 | Home > Technical > ATB (torsen) front and rear install |
 
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| Lodelaner Member Since: 04 Feb 2010 Location: Lambourn Posts: 621   
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I'd do that, buy ready built-up diffs and put them in yourself with your mate. It is an easy DIY spannering job at the back - a little more involved at the front but not technically difficult.
I had a garage (well regarded and used by a few folk on this forum) build up front and rear ATBs a few years ago into my existing diffs and regretted it. I had no -end of trouble with them because they weren't set right, and despite a couple of additional remedial visits it turned into bad blood in the end. Very Challengering. JB @Lodelaner Instagram Youtube greenlaning and other LR related content |
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23rd May 2020 3:42pm |
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| LR90XS2011 Member Since: 05 Apr 2011 Location: bickenhill Posts: 3613 
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I fitted my rear one myself from underneath the car which was on axle stands, lying on my back pushing the diff into place,
I pulled something in my arm/shoulder took 6 months to stop hurting. I would do it again but rig up a jig for my trolley jack to lift it back into place would be easy on ramps with a transmission jack DEFENDER 90 TDCI XS, I hope everyone is well and your land rovers make you happy |
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23rd May 2020 8:20pm |
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| Inigo Member Since: 13 Nov 2011 Location: Kent Posts: 614 
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I got my local garage to swap out existing diffs for a made-up diffs. Was a bit nervous about dropping said diff on my chest while lying underneath.
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23rd May 2020 8:59pm |
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| Likeomg Member Since: 29 Jun 2012 Location: Lake District / Newcastle Posts: 2626 
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Good evening gents,
Seems to be the bible of diff installs this thread, It's something i've been considering on and off now for a year or so, Does it make sense to do front and rear only or is it more beneficial to do transfer box and rear leaving front open? My main aim is to future proof the truck, the only issues i have is pulling my 3 ton boat up a sandy embankment and would like to increase some stability under harsh brake, If i went to ashcroft and ordered 2 diff's front and rear, if i just had a competent garage bang them in for me how many hours labour are we talking? - respectable defender specialist |
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24th May 2020 3:02am |
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| LR90XS2011 Member Since: 05 Apr 2011 Location: bickenhill Posts: 3613
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I did my rear in 2 hours myself with lots of faffing about, easily a 1 hr job for a garage less if you have wheels that allow the drive shaft out without removing them, front is slightly more involved, see blackwolfs comments, have PMd you regards my experience.
I think Caterham has one in the Transfer box with open diffs in the Axles DEFENDER 90 TDCI XS, I hope everyone is well and your land rovers make you happy |
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24th May 2020 6:54am |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 16871 
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A garage should be able to do both ends in a couple of hours.
If pulling a boat on sandy stuff is your main objective do front and rear, and just lock the centre when you need to. |
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24th May 2020 7:58am |
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| CharlieDonuts Member Since: 16 Jun 2019 Location: Illiers Combray Posts: 133  
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I drive the farm tracks mostly. Across an area called La Beauce. Lots of snow, rain, mud and wet grass but hardly any trees so a winch is pretty useless. I fitted the ATB transfer box when the transfer box started leaking and now both differentials are leaking so I thought I may as well fit ATB diffs front and rear. I have a hi lift jack, a shovel and some maxtrax for if I really get stuck but frankly I'd prefer not to have to use all that. Considering the weight of them I must admit this morning I thought I'd probably ship new complete diffs front and back to the local Landie garage. I just need to find the dollar to do that. |
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24th May 2020 8:43am |
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| bankz5152 Member Since: 02 Feb 2017 Location: South London/North Kent Posts: 2069 
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Fitting diffs is a doddle say an hour for the front 30 mins for the rear.
Fitting diff centers takes longer. Instagram @defender_ventures Empire Tuning - Agent |
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24th May 2020 9:50am |
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| Defendermatt Member Since: 15 Sep 2016 Location: Derbyshire Posts: 311 
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As above should easily be a 2-3 hour job to have both fitted at a competent garage.
I had my ATBs built by Nige at xcess4x4, couldn't recommend him enough - scrupulously clean and tolerances are bang on. I supplied the centres and casings but I'm sure he can supply new aschcroft centres in refurbed casings. 1989 90 4.3 V8 2012 L405 OF 2014 D4 HSE Lux (SOLD) 2015 90 HT (SOLD) @d9o.mf |
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24th May 2020 11:17am |
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| CharlieDonuts Member Since: 16 Jun 2019 Location: Illiers Combray Posts: 133
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What would be the advantage of going to xces4x4 rather than Ashcroft direct ?
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24th May 2020 11:40am |
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| BogMonster Member Since: 05 Feb 2008 Location: Stanley Posts: 389  
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I had a whole built up pegged rear with an ATB fitted, all supplied by Xcess a while back, not cheap (over £1000 for a fully rebuilt built-up pegged diff with a new ATB) but an excellent build. I built an ATB centre into an old front diff myself (the original diff out of the 110 broke a pin at about 10,000 miles, so the rest of the diff was in near new condition). How tricky it is rather depends on what you are starting with. If the donor diff needs to be set up from scratch it's more technical, if it is just swapping out one centre for another, the pinion height is good and all you need to worry about is getting the backlash right (as mine was) then you can get away with basic tools. But - if in doubt - get somebody who knows what they are doing to set it up.
Having fitted them to my 300Tdi and used them over our summer, the ATB diffs are amazing. If you do competition stuff with wheels waving in the air I am sure lockers are much better, but for real-world off road driving where the main enemy is intermittent loss of traction due to slippery surfaces or wheels unloading, the big advantage of the ATB is that it's always on, so you don't need to engage and disengage anything and it reacts instantly. All those situations where you're on a hill climb and weight lifts off the opposite corner wheels causing them to spin out just don't happen - you don't even get the onset of wheelspin, it just goes up or through. I have no idea how it all works but it's superb. Pulling a boat on sandy beaches would be exactly the sort of conditions where they would make all the difference. --- 2006 Defender 110 SW 300Tdi • 2011 Ford Ranger XLT crewcab • 2015 Defender 110 Station Wagon Utility TDCi |
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24th May 2020 12:22pm |
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| Likeomg Member Since: 29 Jun 2012 Location: Lake District / Newcastle Posts: 2626
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Before i place the order,
is this exactly what ill need for front and rear defender 90, 2010? Ooops should be 4 bolt. Click image to enlarge |
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26th May 2020 11:38am |
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| Defendermatt Member Since: 15 Sep 2016 Location: Derbyshire Posts: 311
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Id say you're good to go
 1989 90 4.3 V8
2012 L405 OF 2014 D4 HSE Lux (SOLD) 2015 90 HT (SOLD) @d9o.mf |
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26th May 2020 11:51am |
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| Inigo Member Since: 13 Nov 2011 Location: Kent Posts: 614
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I've got a pegged rear built up by Ashcroft and a front done by Xcess4x4 both with Ashcroft ATBs. Quality of both is good, Nige's attention to detail is probably better and he is very good at giving advice on what is needed or not and recommended upgrades. Also, small details like his super pinion flange help.
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26th May 2020 11:58am |
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