Hi Tuff axles and Elocker

[ProjectDirector]

Had an interesting long conversation today with Fred Smith in Bayswater regarding the above topic.

I want to replace the rear LR axles with Hi Tuff (support local economy) and covert to self lubricating. Price was reasonable and I supply the Elocker for him to fit.
BUT he went on to say that the weak link will be the P38 diff which has a very thin crown as compared to Salisbury. So, he recommended a Salisbury diff (from 130) and have a vacuum maxi drive locker if I keep the defender long term.

Fred is very knowledgeable mechanic and value his opinion but I want to get some feedback and opinions from others that have gone thru the process of to replacing their axles (rear) and/or installed locker.
Cheers

[Pacemaker]

The 130 rear diff up until approximately 2003 is the strongest diff of all the defenders. Yes its a Salisbury and the 130 Axel tubes are thicker than the 110 ones.

The Salisbury diff is much stronger than the p38 diff. A locker will make it even stronger again. Obviously Hi-tuff axels are much better than stock ones and will last a lot longer than factory ones or cheap aftermarket replacements.

The only negative about a Salisbury is the size of the pumpkin. It hangs down a lot further than a rover diff and if your doing any moderate to extreme wheeling the diff has a tendency to get hung up.

What are you planning on doing with the car?

[rangieman]

No offence to Fred but he is one eyed with lockers
Yes the salisbury is the strongest but honestly why do you want a locker to go go rock hopping or for the occasional extra traction
Plenty of P38 diffs standard and with lockers around that dont fail when driven with mechanical sympathy

[ProjectDirector]

Pacemaker
I am keeping the car and my son wants it so that's why I am putting HD axles since I had originals go after 20k.
As for the locker it is optional for some piece of mind but can't see ~$2000 justified.
I have seen the Salisbury and didn't like how far it hangs down to the ground.
After Freds discussion I was leaning towards new axles and modified to be self lubricating

[1nando]

2013 110

Elocker and ty tuff axels all round with hd flanges. No issues

[ProjectDirector]

2013 110

Elocker and ty tuff axels all round with hd flanges. No issues

Good to hear, mine is 2013 110

[clive22]

Hi

You can 'peg' the P38 diff. This means welding in a block in the diff housing with a copper block to prevent the crown wheel deflecting too far from the pinion under shock loads.

I ordered my locker and pegged carrier complete from Ashcroft UK. Ashcroft axles went in at the same time

I went this way in my MY12 130 rather then put in a huge Salisbury as I want to run 235/85 tyres, it's a tourer not a play truck. I hunted around and whilst everyone says the P38 is diff is weak and no doubt it is, but the number of genuine failures I found was very few and seemed to be from hard use.

Disk to disk Sals are not that easy to find, and if you do are exy, and the axles are still weak point, locker choice is limited and expensive. You really need to shave too, if you want half decent clearance.


Clive

[Pacemaker]

You would want to be running large tyres and driving it very hard to justify the cost of putting in a Salisbury.

Personally I don't want to go 4x4ing without at least a rear locker ever again. But then again I manage to get stuck with 35s and twin lockers.

If you can afford a locker then fit it. I've never heard anyone in the bush say "I wish I didn't have a locker" I've heard plenty say "I wish I had a locker". A rear locker is not something you will regret purchasing if it gets used. As for h/d axels they are a great piece of mind and nearly an investment. No doubt your p38 diff will be fine with a locker fitted.

[Lionel]

Had an interesting long conversation today with Fred Smith in Bayswater

Any conversation with Fred will almost certainly be long!

I had my rear axles upgraded to HiTuff & bearings oil converted by Fred.

Couldn't be happier!

Cheers,

Lionel

[ProjectDirector]

"Pegging" interesting concept and will do some research on this, thank you.
I tend to go off road every 2 weeks. We either go camping/orienteering or hunting and don't use the car for bashing around but have to go thru some demanding tracks at times to get to our destination. In a couple of occasions I found that a locker could have enabled my back wheels to get traction and had to use my winch.
So the locker can come handy.
As I mentioned before I replaced the original axles and flanges at about 20k so I come to think that traction control may also have something to do with it too.