Thread: S3 Gearbox overhaul kit

Might be interested as well if a multiple order helps the cause

Originally Posted by gromit

I'm looking for a comprehensive overhaul kit for a Series 3 gearbox (bearings, seals, bushes, lock washers etc.).
I found a company in the UK that lists one for 80 pounds but I haven't received a reply from them yet.

4 Wheel Drives have a bearings, seals, lockers & gasket kit for $132 (the UK kit was more comprehensive).

Can anyone recommend a supplier ?

Colin

It depends upon the manufacturer of bearings, last kit of bearings I received from Melbourne came in clear heat sealed plastic bags with no manufacturer on the bearing, so I can only assume they are Chinese with only in-house quality standards. Not the standards you would expect with branded bearings even if they are made in China.

Mind you my Melbourne purchase was about 5 years ago, but was after I specified Timken of SKF bearings to which they agreed verbally.

Originally Posted by Lotz-A-Landies

It depends upon the manufacturer of bearings, last kit of bearings I received from Melbourne came in clear heat sealed plastic bags with no manufacturer on the bearing, so I can only assume they are Chinese with only in-house quality standards. Not the standards you would expect with branded bearings even if they are made in China.

Mind you my Melbourne purchase was about 5 years ago, but was after I specified Timken of SKF bearings to which they agreed verbally.

The UK company I'm waiting to hear from list their kit as 'aftermarket quality' which doesn't exactly inspire confidence.
Most of the 4 Wheel Drives stuff used to come from India rather than China, a lot is now branded Bearmach which only means there is another person in the supply chain because a lot of the parts look identical.

The wheel bearing kits they carry for Series 1-3 are unbranded but sometimes come in Karson boxes (Indian) and the last ones were in County boxes (not sure of their origin). Mind you at $55 the pair including the tab washer, seal & gasket it is certainly cheaper than $350 the pair from SKF.

Allfourx4 have a Series 3 kit on Ebay for $145 but it seems to be gearbox only and not transfer box.

My other option is to just strip the box and source bearings (branded) from a local bearing supplier but I'm guessing some of the bearings might be expensive or non-standard.

Someone must have found a supplier in the UK ?

Colin

Originally Posted by gromit

My other option is to just strip the box and source bearings (branded) from a local bearing supplier but I'm guessing some of the bearings might be expensive or non-standard.

That is what I will do next time.

On my S1 I bought a kit from Melbourne but some of the kit I didn't want, such as paper gaskets; the bearings were as Diana described and don't inspire much confidence

Mind you good bearings have always been expensive and they should last for years with regular oil changes and a magnet on the drain plug,

Cheers Charlie

Hi Gromit,

It would be worth ringing FWD here in Brisbane, they make up their kits here and use good quality bearings. Theirs also cover both gearbox and transfer and the price was reasonable when I bought one about a year ago. Cheaper than buying the separate transfer and gearbox ones on ebay.

Cheers,

TimJ.

The UK company have now answered my email.

Their kit covers everything needed for the gearbox - bearings, seals, gaskets, springs, bushes, lockers, circlip, syncro clips, mainshaft pegs & split pins.

I'm not sure of the bearing quality but for $130 I might order a kit and find out.


Colin

Hi,
What was the name of the supplier as I am about to overhaul my SIII and will need the same?

Regards

Jonathan

Originally Posted by Jondavball

Hi,
What was the name of the supplier as I am about to overhaul my SIII and will need the same?

Regards

Jonathan

As they are not communicating again I wouldn't be recommending them at the moment. Once I've been able to order, received the goods and have checked the 'quality' then I might pass on their details.

A second UK supplier was asked for the same kit 4 days ago, still yet to receive a reply.

Colin