Thread: Axles

I assume that the axles are all Series 2/2a 88/109 and Series 3 early 88, and all have ten spline both ends.

Series 1 Landrovers very rarely broke axles, either 86/88 or 107/109, as these were semifloating and much more robust.

Same applied to Series 2, either 88 or 109.

However, by the time sixes were introduced, producing significantly more power, and as users found they could mostly get away with even more gross overloading than they managed with Series 1, broken axles became more common, added to this was decreasing quality control after the Leyland merger in 1967. So that by late 2a production broken axles were a known issue, leading to the optional Salisbury rear axle on late 2as. These became standard on Series 3 109s. (And late Series 3 88s got 24 spline outer ends to match the 109s, to allow commonality of drive flanges etc.)

As a result, by the 1980s, there were third parties producing replacement axles that were tougher than the late Rover ones, and although the main issue was steel quality and heat treatment, it is probable that at least some of these were thicker. I have only ever broken one axle in a Series Landrover, and that was in 1968. And I can't remember whether the replacement was genuine or third party, or whether it was the same diameter as the original.

I hope this may shed some light.

Originally Posted by JDNSW

I have only ever broken one axle in a Series Landrover, and that was in 1968. And I can't remember whether the replacement was genuine or third party, or whether it was the same diameter as the original.

I hope this may shed some light.

Hmmm. In my RAEME days I used to carry a shaft with a "slot" one end to get around the spider shaft. A good sharp hit on the end used to get the broken bit out, because they always broke at the diff end. Broken axles in Military IIas was common. Dunno why, because the Army wouldn't have overloaded them, would they?

And most of their operational life, and most of the ones delivered to the army, I think, were after the Leyland merger!

Originally Posted by JDNSW

And most of their operational life, and most of the ones delivered to the army, I think, were after the Leyland merger!

Wouldn't surprise me. They would break, with a twist, across the spline near the diff, and the break was always crystalline.

There was some kind of diff mod available at one stage that allowed salisbury axles to fit the swb.

Weren't the axles in the PLUS 35 meant to be 'stronger' or was it the diff ?

Looking at the pictures the fatter axles seem to reduce down to roughly the same diameter as the thinner ones just before the splines.


Colin

Originally Posted by Tins

Wouldn't surprise me. They would break, with a twist, across the spline near the diff, and the break was always crystalline.

Just like this.

Did all the Series 3 have the Salisbury axle/diff setup?

Just wondering as the LWB series 3s my fathers company had,didn't break any axles,and they certainly got a flogging.
They were all the 6 cyl,and were often fully loaded,at times dragging trailers.
Getting badly stuck was sometimes a daily routine.

I remember the spare axles in the back,wrapped up in canvas,as we,as kids spent most of our time in there,amongst all the other gear,with not much airflow,but we survived....