How many Rover Axels have you broken?

[RockRover]

I had about a 4 year run with stock axles. Never popped a single one. I attributed it to a light foot and smooth driving. Then it started happening. I was popping axles all over the place. I think the SSR's had something to do with that too, but primarily I attribute it to increased driving skills that brought me to places I initially would never have gone...And lines that I, in the beginning, would have labeled ludicrous.

The first was on Launching Pad in Moab...Right rear...Typical. The second was a testing section behind my house...Again right rear.

I wrote off the breakage as a fluke, then I lost three on one 1/16th mile run (Patriot, on the Independence trail system). Two right rears and a CV. I bought the GBR HD rear axles.

Then, again while on the "behind my house" testing section, I lost two front CV's.

Then I twisted a GBR the last day in Cruses (Roticillo Rapids)...Didn't loose a CV though...But two months later at the Twist-Off I lost a fatigued (from Cruses) CV. Then two day's later in Moab, I lost a front R&P. At that point I said enough's enough, and committed to running 60's.

All the above breakage happend in a 2 year period (two seasons) with 4:7 gears and 35's (Dunlop Rover MT's 33.5", and SSR's.)

[RVR OVR]

Never snapped one myself, but lent out my spare to somebody who did. He had a rear detroit, and only 235/85's w/Goodyear MTR's. However, the miles on the original stock axle were quite high, but only about 1 years worth on the Detroit.

Tom

[GRNRVR]

I haven't broken one yet.. knocking on wood.. But, I would attribute that mostly to that fact that I am still learning what my Discovery can do and what I can do for that matter. I'm not heavy footed on the gas but, I'm also running little 225/75 tires on all stock drive train.. Little tires look pretty funny with the 4 inches of lift. Getting new tires soon so I'm sure that breakage isn't far from my future.

[roverhybrids]

2 trips on the Rubicon and 1 on Fordyce. plus some local stuff(not too much rock) all with stock drive train and 35" SSR's.
Blew rear spiders gears crawling up a small hill.(they must have been fatigued.)
Replaced with f&r ARB's, GBR 4.75 gears and the rear 30 spline summers bros axles.
Broke front short side axle in Moab at the rock pile. It was just getting dark and in the rain. I tried a different line on the right side. Got the front tires on top but couldn't get it to go the rest of the way(too slick) Hooked a strap on the front from someone already up top and when he pulled I gased hard and it loaded my front end(real steep hill) and didn't give me any forward movement. So basically as soon as the clutch came out the short side front axle went "snap" and I went "*&%$** that was stupid"

[Jtisdale]

I run GBR HD rears 4:10s and stock front CVs. Havent broken one yet. Probably two reasons, MT/Rs only measure 34.4 and I only turn on my front ARB for the short section I need it to get through. I'm sure as my CVs get more fatigued one will go...hopefully they will survive Cruces next month! Oh yeah...I'm not a throttle jockey either!

JT

[RockRover]

Hey John...Is your measurement of the MT actual, or is that the spec on the tire? I've heard they are shorter than that...Especially on a 10" rim.

--D

[winterhk]

Stock I broke the rear diff. Replaced with a detroit. Then I twisted a stock long axle in the rear and got GBR HD. Then at 85-90k, running 235/85 I broke three front shafts and three CVs on five different occasions. Got some CVs from the junker and mine broke at ~90k, so it was expected for all of those. Then I bought GBR HD fronts and CV cages. I used all of my CV parts and my new cages to make the best CVs I could. When I upped to 34s and front TT with GBR 4.75s, I sheared two GBR fronts when the CV stars broke from my excessive braking to lock up the TT. It would pop the snap ring and as the shaft floated back into the diff and out of the CV, it would shear.(pic underneath) I adapted my driving style appropriately...but broke my camshaft, exploding my motor when I was over 2k miles from home. Since last April, with a 4.6 and 35s, I've not broken nor twisted an axle or CV. I just really want the McNamara Birfield kit before it happens, cause it's just going to, I know it.

BTW Doug, did you get my mail about McNamara?

Brian

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/pf04397b9f4507f0f9039511d4cd7eeea/fee294a6.jpg.orig.jpg

[Jtisdale]

D

Those are GY specs, I'll check actual sometime this weekend. Are you interested in aired up or down?

JT

[madcowdungbeetle]

Haven't broken anything yet....how, I'm not quite sure, I must not be wheelin' it hard enough:) I'm sure there will be plenty carnage in my future though :nuke: :nuke:

Anyone know where I can find some info on the Macnamara Birfield adapters, I've only heard of them, but don't know much else about them.

-Jon
:rasta:

[Strange Rover]

With 31in tyres and the stock axles I would have broken at least 12 axles over a 6 month period. Most of them rears but also included a couple of fronts. It used to only take me about 7 minutes to change a rear axle on the trail but the fronts were a major PITA.

Oh yea these were the good old 10 spline axles with a very, very light foot. I wouldnt drive anywhere with wheel spin (unless I really had to :D ) and all the new axles were just crap ones (all 10 spline axles are crap) from the wreckers.

I now run stock scout II Dana 44s front and rear with 4.09s (should have gone lower) and 36 inch tyres. I have been belting the piss outa these axles and have broken one rear in the last 4 months since I did the swap. But I really did deserve it.

Sam

[Jtisdale]

Hey madcowdungbeetle, where do you wheel. I grew up in Charlotte and used to go to tellico all the time!

JT

[madcowdungbeetle]

I wheel at Uwharrie for the most part. I haven't been to Tellico yet, mainly because I want to beef up my drivetrain and armor up the Disco a 'lil more before I go. At some point I'd like to do Moab and some of the trails out west.

-Jon
:rasta:

[road1will]

none yet, KOW...

as we all pray to the god of detroit lockers and 10 spline land rover axles... may you coexist in harmony and peace, for when you are in disagreement, hell is unleashed within the world that is the rear axle. if you must fight, axles, may you break cleanly and on level ground!

:D :D :D

[RockRover]

Originally posted by Jtisdale
D

Those are GY specs, I'll check actual sometime this weekend. Are you interested in aired up or down?

JT

Up...25psi. Are you running 10's or 8's? Either way. They just seemed so short to me when I saw them on Ed Magoffin's rig...Never took a tape and level to them...They surrrre did good in Cruses a couple of years ago.

--D

[RockRover]

Originally posted by winterhk

BTW Doug, did you get my mail about McNamara?

Brian



No...But I left work on Friday...My home e-mail is dmarbourg@zianet.com I should warn you however, that I don't check it as often as I should. Work's a much better bet.

-D

[Jtisdale]

D

Running 15x8 and you are right. At ~ 30Lbs my MT/Rs stand just a hair under 34"s tall. The are new so tread depth is at a maximum. I usually run with guys with SSRs(35s) and that is a big tire in comparison, definately a true 35.

JT

[Rover Addiction]

I haven't broken a rear yet because I put in my ARBs and GBR 24 spline axles before I got big tires, but I've trashed about 4 sets of front stuff. Broken both stockers and GBR HD axles and CVs.

Like the rest of you, I'm still looking for that elusive strong front end. I've found that being careful, I can make the GBR front stuff last a while, but it still breaks at bad times. I'm waiting for Bill to make his new super dooper set available. I almost bought the rover 1-ton set from ECR, but that required changing my spindles, bearings, and a whole bunch of other stuff. I guess I still may end up doing that since Bill is taking so long. I'd really prefer to stay with the rover axles since the rear is already strong and they have pretty good clearance. I also like my 2 rovers to use the same parts so I don't have to stock different parts.

-John

[Jtisdale]

I'm eager to see how strong they turn out to be. I like Bill and he knows his stuff, but if I drop close to $1900 on a set of front CVs, either they better come with a lifetime warranty or be indestructable.

IIRC he is just heat treating them and removing any potential imperfections on the star, so they will eventually be prone to stress cracks?

JT

[brianbonner90]

Zero. And I wheel with atleast 1,000lbs in the D90.

i attribute this to a light foot, and 33" tires.

to the first poster, I got confused by your message. you went from 33" MT's to 36" SSR"S? Well that would explain it. but even if you went from 35" BFG to a 36" ssr, the SSR's are a MUCH heavier tire, which may contribute to it.

Another theory? the axles are not being made as well as they used to?

back to my :beer:

BTW been on and off the BBs for a while, I am glad there is finally a LR section

[offroadr35]

2 axles and 2 CVs. I have the GBR HD ones in now and haven't had a problem. I'll never buy a Rover drivetrain part again though. At some time you get to the point where you look at the durability of the stuff and then the price and hassle of replacing it and wonder WTF am I dealing with this??

-Steve

[merv]

6 or 7 rear half shafts with a 2.25 litre n/a diesel :eek:
1 cv, 3 diffs and wrung off the rear prop shaft once. All standard crap, but very cheap to replace ;)

[offroadr35]

always have to rub in how cheap rover parts are across the pond :flipoff2: :flipoff2: ;)

[Way]

2 Stock rear 10 spline axles.
1 stock front CV. Broke the bell.
1 stock 10 spline front axle.
2 GBR "(Not So) Extreme Duty" front CVs. Cracked both bells, completely grenaded the second. The cage went with this one.

I only run 33 x 12.50s on my Range Rover as well. Light on the throttle, heavy on the big rocks.:)

Way

[merv]

Originally posted by Way
2 Stock rear 10 spline axles.
1 stock front CV. Broke the bell.
1 stock 10 spline front axle.
2 GBR "(Not So) Extreme Duty" front CVs. Cracked both bells, completely grenaded the second. The cage went with this one.

I only run 33 x 12.50s on my Range Rover as well. Light on the throttle, heavy on the big rocks.:)

Way

Hah! I did mine in with a set of 235/85's, LOADSA WELLY! :D

anything can be broken when you really put your mind to it!

[Strange Rover]

Big rocks and locked diffs really loads up the drivetrain.

Theres a really simple obstical in my back yard. Slightly down hill, nose one front wheel up to a vertical 2foot high concrete step. With everything locked up you can just feel the load on the drivetrain as everying fights against each other as it tryes to walk one front wheel up the vertical ledge while the rest dont really go anywhere. With everything locked up the one front wheel turns to move up the vertical ledge and the rest try and turn but go nowhere till the front is on top and the rig moves forward. With the lockers in I have to ride the clutch in first and use a fair amount of torque to pop the front wheel up.

With the lockers out and the centre diff locked its much easier but I still have to ride the clutch.

With open diffs front rear and centre it drives it really easily. I can even drive it with my foot off the clutch apply the break till the front wheel touches the vertical ledge and then just touch the accelerator and it idles over it.

Driving with lockers on sticky surfaces breaks shiat even with a very light foot cause the wheels need to travel different distances to drive over stuff.

Sam

[Fear Factory]

I've never lost an axle which is pretty unbelieveable. I have the GBR rears right now and stock front end but the new front GBR is here but I haven't put them in yet. I've been running Q78 (36") swampers and now the 36" SX swampers for about two years. Everyone I four wheel with has broken front and rear axles and stock 2 pin rear diffs, so at leat I've had the pleasure of fixing the stuff.

[winterhk]

Fear Factory, South of Heaven...metal fan, eh?

Nice to see another here.

:vader2:

[tblackj]

You all don't know how bad I hate to ask this but, who or what the hell is GBR? It's probably somebody that every Rovernut knows but I am a lowly Newbie and I need to learn somehow. Whoever GBR is, do they have a website? I am about to put 33" MT/R's on my Classic and I don't want to be breaking axles all the time and it sounds like Rover axles are pure crap.

[Old Scout]

Originally posted by tblackj
You all don't know how bad I hate to ask this but, who or what the hell is GBR? It's probably somebody that every Rovernut knows but I am a lowly Newbie and I need to learn somehow. Whoever GBR is, do they have a website? I am about to put 33" MT/R's on my Classic and I don't want to be breaking axles all the time and it sounds like Rover axles are pure crap.

I hope your wallet is ready:
http://www.greatbasinrovers.com/

[tblackj]

I just checked the GBR website and you weren't kidding about the wallet thing. Holy sh*t! I thought buying the damn Rover was expensive. The expensive part is rigging the thing out. Everyone on this forum must be freakin millionaires! What the hell, did everyone here start a dotcom company in '93? I don't know if my cheap Arkansas butt can afford this Rover.

[road1will]

go dana or go home!

:flipoff2: :flipoff2: :flipoff2:

[winterhk]

Don't know of any millionaires on here. Just be always on the lookout for CV joints and rear axles...stock up cheap when you can. The ARB will keep you from ruining your rear diff, which may be the weakest think on your Rover. Your 10 splines will probably twist before they break so score em and check em. They're floaters, so there's no excuse not to. Just five bolts.

Brian

[Jtisdale]

Brian,

did you break the extreme duty(23 spline) setup or just Bill's heat treated 32 spliners?

Johnathan

[winterhk]

Jon-

I broke the cheap(er) ones just the HD, not the 23 spline non-abs "extreme" ones...

Brian

[rhills]

1 front GBR medium duty (along with cv star, but GBR cage survived)

twisted 1 rear GBR 24 spline

[Serious One]

Hey,

I stayed out of this post because I thought it was a topic that had been beaten to death. It's actually been interesting though reading about everyone's experiences and what they've broken.

I have been VERY VERY lucky. I haven't ever broken a front or a rear axle. So far the truck that I have wheeled the most is my '90 RR that has 24 spline stock axles in the rear, ARB's front/back, and I did an axle swap back in '99 putting in an entire Disco front end from a '96 (I think).

Three years in a row of HARD wheeling that RR loaded HEAVY following the guys from Warn just about everywhere they would dare take me (Pritchett twice now in that damn pig!).

I have broken two rear stock carriers (damn single pin POS!).

I do know that my LF CV is going to snap any day now just from driving around town, it has been pre-stressed to the max. It might even be broken right now, because I hear it clicking and groaning in there. Hasn't bound up yet, so I haven't bothered to change it. I'll just put in a stock CV I have as a spare.

On my 80-inch hybrid, we made up some custom u-joint axles that fit in the stock axle housing, but we had to modify the spindles. The axles are basically D44's with the stronger u-joint. They fit in there nicely, and dont' bind up at full lock slow steering. I don't think I'll have a problem with them in the 80-incher. I will only run 31's (maybe 33's), and I only have about 280hp. I run part-time 2wd on the street to try to keep the stresses off the front end also.

Steven S. had a set of the UJ axles in his 400hp RR with 35's. He shredded the UJ's and yokes on a trail here in Oregon, but that was *after* he stressed the shit out of them on the Rubicon last summer. He's looking for a stronger alternative right now.

Personally, if I were going for the BEEF, I would find some 101 FC axles or a Salisbury front axle from a SIII. Now THOSE are strong.

There are a lot of options for the front CV's, and honestly I don't think any of them are good enough for when you go to 35's and some throttle.

Good luck on the quest for the holy grail! (I'm on the same quest...)

M

[rhills]

M,

can one fit a larger u-joint into a series housing than one can into a d-90 housing?

rich

[Serious One]

Ahhhhhh, yes you can Grashopper! Now you are seeing the evolution of the CV-less coil axle.

It's something that has been cooking for a while. I'll keep you posted as further developents ensue....

M

[Strange Rover]

Originally posted by Serious One
Ahhhhhh, yes you can Grashopper! Now you are seeing the evolution of the CV-less coil axle.

It's something that has been cooking for a while. I'll keep you posted as further developents ensue....

M

You said that the axles are basically D44's with stronger u-joints. What uni joints are you running and are you saying that you can put a d44 axle inside the series housing.

Very interesting!!!:)

Sam

[Serious One]

Hi,

We have had some custom axle shafts made that allow us to run a UJ inside a stock coil swivel ball.

The coil swivel ball is smaller than the series swivel ball, so we're exploring going up a size in UJ's to make some axles that will fit inside some series swivel balls. Not cheap, not easy, but definitely interesting.

I can't remember what UJ's we're running (sorry!).

later,

Michael

[RockRover]

You've got 297x joints in them...Dana 44. Now have you checked out the CTM's over on General Discussion? With a part time conversion and CTM's you'd be in hog heaven! Up to 37" tires that is.

--D

[Serious One]

CTM? CTM? Oh man, please tell me what a CTM is, I'd hate to be missing out on Hog heaven!

Thx!

M

[Strange Rover]

Do a search!!:flipoff2:

You should check these things out they are made from 300M (i think) and have no needle rollers , they run bushes instead so they get a much larger body in the uni.

I dont think anyone has broken one of these yet (for the d44s)

Heard of these thing twisting off warn outer axles so that the uni is no longer the weak link in the front end. And I think they come with a warranty.

But you should do a search on CTM cause there is some really good info on these things over in general.

Sam

[Strange Rover]

Originally posted by Serious One
Hi,

We have had some custom axle shafts made that allow us to run a UJ inside a stock coil swivel ball.

The coil swivel ball is smaller than the series swivel ball, so we're exploring going up a size in UJ's to make some axles that will fit inside some series swivel balls. Not cheap, not easy, but definitely interesting.

I can't remember what UJ's we're running (sorry!).

later,

Michael

Im fairly sure that the series swivel will bolt straight up to the d90 housing so this may let you run the larger unis as well. It will also give you drum brakes.

Also about a year ago a mate of mine machined a d44 hemisphere down and fitted it into a rover third member. (ran the d44 hemisphere with the rover crownwheel in the rover housing) so this could be a easy way to get the 30 spline centre. So with your swivel mod to run the 297x u joint and a d44 hemisphere then all you are left with is the rover crown and pinion.

Sounds like this could be possible. (but still a loot of rooting around)

Sam

[rustycruiser]

When I was growing up in South Africa, all the Rover guys used to run, not walk, but run to the nearest wreckers to try find Toyota Land Cruisers. Axles and gearboxes were always the first things donated to the Rover. But this was on rigs used for expidition type wheeling (where you still break half shafts), not rock crawling with 35" plus tires. Cruisers got their own problems with 35" tires, front locker, and the skinny pedal.

Ross

[tomw]

Originally posted by roverhybrids
Broke front short side axle in Moab at the rock pile. It was just getting dark and in the rain. I tried a different line on the right side. Got the front tires on top but couldn't get it to go the rest of the way(too slick) Hooked a strap on the front from someone already up top and when he pulled I gased hard and it loaded my front end(real steep hill) and didn't give me any forward movement. So basically as soon as the clutch came out the short side front axle went "snap" and I went "*&%$** that was stupid"

I don't know who coulda been pullin you sorry but up that hill :crybaby: :D

Heres my list for two rovers: ( note my series and 101 never broke, but the 101 is stout and the series has HD 24 spliners )

On Disco, not in order:
One set spider gears, stock diff ( fatigue, water? )
One rear 1/2 shaft driver side & ----- ( next line )
One Front 4.7 ( suicide hill, fordyce trail, bought flatbed shortly after! no wheel drive! )
2 front CV's ( fatigue, Moron driver :flipoff2: (me ) )
One Ashcroft HD front long axle ( why??? pretty new! )
One rear 4.75 R&P ( set up bad, broke 2nd day, fixed free )

Then somewhere above got torque limiters, and extreme duty fronts w/ cage/star, also was running ashcroft HD rears w/ no probs

D90:
one diff ( the bloody thing needs oil ya know! )
Then upgraded to rear GBR 30 spliners!

Tomw, all locked up with no place to go!

[CT]

I've figured out why I break diffs (2), lockers (1), axles (2) and CVs (2) - it's either trying to haul bigger trucks than me out of holes/up hills/generally breaking the laws of physics stuff ;-) , or too much gas on with 35's and the front locker in. Now I've just got remember NOT todo those things...

ct

[Way]

Want to see a very expensive GBR paper weight??? I call it the "extreme series" paper weight. :)