Series Land Rover Axles and Differentials
There were a number of different Axles fitted to series land rovers. There were a number of variations for different years, applications and markets. I'm hoping to document the basic types as well as some of the more interesting variations and types. Hopefully I will be able to add some technical information as well. Eventually I will give each axle type its own page. Check back for updates
This is the standard rover differential fitted to the vast majority of series trucks. This differential was initially used in rover cars and is a very old design (circa 30s). Ironicaly its still used today. This differential most commonly fitted with a 2 pin carrier and 10 spline side gears but in some cases 24 spline side gears were used. Very early units had a longer tailhousing and had 4.88:1 ratios. The vast majority are 4.7:1 ratio. The newer units are 3.54:1. The units used in the rover P4 cars were 3.90:1 ratio which is once was a common swap for Land Rovers. Aftermarket 4.10:1 ratio gears are available as well. Aftermarket 4 pin carriers, hypoid conversions and other parts are readily available for this diff. This differential and the common 10 spline axles are reknowned for breaking . . .
This is the second most common type of differential fitted to series rovers. Its called the salsbury. It was developed from a Dana/Timken design and is essentially the same as a Dana 60 unit. It is significantly stronger than the rover style diff. Rover started fitting these to trucks as early as the late fifties, but they werent used in production vehicles until the late seventies. Most commonly it was used in the rear of long wheelbase trucks. The same 4.7:1 ratio was used as the rover diffs. 24 spline 1.25 in diameter were standard in these axles. Other heavy duty applications called for salsbury front axles which are very rare today. These salsbury fronts were found in some ambulances, some armoured cars and the 101 forward control. The 101salsburies use a lower 5.xx:1 gearset with 6 bolt hubs, a wider track, welded on swivels, 22 spline axles and very large birfield CV style joints in the front end. A host of ratios, lockers, traction diffs side gears and so on can be fitted from the Dana 60 range.
This is the ENV axle which was used by Land Rover in heavy duty applications. Most commonly these were fitted to SIIB forward controls, and 109 normal control "one ton" pickups. They also found their way into Shoreland Armoured Cars, 101 forward control prototypes. Rumour has it is was also fitted to the rear of a number of Austrailian trucks (as they would not put up with the weak/tempermental rover diffs) Its a very strong and very compact design (2 inches shorter than a rover diff from nose to tail and 4 shorter than a salsbury) These axles were normally fitted with inch and 3/8ths 10 spline (huge) side gears and 24 spline outers.
The front ENVs have bolt on swivels (unlike the 101 salsburies) but the joints that were used are stock size. These axles came in two different widths. The SIIB FCs have a wider track ENV than the normal control versions and they are also spring over axle in the back. I will add more on these axles soon as I'm going to be swapping a pair of them into Babe the Blue Ox soon.
These are tracta joints as fitted to early series one land rovers. Originally developed by the french inventor Jean Pierre Gregoire in the late 1920's this type of joint was the first constant velocity joint and enabled the development of the first front wheel drive cars in the 30s. Among Land Rovers, these joints were used mostly on 80 inch models although some of them found their way into early 86 and 107 inch models. These joints are quite strong and are constant velocity unlike conventional Universal joints (which were used in later models) Unfortunately these are rather expensive to produce and rover dropped them for U-joints. This type of joint was also used in early Power Wagons and some Jeeps. They are very cool parts.
This is a Timken Axle (or early salsbury). here its fitted to a prototype 129 inch normal control pickup. These axles differ from salsburies in only minor detail. This unit is interestingly spring over axle and also appears to be a different width than the normal units. These are the earliest type of salsburies. You probably wont run accross one of these but its interesting to see the oddballs.
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These Pictures are of The Axles used in a Roadless or "Forest Rover" Conversion. These land rovers were fitted with special bodies to accomidate the massive 28 inch rims and huge tractor tires. The axles are rumores to be modified studebaker military truck axles. Howver you can see they feature hub reduction, a 6 bolt wheel pattern, an oval shaped diff and other interesting details not found in any other production land rover.
More to come soon, including:
-Additional info on all axle types
-Line drawing schematics
-Semi Floating series one axles
- 101 FC axle info
-Lightweight differences
-Technical specs on axles (ratios, WMS etc)
-Series rover hubs and splindles
-Brakes
-And much more!!