer case even though the car was sold without it. I've got no reason to suspect he was lying. Maybe it would be worth checking the transfer case you already have.

Yes you can fit the housing directly but... The D2 requires a switch for high /low to allow the ECU different map characteristics and allow HDC etc.
The earlier cases do not have mounting pad/position for this.
You can sort this with an in cab switch if you wish or some sort of attachment to activate the switch from the lever.
Some of the D2 cases also have a mounting for an interlock solenoid. I was going to pull the selector shaft and grind a slot for the switch to be fitted here but was given a front housing with the switch mount, so never got around to seeing if it was viable.

Originally Posted by PhilipA

I am looking at fitting a diff lock to my 2002 D2 without anything in the front housing , and current plan is to fit a complete front housing from a diff lock LT230. This is partly because I just spent a heap of money having my LT230 deleaked. LOL

Sellers seem to want a fortune for D2 LT230s with diff lock.

It occurs to me that the front housing on all LT230s may be the same, as the differences of ratio, gear cuts etc are all in the main case.

I know the front flange on D2 is different to earlier ones but is the spline on the shaft the same?
Are there any other reasons that an earlier nose cannot fit the later case?
I have no problem with buying a dead LT230 , as long as it has a complete front housing even If I have to rebuild the diff.

I know I can buy the bits from Ashcroft but am hoping for a cheaper solution.
Regards Philip A

I have both auto and manual D1 diff lock levers in my D2's they work perfectly, be aware that they are different I also have an earlier nose in my auto, splines are all the same, when I did mine

Also beware that you may not have a the loom plug to activate CDL dash light.

Mine was missing and I had to splice some wires to get to work.