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roel



Member Since: 08 Aug 2009
Location: Lelystad
Posts: 2039

Netherlands 2003 Defender 90 Td5 PU Caledonian Blue
Strongest standard front axle set-up
I managed to break the right front CVjoint last Sunday of my 2003 90 TD5. I assume as I didn't take it apart jet.
Now I am looking for a new one and off-course I could go for a aschroft set but they ase approx 450 pounds before tax and I can get a standard one for about 50 euro. Shocked

Now I have a discussion with some Land Rover friends what is best to do. Some say that the newer CV joint is stronger but the half shaft is weaker and the others say I shound go for an older set.

How do you guys think about this? I hope this would be a nice discussion. Laughing

For information:
The Right CV joint was already noisy on full lock when I bought it in 2009 so It is not a complete supprise that it didn't like my driving after 5 years.
I run 35" simex tyres, Tru trac in the front axle but further standard.
In the rear I have a Detroit locker with Ashcroft half shaft.
Off-course I would prefer a complete Ashcroft set but that is a nice amount of money. Roel

1984 90 2.5 na Diesel - RR V8 (1994-2001)
1997 Camel Trophy Discovery 300TDI (2001-2009)
2005 G4 Discovery III 4.4 V8 (2008-2018) It's gone but it still hurts.
2003 90 Td5 (2009-now)
Post #348352 30th Jul 2014 9:29am
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g-mack



Member Since: 07 Jan 2014
Location: northumberland
Posts: 1967

United Kingdom 
if your running 35s you obviously like to play Thumbs Up so risk of breaking stuff is higher. if money is tight i would put the standard older one on for 50 euro and chuck a spare in the back!!! you would have to go through a fair few of them to make buying Ashcroft cv and shafts worthwhile.
but if money no object, go for the tougher shaft and cv joint Thumbs Up My 109 thread

my youtube channel
Post #348353 30th Jul 2014 10:09am
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roel



Member Since: 08 Aug 2009
Location: Lelystad
Posts: 2039

Netherlands 2003 Defender 90 Td5 PU Caledonian Blue
You think also that the older setup is stronger than the new one?

And yes I like to play:

Click image to enlarge



Click image to enlarge
 Roel

1984 90 2.5 na Diesel - RR V8 (1994-2001)
1997 Camel Trophy Discovery 300TDI (2001-2009)
2005 G4 Discovery III 4.4 V8 (2008-2018) It's gone but it still hurts.
2003 90 Td5 (2009-now)
Post #348364 30th Jul 2014 11:13am
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diesel_jim



Member Since: 13 Oct 2008
Location: hiding
Posts: 6041

United Kingdom 2006 Defender 110 Td5 SW Epsom Green
I always thought the strongest (cheapest route) setup was:

4 pin diff.
Ashcroft HD 23/24 spline halfshafts
early AEU2522 type CV joints (and thus the earlier wider hubs)

Of course, if money is no object then just HD Ashcroft stuff throughout and then you can keep the later thinner hubs (don't know if they're any weaker than the earlier "wider" hubs.... some say there is less stress/wear on the wheel bearings as they're wider apart..... Question )
Post #348368 30th Jul 2014 11:43am
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roel



Member Since: 08 Aug 2009
Location: Lelystad
Posts: 2039

Netherlands 2003 Defender 90 Td5 PU Caledonian Blue
Thanks guys, but are there only 2 subject matter experts? Mr. Green Roel

1984 90 2.5 na Diesel - RR V8 (1994-2001)
1997 Camel Trophy Discovery 300TDI (2001-2009)
2005 G4 Discovery III 4.4 V8 (2008-2018) It's gone but it still hurts.
2003 90 Td5 (2009-now)
Post #348532 31st Jul 2014 8:24am
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uncas



Member Since: 22 Nov 2012
Location: Wentworth near Rotherham
Posts: 340

United Kingdom 
Roel if it took you 5years to break a noisy standard cv joint I should think that a new standard one should last a fair while. Just go a little easier on the loud pedal , as gmac suggested buy 2 fit one and keep the other for a spare.
Being a tight rsd Yorkshire man I couldn't justify spending £450.00 on Ashcroft's gear. (and I am not implying that there's anything wrong with Ashcroft's gear)

Scots men might be canny but a Yorkshire man is tight he's got short arms deep pockets and effall in em.

Uncas
Post #348538 31st Jul 2014 9:15am
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roel



Member Since: 08 Aug 2009
Location: Lelystad
Posts: 2039

Netherlands 2003 Defender 90 Td5 PU Caledonian Blue
My parts supplier learn me a lesson last Friday. My CV joint would cost me 165 euro before tax. I said something like that is a lot more then I expected.
The part of his answer what I can repeat here was the first bit: Roel, this what I have to hear all day, you had a look at the internet I presume? When I said Yes his answer was: Big Cry Banging Head Censored Censored Censored Censored Censored and a little more I won't repeat.
I will do a translation: Almost everybody (like me) looks at the internet and notices cheap prices but don't see the quality. I can deliver you a CV joint for a little more than 50 euro and one for 165 and the genuine one for about 250 euro. And I can order you the Ashcroft one. Pick the one you want.
If you take the 50 euro one I see you in about 2 weeks.
The 165 euro item and the Land Rover item there is not much difference between them. And will last.
He one on the last Croatia Trophy he drove when his long time used Aschroft failed on the first day.

He doesn't want to sell ell cheapo parts but customers ask him for it so if the customer really wants he does. He showed me the difference between an el cheapo part and a quality part. at the first look the are the same but if you look in detail there are differences and with the CV joint there is a clear difference in weight too.

So I went for the 165 euro one. Whistle Roel

1984 90 2.5 na Diesel - RR V8 (1994-2001)
1997 Camel Trophy Discovery 300TDI (2001-2009)
2005 G4 Discovery III 4.4 V8 (2008-2018) It's gone but it still hurts.
2003 90 Td5 (2009-now)
Post #349190 3rd Aug 2014 11:45am
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lambert.the.farmer



Member Since: 11 Apr 2012
Location: harrogate
Posts: 2006

England 1998 Defender 90 300 Tdi PU Rutland Red
I believe that you are right in that some front axles are inherently stronger than others and I know mine are meant to be the weakest kind but as the rest of the transmission is standard I have not yet had a problem. As to which are the strongest I'm sure I used to know but I can't for the life of me remember which. One thing I am finding though it really is a good idea to get the best quality your budget will allow, buy right buy once and all that. Rhubarb and custard let fly with their secret weapon.
Post #349571 5th Aug 2014 6:33am
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jst



Member Since: 14 Jan 2008
Location: Taunton
Posts: 7703

2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Stornoway Grey
diesel_jim wrote:
I always thought the strongest (cheapest route) setup was:

4 pin diff.
Ashcroft HD 23/24 spline halfshafts
early AEU2522 type CV joints (and thus the earlier wider hubs)


this is also my understanding.

For anyone running 35s off road with anything other than an open front diff i would recommend Ashcrofts, why risk anything else, those std CVs were never meant to take bigger RD tyres and then we expect them to work through greater than design spec arcs with spacers, larger off sets etc. Cheers

James
110 XS Utility
130 Puma Station wagon/camper (in the making)
90 Puma Hardtop
Post #349580 5th Aug 2014 7:37am
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Mdm



Member Since: 11 Sep 2013
Location: Sunny Lancashire
Posts: 1536

United Kingdom 
What James says

Ashcroft warranty is the best out there that's if you can break one

We run tuned td5 in road and off road cars

On road std genuine stuff last well if driven sensibly

Off road use buy once but the best you can afford and forget about it
Post #349680 5th Aug 2014 4:43pm
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