Thread: Crownwheel and Pinion. Aftermarket or OEM?

How did you go with noise? - after a quick scan, and even on the Ashcofts site - noise / whine is supposed to be increased. One guy even had to have gears lapped to make the noise bearable, but granted that was in a different ratio.

Didn't know about the noise! Can't tell the difference, but I do have an isuzu motor

Awhile ago I tried three different sets of aftermarket 4.11 diff gears they all broke easily .
I returned to stock gears and have twisted two maxi drive axles without a ring gear failure.
I think Ashcroft realised that as well and are making their gears differently now.
Food for thought.

Originally Posted by fitzy

Awhile ago I tried three different sets of aftermarket 4.11 diff gears they all broke easily .
I returned to stock gears and have twisted two maxi drive axles without a ring gear failure.
I think Ashcroft realised that as well and are making their gears differently now.
Food for thought.

I did read that as well, I also think they have changed materials?

new Ashcroft ring and pinions

Here you go spel1

Ian you drive more sensibly than me though.

Thanks for all your input, certainly gave me options and a solution.

Based on the discussion I sent an email to Dave Ashcroft. The question I asked him was that I needed a good quality standard ratio ring and pinion - that I was not going to use it for competition, mainly for touring but with the knowlegde it would not break if I did do the odd demanding bit of driving. I did say I coud be prepared to go HD 3.5 but with one stipulation, in regards to noise, was that I did not want any more than I have now - which as standard is basically zero. (I drive all the time, and for the 90% use I have on the street it would just annoy me too much - or harsher words may be more appropriate).

His answer is as following.

The HD 3.5's may be overkill for you,
Our stock 3.54's are ok but we also have in stock the latest genuine ground 3.54 version which are not much more expensive at £125, this would be the best bet in terms of noise and strength,
The ground tooth profile is a little different on these and on some early casings we have had the crown wheel foul the casing as the OD is a little bigger but this is easily resolved in 2 mins with a grinder,
Regards
Dave Ashcroft

So, on the basis of that I have ordered the new version Ashcroft stock 3.54. Shipped its roughly $325, which is $35 more than Britpart, and $65 less than local OEM. I would have liked to purchase local (and for all the other bits I did), but for decent stuff like this at a reasonable price I think this is a good compromise.

Ashcrofts are basically local
I think you have definitely made the right choice