 | Home > Technical > LT230 with Ashcrooft ATB - looking for opinions |
 
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| CDN38 Member Since: 14 Nov 2014 Location: Courtenay, BC Posts: 729   
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My Lt230 may be needing a rebuild, or better yet replacement with an Ascroft unit. In keeping with my philosophy of "upgrade when you can" I would like to know more about the Ashcroft ATB unit.
If I go down the new center diff road, I would look at the sleeved casing (did it on my 90 when I had it... never leaked 
Do i ditch the Roamerdrive and go with the 1.2 gear set? ATB? would like to hear from people that have the ATB. Looks like lots of pros to have it, are there any cons? How would you have your LT230 built ? I do a fair amount of motorway driving, extending the gear range is important, but not at the sake of reliability. The ECU is chipped, it's got plenty of power, I have already had 1 Roamerdrive failure, and feel it's the weakest link. I do lots of winter driving in snow and slippery conditions, and from what I read the ATB shines in these conditions. Does it create some of the handling issues like an LSD on corners when you loose traction? Looking forward to hearing comments and about experience from the collective.  it's a Landrover thing...
my renovation thread: http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic40792.html |
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22nd Jun 2019 5:48pm |
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| Hufflepuff Member Since: 25 Oct 2014 Location: Hampshire Posts: 723  
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For me, the 1.2 ratio transfer box for a td5 was one of the best mods I did - even without the remap. It does make first gear a little longer than ideal, but in my opinion this is only an issue if you are towing.
It makes motorway mileage more relaxed with lower noise from the engine, and 70mph cruising is now an option (although I find mine is less stressed at about 67 mph with 33" tyres). I didn't get any change in economy though, so I wouldn't do it based on economy grounds. 2005 Td5 90 XS 1989 V8 110 CSW |
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22nd Jun 2019 7:45pm |
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| jst Member Since: 14 Jan 2008 Location: Taunton Posts: 7682 
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1.3? Cheers
James 110 XS Utility 130 Puma Station wagon/camper (in the making) 90 Puma Hardtop |
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22nd Jun 2019 10:18pm |
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| jst Member Since: 14 Jan 2008 Location: Taunton Posts: 7682
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I personally don't see the point of an atb centre diff on a defender. Locked or unlocked depending on conditions. I ran a 1.4 in my td5 on 31s, plus gkn overdrive. I didn't want the 1.2 as I did a fair amount of towing in hilly areas, but 1.4 and overdrive worked well for me. Cheers
James 110 XS Utility 130 Puma Station wagon/camper (in the making) 90 Puma Hardtop |
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22nd Jun 2019 10:21pm |
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| diesel_jim Member Since: 13 Oct 2008 Location: hiding Posts: 6031  
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Yup.... here: ------> https://www.ashcroft-transmissions.co.uk/index.php |
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22nd Jun 2019 10:45pm |
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| mrd1990 Member Since: 16 Aug 2012 Location: Wales Posts: 600  
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I've also got the 1.3 ratio with ATB... transparent on road in terms of handing and it has eliminated backlash. Best decision in my opinion! No brainier.
Apparently the standard diff is a weak point on the slippy stuff due to friction welding its self to the pins when unlocked. Went with 1.3 instead of 1.2 as I tow stuff. In the gearbox I have the 5% higher fifth gear so at motorway speed I ahve more or less the same RPM as the 1.2. |
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22nd Jun 2019 11:29pm |
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| CDN38 Member Since: 14 Nov 2014 Location: Courtenay, BC Posts: 729
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So, if I understand this correctly, the ATB keeps both a front wheel, and a rear wheel in traction at all times, correct? it's a Landrover thing...
my renovation thread: http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic40792.html |
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23rd Jun 2019 2:47am |
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| mrd1990 Member Since: 16 Aug 2012 Location: Wales Posts: 600
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I believe it is torque based, the harder you accelerate the closer to a 40:60 split of power you get.
No acceleration = acts as open diff |
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23rd Jun 2019 3:09am |
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| bankz5152 Member Since: 02 Feb 2017 Location: South London/North Kent Posts: 2065 
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Spot on. As I have 285/75 tyres a 1.2 would have overgeared it slightly where as the 1.3 sits exactly where I want. As for "diff is locked or not" its a great bonus to have the ATB when you havnt time to hit difflock. Its aslo a lot more fun in sand and gravel
A few of the big hills here i forgot to put it in difflock but with the ATB i didnt need too Instagram @defender_ventures Empire Tuning - Agent |
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23rd Jun 2019 8:06am |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 16858 
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The main advantage of the lt230 atb in my book is that it is a much more robust unit than the stock centre diff.
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23rd Jun 2019 9:54am |
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| nosnibod Member Since: 15 Aug 2007 Location: West Midlands Posts: 365 
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For my new 300tdi build I've specified a centre ATB in sleeved case (intermediate shaft and bearings) - for exactly the reasons of robustness blackwolf referred to. I've also specified front and rear ATBs, because I didn't want traction control or ABS. The reduction in backlash is also a consideration.
We are lucky now to have a choice of ratios but I've decided to stay with a 1.4:1. I tow a fairly heavy caravan and tend to stick at 55-60 so I wanted ratios appropriate for that. My remapped Td5 struggled with 1.2:1 when towing the caravan - it was okay on the flat and very slight motorway inclines but really needed 4th to be comfortable. I swapped the 1.2 back to a 1.4 and it was a lot better, especially when pulling away in 1st. I was happy with a 1.4 when driving solo too - I tend to stick at 65ish on the motorway and with decent soundproofing it's perfectly fine. So for the forthcoming 300tdi after a fair bit of pondering I've gone with a 1.4:1 - even though the engine will be slightly tweaked by Ian at IRB. Dave Gracie - 2015 110 XS County Station Wagon Last edited by nosnibod on 23rd Jun 2019 3:49pm. Edited 1 time in total |
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23rd Jun 2019 10:28am |
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| jst Member Since: 14 Jan 2008 Location: Taunton Posts: 7682
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Cool, didn't know they did a 1.3 option. Cheers
James 110 XS Utility 130 Puma Station wagon/camper (in the making) 90 Puma Hardtop |
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23rd Jun 2019 2:44pm |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 16858
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By a curious coincidence I am currently building up an ATB transfer box at the moment as a spare for my Defender.
There is no downside to the ATB that I can see. |
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23rd Jun 2019 3:06pm |
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| CDN38 Member Since: 14 Nov 2014 Location: Courtenay, BC Posts: 729
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I think other than the cost, it's kind of a no brainier. Then again "in for a penny, in for a pound" right?.
The 1.3 ratio would probably be a perfect fit being I am running 33's. it's a Landrover thing... my renovation thread: http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic40792.html |
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24th Jun 2019 2:59am |
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