200tdi. just how weak are the rear diffs?
Discussion
As with any car there are horror stories out there. I've been browsing discos and there are big price difference between the 200tdi and the 300tdi. I know there are slight difference in the engine and costmetic upgrades. But I also know the rear diff is different on the 200. I've been told by the man in the pub that it is a real weak point and will break on me.
What I want to hear is that I'd have to be doing some pretty serious off roading to break it and that for normal green lanes, farm land and mayby a little light P&P it will be fine.
What I want to hear is that I'd have to be doing some pretty serious off roading to break it and that for normal green lanes, farm land and mayby a little light P&P it will be fine.
The diff itself is pretty much the same. In fact even the ones in the D2 and current Defender are largely still pre war Rover P4 items.
The difference is older ones use 10 spline axles and newer ones 24 spline. Some will claim that the 24 spline ones are stronger, which they are. But only in the same way biscuit is stronger than wafer.
In the grand scheme of 4x4's and off roading Landy axles of any type are pretty weak.
Will you break one? Well who knows. As a rule they are more vunerable with bigger heavier tyres. The trend these days and especially for Challenge event trucks or off roading in the US is to run wide 33-35" or even 37" tall tyres. As stock Disco's only had 28" tall tyres on.
Then it depends on the type of use and to some extent your driving ability/sympathy. Going up a steep slope wiu tree roots or a ridge/step part way up can easily bust a diff. But this is not normal green land driving. This is more competion or maybe pay and play sites.
So if you stick to more moderate tyre sizes and drive careful with a bit of luck you'll probably not have an issue. But it is easily done. I did a front diff in the other year while setting out an RTV trial. Two weekends back at a trial someone bust a rear diff on a 90. And over the years I've seen them busted on a number of occasions, including a Disco 2.
Good thing is they are quite cheap 2nd hand and not too bad to fit.
If you want you can upgrade them with aftermarket parts. But it can get very pricey.
So in short. Yes they can break. But honestly I really wouldn't worry about it
far worse things can happen off road.
The difference is older ones use 10 spline axles and newer ones 24 spline. Some will claim that the 24 spline ones are stronger, which they are. But only in the same way biscuit is stronger than wafer.
In the grand scheme of 4x4's and off roading Landy axles of any type are pretty weak.
Will you break one? Well who knows. As a rule they are more vunerable with bigger heavier tyres. The trend these days and especially for Challenge event trucks or off roading in the US is to run wide 33-35" or even 37" tall tyres. As stock Disco's only had 28" tall tyres on.
Then it depends on the type of use and to some extent your driving ability/sympathy. Going up a steep slope wiu tree roots or a ridge/step part way up can easily bust a diff. But this is not normal green land driving. This is more competion or maybe pay and play sites.
So if you stick to more moderate tyre sizes and drive careful with a bit of luck you'll probably not have an issue. But it is easily done. I did a front diff in the other year while setting out an RTV trial. Two weekends back at a trial someone bust a rear diff on a 90. And over the years I've seen them busted on a number of occasions, including a Disco 2.
Good thing is they are quite cheap 2nd hand and not too bad to fit.
If you want you can upgrade them with aftermarket parts. But it can get very pricey.
So in short. Yes they can break. But honestly I really wouldn't worry about it
far worse things can happen off road.Good old wives tale about 10 vs 24 spline diffs and shafts.
Ashcrofts did a set of trials and there wasnt much difference between the torque require to break a 10 and 24 spline shaft. The 24 spline could take a bit more twist before breaking.
http://www.ashcroft-transmissions.co.uk/category_9...
The 300tdi / 200tdi diffs are the same except for the centre splines.
Most diffs blow because one wheel is spinning faster than the Enterprise chasing a Klingon starship and the planet gears explode when the tyre gets grip.
200tdi diffs are older than 300tdi so have done more miles and therefore more wear.
I would be more worried about corrosion than mechanicals on a 200tdi disco !!
Ashcrofts did a set of trials and there wasnt much difference between the torque require to break a 10 and 24 spline shaft. The 24 spline could take a bit more twist before breaking.
http://www.ashcroft-transmissions.co.uk/category_9...
The 300tdi / 200tdi diffs are the same except for the centre splines.
Most diffs blow because one wheel is spinning faster than the Enterprise chasing a Klingon starship and the planet gears explode when the tyre gets grip.
200tdi diffs are older than 300tdi so have done more miles and therefore more wear.
I would be more worried about corrosion than mechanicals on a 200tdi disco !!
C Lee Farquar said:
budrover said:
I would be more worried about corrosion than mechanicals on a 200tdi disco !!
Indeed, if you buy a spare diff make sure you pull back the carpet and check the floor before putting it in the boot. The boot floor can rust, but it's not structural (bit like a sunroof isn't) and the seat belt mountings don't attach to it. It's also easy to fix and/or replace.
300bhp/ton said:
C Lee Farquar said:
budrover said:
I would be more worried about corrosion than mechanicals on a 200tdi disco !!
Indeed, if you buy a spare diff make sure you pull back the carpet and check the floor before putting it in the boot. The boot floor can rust, but it's not structural (bit like a sunroof isn't) and the seat belt mountings don't attach to it. It's also easy to fix and/or replace.
jagracer said:
300bhp/ton said:
C Lee Farquar said:
budrover said:
I would be more worried about corrosion than mechanicals on a 200tdi disco !!
Indeed, if you buy a spare diff make sure you pull back the carpet and check the floor before putting it in the boot. The boot floor can rust, but it's not structural (bit like a sunroof isn't) and the seat belt mountings don't attach to it. It's also easy to fix and/or replace.
300bhp/ton said:
jagracer said:
300bhp/ton said:
C Lee Farquar said:
budrover said:
I would be more worried about corrosion than mechanicals on a 200tdi disco !!
Indeed, if you buy a spare diff make sure you pull back the carpet and check the floor before putting it in the boot. The boot floor can rust, but it's not structural (bit like a sunroof isn't) and the seat belt mountings don't attach to it. It's also easy to fix and/or replace.
jagracer said:
300bhp/ton said:
jagracer said:
300bhp/ton said:
C Lee Farquar said:
budrover said:
I would be more worried about corrosion than mechanicals on a 200tdi disco !!
Indeed, if you buy a spare diff make sure you pull back the carpet and check the floor before putting it in the boot. The boot floor can rust, but it's not structural (bit like a sunroof isn't) and the seat belt mountings don't attach to it. It's also easy to fix and/or replace.
300bhp/ton said:
jagracer said:
300bhp/ton said:
jagracer said:
300bhp/ton said:
C Lee Farquar said:
budrover said:
I would be more worried about corrosion than mechanicals on a 200tdi disco !!
Indeed, if you buy a spare diff make sure you pull back the carpet and check the floor before putting it in the boot. The boot floor can rust, but it's not structural (bit like a sunroof isn't) and the seat belt mountings don't attach to it. It's also easy to fix and/or replace.
Edited by jagracer on Friday 21st May 21:22
300bhp/ton said:
The difference is older ones use 10 spline axles and newer ones 24 spline. Some will claim that the 24 spline ones are stronger, which they are. But only in the same way biscuit is stronger than wafer.
You've missed the important difference between 10 & 24spline axles. IIRC the 24spline diff is a 4pin diff hence a lot stronger than the 2pin diff fitted to the 10spline axle.Knobbly tyres & a 2pin diff in a disco will mean driving home in front wheel drive a lot. I once managed to kill two diffs in one days playing. However if your planning a locker I didn't snap that many 10spline shafts & the locker replaces the weak centre of the 2pin diff.
Hooli said:
300bhp/ton said:
The difference is older ones use 10 spline axles and newer ones 24 spline. Some will claim that the 24 spline ones are stronger, which they are. But only in the same way biscuit is stronger than wafer.
You've missed the important difference between 10 & 24spline axles. IIRC the 24spline diff is a 4pin diff hence a lot stronger than the 2pin diff fitted to the 10spline axle.Knobbly tyres & a 2pin diff in a disco will mean driving home in front wheel drive a lot. I once managed to kill two diffs in one days playing. However if your planning a locker I didn't snap that many 10spline shafts & the locker replaces the weak centre of the 2pin diff.
300bhp/ton said:
The boot floor can rust, but it's not structural (bit like a sunroof isn't) and the seat belt mountings don't attach to it. It's also easy to fix and/or replace.
Whilst it's not an MOT failure point it is structural in that it holds things in your boot, or not depending on the holes.Hooli said:
You've missed the important difference between 10 & 24spline axles. IIRC the 24spline diff is a 4pin diff hence a lot stronger than the 2pin diff fitted to the 10spline axle.
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