Thread: Stage 1 and regular series 3 front end.

Originally Posted by Lotz-A-Landies

Hi Guys

What is the difference between a Series 3 long wheelbase front axle and the Series 3/Stage 1 CV joint front end.

Are the swivels the same/interchangeable or not?

Regards
Lotz-A-Landies (but never either a series 3/stage1)

Unless I am mistaken there is little in common between the regular Series 3 front axle (same for lwb & swb except for brakes and number of splines on drive flanges - and this difference disappears in late production) and the Stage 1.

Having a look at the parts book, the layout of the axle is similar to the regular Series 3, but most components including the axle housing and swivel housing etc have different part numbers, although some of the minor bits are the same. It is not clear from the parts book whether some of the bits that have different numbers are in fact interchangeable, but I would guess it is unlikely, although some may be simply beefed up.
John

John

I take it that you have the Stage 1 parts book. I am looking at modifying series 3 109" front axles to make half shafts for my Series 2B forward control. A vehicle which is missing much of it's original front end.

Going through my series 2/2a and forward control parts books the difference in the outer section of the 1 ton and forward control and the regular series vehicles is only in the actual swivel ball and the bearing that supports the inner half shaft. The swivel housing, stub axle and wheel hub are the same part numbers. By using the series 3 half shafts, they also have a 24 spline outer flange as the 1 ton/forward control. The plan was to remove the Rover diff inner half shaft and fabricate/heat treat a new shaft to marry the uni joint to the ENV diff.

My thoughts then went to what was the difference with the stage 1 front end. I had heard that the stage 1 inner half shaft and the CV joint are seperate units that spline together. If the stage 1 swivel housing/stub axle is the same as the earlier series 3 then I may be able to use a stage 3 swivel and CV joint and marry them up to new ENV half shafts?

Any info on the possibilities of the plan would be appreciated!

Cheers
Diana