defender front axle - differences between early and late

[Matt_H]

I'm looking at a some complete ends off a 1997 defender axle, i.e. swivels, discs, cv, drive shaft.  Can I simply replace the ones on my 1987 90, i.e. are the drive shafts the same size, teeth and length?  Is the swivel bolt pattern the same.

I really can't be bothered spending £200 to rebuild both swivels as I've a suspicion the CVS may need looking at as well, however I should be able to get the assemblies complete off a second hand car for no more.

Thanks in advance
Matthew

[Wolfie]

No they'll be different, you'll have a 10 spline diff in an '87 the '97 will be the 23(?) spline diff.

You mught be able to cobble parts together that would work but I couldn't say for sure. I think you could use your existing sharts, CVs and Drive flanges on the swivel assemblies from the later car, but if you are unhappy with your CVs anyway that isn't an option.

If you got the '97 diff as well, I think (but stand to be corrected) you could fit that into your existing casing. But if you did that you might as well try to get the axle complete.

There are a lot of advantages to the later axle, especially if it has vented discs. The upper bearing is also (in my view) an improvement over the Railko bush.

Were they still using chrome swivels on '97 cars?

Regards

Wolfie

[Matt_H]

ta fer that - I'll look for compelte axles then :-)

Matthew

[Range Rover Blues]

The 200 TDi axles won't take a standard LR alloy wheel, the CV joint looks longer and sticks out through the wheel centre cap, 300TDi axles will take alloys, have vented disks and shorter CV, though the 200 is meant to be the strongest.  You might be able to use the swivel ball and knuckle from a later axle but you want to keep your stub axles and cvs/hubs or swap to the later axles if you want alloys.

[Matt_H]

thanks fer that - I just picked up a pair of 200tdi axles for £67 complete :-)

I can pull those apart in the garage and rebuild them if they need it and still leave the other on the road :)

Matthew