steering and diff protection

[anaxemurderer]

Really should be buying some protection for my bobtail. Got a couple of questions?

Who's the best place to buy wrap around diffguards from (thinking wrap around at back pan guard at front)?

Should i get steering guard or sumo/dan bars, bearing in mind i intend fitting 11" front shocks. (on my 90 the drag link fouls the steering guard).

Who does decent but reasonably priced steering guards or sumo bars

Cheers for your help

Nick
3.5 V8 bobtail RRC

[Range Rover Blues]

At Donnington I saw a few stalls selling a wraparound diff guard like the QT type but welded to a clamp-on type diff guard so the best of both worlds.

[Guardian.]

diff guards!
just a bit of info from me man with l/r garage
he says the clamp on diff guards are not good, good as a guard goes but! when you tighten them up they can cause the casing or the thin diff cover to distort and then leak, especially if your bolting them onto an old axle.
he repairs regularly axles because of this reason, he welds in one of them replacement heavy duty cases i think they are about 4mm with a thick strip welded around the front edge, as opposed to the bean tin land rover use.
never used them or any other type, but just a thought for who ever, when ever your after buying diff guards.

[anaxemurderer]

If i put a pan type guard on i will spot weld it in place (avoiding problems with distorting pan or it coming off).

Pretty sure i will get pan type for front (to preserve ground clearance) and wrap around at back (becuase there is less control of where rear diff is).

I seem to recall a thread on this forum which had a link for a company which did wrap arounds at a good price. Something like '4x4 r us' but i can't find it or them!

cheers for help as always

Nick

[Guardian.]

type winch bumper into ebay and they come up and have them guards in there shop.

[Dave Rogers]

Hi
Try Mill Services, chap's called Richard, made my diff guards and I've hammered mine to death, diffs still going despite bouncing off rocks!

Have a look on the web, great products, well engineered and cheaper than scrap iron :)

[Jim-Willy]

Sumo bars imho, steering guards are rubbish ive bent my steering 3 times with a guard on.  I have h/d steering rods to fit now.....

I have cheap rebel diff guards, the pan covers rather than the slider type, never had any problems with them.....

[clbarclay]

Typical steering guards only ever protect half the steering at best anyway, the rear tie rod (and damper) will still be very prone to damage.

I've used clamp on diff guards in the past without any problems, though I would sooner weld in HD replacements instead (though thats time consuming).



I currently just use a southdown axle guard which bolts on using the radius arm bolts providing excelent protection to the diff, axle, tie rod and damper leaving a smooth surface that can slide over surfaces whilst providing a degree of protection to the drag link and propshaft as well. The main down side I find is that its a hellish mud trap, the reduction in under axle clearence has not too noticeable so far (used with 32" tyres).

[anaxemurderer]

Really not a fan of the 'axle gaurd' thing. Had a mate driving 90 with one of these, pretty much identical to my truck at the time but got stuck all the time. Clearance under diffs is too critical. It would have stopped me bending track rod though. But then thats what happens.

By the by i now have steering guard from rebel, pan type guard on front and qt at back. Works well but might get some sumo's later. Challenger 4x4 seem to do them at a reasonable price.

Nick

[jjsaul]

ive got an axle guard and an equipe steering guard, and a heavy duty track rod with no damper...

maybe a bit overkill but ive just spent a weeks offroading in woodland with tree stumps everywhere...no damage so i guess its done the trick!

[anaxemurderer]

Yeah those high stumps can be a real killer.... i blame those modern harvesters... (insert rant about modern forestry kit).

You must get stuck quite often though with the weight of all that metal work!

Nick