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Hufflepuff



Member Since: 25 Oct 2014
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 723

England 2005 Defender 90 Td5 XS CSW Tonga Green
Salibsury Differential rebuild
I am surprised to find so few threads on these forums about the Salisbury differential. There must be loads of them about in older Land Rovers still?

I would like to get mine rebuilt as part of the vehicle restoration, and converted to disc brakes.

Ashcroft won't touch them, although they do have a not-too-unreasonably priced ATB for the Salisbury differential listed on their website:

https://www.ashcroft-transmissions.co.uk/l...etrac.html

I have tried ringing Nigel at 4x4Xcess (https://www.megasquirt-v8.co.uk/diff_upgrade.php), to find he has sold all his tools for them to a South African company, so he won't do them either.


The axle disc conversion part seems relatively straight forward, with the purchase of an off the shelf kit such as from Red Winches: https://www.red-winches.com/products/rear-...on-lr/109/ and then the purchase of LR front 4-pot calipers and a set of discs.


However I am struggling to find anyone who is prepared to rebuild the Salisbury differential. I've watched a few videos on youtube about rebuilding them (well mainly the US Dana 60 which I understand the Salisbury design to be largely based on) - and it doesn't look completely beyond the realms of possibility to have a go at rebuilding it myself, with the Truetrac ATB from Ashcroft.


Has anyone rebuild their Salisbury themselves, and if so can you comment on the general skill and tools required please? I've got a run-out gauge and magnetic mount, and bearing pullers don't seem too expensive to purchase. I see that one of the bigger hurdles is potentially needing to spread the axle casing to get the differential out, for which a spreader tool will be required which may need manufacturing.

Alternatively, does anyone know of anyone in the UK who will rebuild the differential in the axle for me?

Cheers!
Chris. 2005 Td5 90 XS
1989 V8 110 CSW
Post #720031 27th Jul 2018 10:47pm
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custom90



Member Since: 21 Jan 2010
Location: South West, England.
Posts: 19452

United Kingdom 
Have you tried D44? I can't help much but YouTube also may have some interesting videos on the subject,
Maybe worth a look.

Good luck. Thumbs Up Diesels Lives Matter. ⛽️🛢️👨‍🔧🧰⚙️
And if You Love the Country, then we’re on the same side ~
I got’ love for Britain, I got’ British pride’. 🇬🇧
Post #720033 27th Jul 2018 11:08pm
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wdef34



Member Since: 26 Sep 2017
Location: .......................
Posts: 15

 
Hi,
I ve done mine recently, its a few hours job my friend and a straight forward one but keep these in mind:
It can be done in any workshop (a 4 point lift is important, doing it in your backyard with jacks, stands etc will be very painfull) provided the mechanic is familiar with diffs. Job is about 6 hours in my opinion.
You will need a speader which you can build for less than 60e (In my country at least). Prices for brand ones are rediculus imo.
You will need of course the rebuild parts and some mesurements which is very importalt to source from the net (i have them somewhere...) and also download the workshop manual part3 where it has the whole procedure documented print it and bring it to the workshop. Remember providing the info to the shop is the most important dont expect them to know them (unless a lr specialist of course). Good luck and in the end you ll see its not that hard!!
Post #720054 28th Jul 2018 8:46am
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diesel_jim



Member Since: 13 Oct 2008
Location: hiding
Posts: 6026

United Kingdom 2006 Defender 110 Td5 SW Epsom Green
A friend of mine did my salisbury when he fitted an ARB locker to it.

Far easier, was to remove the whole axle. took like 20 mins with the two of us on a ramp with rattle gun. Made the job much easier to work on the axle.

I bought a job lot of the shims... cost £30~£40 if I remember, but at least we could set the backlash properly.

Was a bit of a faff inserting and removing the diff unit each time, and pulling the bearings off of the diff, but in the end we got a pretty good setup (although eventually it did start to whine ever so slightly)

Used a HUGE "G" clamp to compress the casing to pop the diff out.
Post #720139 28th Jul 2018 10:17pm
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Hufflepuff



Member Since: 25 Oct 2014
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 723

England 2005 Defender 90 Td5 XS CSW Tonga Green
Thanks for the replies gentlemen.

I should have mentioned that the axle will be out of the vehicle as the chassis is being replaced - so access is not a problem.

Steve - I hadn't realised that Devon4x4 can do this sort of work - excellent shout thank you. I shall make contact with them and see if its something they could work with.

Cheers! 2005 Td5 90 XS
1989 V8 110 CSW
Post #720191 29th Jul 2018 11:18am
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sako243



Member Since: 08 Jul 2014
Location: Wales
Posts: 1184

Wales 1994 Defender 110 300 Tdi CSW Alpine White
Is there a reason for rebuilding it?

The people I know who've had one in a condition to warrant a rebuild end up sourcing a new axle or swapping in a newer one. They didn't get their reputation for being indestructible for nothing but if it does need rebuilding then parts cost can start racking up very fast. So much so its often cheaper to get a complete axle that's in better nick. Mind did 150k before I took it off and there were no issues with the diff itself (swapped for a Td5 rear axle to build up with an Ashlocker). Reminds me I should get rid of it... Ed
82 Hotspur Sandringham 6x6
95 Defender 110 300Tdi
Post #720203 29th Jul 2018 12:01pm
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Hufflepuff



Member Since: 25 Oct 2014
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 723

England 2005 Defender 90 Td5 XS CSW Tonga Green
Well the rest of the vehicle was bought in a well "used" condition if you know what I mean - knackered transfer box, gearbox, engine... I am doing a total rebuild so did not want to skimp on the axle.

But no - I don't know that there is anything specifically wrong with it (the vehicle wasn't drivable at the point of purchase). I would however quite like to upgrade to an ATB to help disguise my lack of talent green laneing Smile 2005 Td5 90 XS
1989 V8 110 CSW
Post #720214 29th Jul 2018 12:49pm
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Hufflepuff



Member Since: 25 Oct 2014
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 723

England 2005 Defender 90 Td5 XS CSW Tonga Green
Progress on this topic has not advanced as far as I would have liked.

I spoke with one of the breakers at the LRO show at Peterborough a couple of weeks ago, and they have 'semi' refurbished (externally tarted up) rear Salisbury axles in stock at £450. The insides haven't been touched, and obviously its all standard parts in there.


I am in communication with Devon 4x4 who have quoted me a price for refurbishing mine, putting in a Salisbury Trutrac ATB and (I think) upgrading the halfshafts to Ashcroft HD spec. I won't quote the price at the moment as it wouldn't be fair as I am just trying to find out what precisely is included, but lets say it was a LOT more than I had anticipated (Nigel at 4x4Xcess did say one of the reasons why he won't work on them anymore is that people are not prepared to pay the cost for the parts).

Has anyone got any positive or negative opinion on Simmonites at the moment?

http://www.simmonites.com/shop/transmission/rear-axles/

Their website indicates that they are offering a fully refurbished disc braked Salisbury axle for 1195+VAT, with the option to upgrade the diff to whatever you want, so it might be possible to get closer to £2000-2500 all in with an ATB, although it will be a royal PITA to physically get mine up to them. 2005 Td5 90 XS
1989 V8 110 CSW
Post #730956 24th Sep 2018 8:00pm
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Moneypit



Member Since: 27 Feb 2018
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 271

2004 Defender 110 300 Tdi HT Fuji White
Vaguely remember chatting to a guy who said that he'd used a company called Dave Beaumont 4x4 to rebuild his, but that's a few years ago now. Good luck in your search
Post #731053 25th Sep 2018 10:15am
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Hufflepuff



Member Since: 25 Oct 2014
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 723

England 2005 Defender 90 Td5 XS CSW Tonga Green
Thanks Moneypit. I actually spoke to these guys at Peterborough who said they thought they could do it, but I didn't get a price. 2005 Td5 90 XS
1989 V8 110 CSW
Post #731069 25th Sep 2018 11:01am
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Timo K



Member Since: 23 Aug 2012
Location: Helsinki
Posts: 169

Finland 
Maybe worth looking around in Jeep or other American car circles? It should be very similar to the Dana axles used in a bunch of American cars and they should perhaps be more familiar with rebuilding them...?
Post #731105 25th Sep 2018 1:33pm
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under_rover



Member Since: 02 Apr 2013
Location: Yorkshire
Posts: 150

2002 Defender 110 Td5 SW Oslo Blue
Hufflepuff wrote:
Thanks Moneypit. I actually spoke to these guys at Peterborough who said they thought they could do it, but I didn't get a price.


Only just found this thread Hufflepuff.... Try Beaumonts in Halifax, they're listing salisbury rebuilds at £400 plus the VAT. They've been kicking around for years now and I've had bits from them in the past with no problems. They've just done both of my diffs on the 90 too Thumbs Up
Post #731133 25th Sep 2018 4:08pm
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NickMc



Member Since: 01 Oct 2014
Location: Norn Iron
Posts: 1546

Northern Ireland 2006 Defender 90 Td5 HT Bonatti Grey
Try looking locally for an old school lorry or heavy plant mechanic a lot of these guys will work on them.
Post #731869 29th Sep 2018 3:36pm
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Hufflepuff



Member Since: 25 Oct 2014
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 723

England 2005 Defender 90 Td5 XS CSW Tonga Green
Devon 4x4 got back to me. The price they had quoted included all the parts and labour to shot blast and paint the axle, supply and fit a Truetrac ATB, Ashcroft HD halfshafts, disc conversion mounting brackets, calipers, discs, bearings, hub and stub axle.

Basically everything for me just to bolt it onto the chassis, which is awesome for the inept precision spanner merchant which I am Very Happy So yes the price was steep, but its primarily parts costs so I am going for it.

Just got to work out how to fit the damn thing in the back of a 90 to take it down to them. Measured up today and it won't quite fit diagonally, but I think with the passenger seat all the way forward it will go. 2005 Td5 90 XS
1989 V8 110 CSW
Post #731889 29th Sep 2018 5:50pm
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custom90



Member Since: 21 Jan 2010
Location: South West, England.
Posts: 19452

United Kingdom 
Thumbs Up If you do get it in make sure it's well strapped down.

Sometimes it's best just to get stuff like this done, as it's not worth the time and effort to do yourself unless you can spare the time. (And skilled enough to complete engineering jobs etc.)

As you say, most of the cost is parts and that is very expensive.
I've a,ways found D44 labour to be reasonable and what would be expected unlike many out there.

As you are going for the Ashcroft HD halfshafts I'd highly recommend the HD flanges too, they are very well made abd more protected than standard factory flanges unless they are 1piece. Diesels Lives Matter. ⛽️🛢️👨‍🔧🧰⚙️
And if You Love the Country, then we’re on the same side ~
I got’ love for Britain, I got’ British pride’. 🇬🇧
Post #731904 29th Sep 2018 7:46pm
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