Thread: Series 3 Front Axle Query.........

Originally Posted by jerryd

I've replaced the original front axle with free wheeling hubs from my vehicle, for a Stage 1 V8 complete axle.
The main reason for the change was for the 3.54 diff to match the rear, also the benefit of bigger brakes.

My query is regarding the 4wd operation, I assume that the car stays 2wd as before and will now go 4wd automatically when I press the yellow knob as I now have no hubs to lock in.

Also when I spin the passenger side front wheel the prop shaft turns also, but when I turn the driver's side wheel the prop shaft doesn't turn I haven't driven the car since the swap over yet.

Hoping that somebody in the know can explain and put my mind at ease

Could your hubs be semi-automatic? or one of them is just sticking?

To help and understand what is going on, have a look in through the filler bung hole while you get someone to turn each wheel over. It does sound like one of the hubs isn't engaged.
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Right in all respects.

As to the condition of the diff - on the bench it's difficult to say unless one of the 3 rotating bits are locked somehow. Now that it's in, in 2wd, one wheel jacked up, turn it and the prop should turn. Change sides, same thing. Both wheels up, TC in 4wd, handbrake on, turn one wheel, the other turns the other way. ( If they turn in the same direction - congrats, it's a LSD)

Originally Posted by jerryd

Also when I spin the passenger side front wheel the prop shaft turns also, but when I turn the driver's side wheel the prop shaft doesn't turn

Maybe the drivers side brakes are sticking causing the prop to turn instead. Likewise when you turn the drivers side wheel, the other item to turn will be the one of least resistance - either the prop or other wheel.

Put it in 4wd, in gear, handbrake on and jack up the front - turn one wheel and the other should turn the other way. Likewise to test individually just lift up on wheel and it should not be able to turn - then test the other wheel. If the propshaft turns in any of these there is an issue in the transfer, if in the two wheel test, if the other wheel does not turn (make sure there are no dragging brakes) there is an issue in the front drive train, likewise on the single wheel test if the wheel turns you have an issue in the front drive train.

Originally Posted by wrinklearthur

Could your hubs be semi-automatic? or one of them is just sticking?

A Stage 1 is constant 4wd like a Defender etc so no fw Hubs or semi auto hubs.

Originally Posted by garrycol

A Stage 1 is constant 4wd like a Defender etc so no fw Hubs or semi auto hubs.

JerryD is still using the old gearbox according to his post.

If you lock the tranfer box into 4WD and only jack up one front wheel, you should not be able to spin that wheel over, unless something is broken.
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Hi Garry, The wife's home, time I went to bed as well, as I made a muck of reading your post.
I have read about free wheeling hubs for the later axle assembly's, but haven't seen any around though

Originally Posted by garrycol

Put it in 4wd, in gear, handbrake on and jack up the front - to test individually just lift up one wheel and it should not be able to turn

Originally Posted by wrinklearthur

If you lock the tranfer box into 4WD and only jack up one front wheel, you should not be able to spin that wheel over, unless something is broken.
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I agree - isn't that what I said?

Originally Posted by garrycol

I agree - isn't that what I said?

Absolutely! Sorry I must have been sleep deprived.
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Thanks for the quick response

I've just tried the "jacking one wheel at a time" theory and all is good. Left and right wheels are locked when 4wd is engaged.
When both front wheels are off the ground in 2wd mode, the driver's side wheel rotates opposite to the passenger side so I don't think it's a LSD

I'll assume all is correct and will now continue and renew all the brake components. I just wanted to be 100% sure before I continued with this axle in place.

You may not want to, but if your old front end had 24 spline free wheel hubs, there is nothing preventing you from fitting those onto the stage one axle.
Experience with fitting RangeRover front ends to series vehicles hasn't shown up any vibration issues despite the RR diff pinion being tilted up 12 degrees when compared to the original series axle.The Stage one pinion is also tilted up and vibrations may not be an issue either, but if they are you might want to fit those FWHs. Nothing to prevent you from fitting the Stage One components to your old front axle housing either.
Bill.