Disco stock axle strength???

HH60Gunner · 11-03-2009, 10:52 AM

I'm a former Jeep guy and don't know much about disco's. I'm looking to buy a late 90's disco here in the next few months and had some questions. What size of tires can stock disco axels take w/o breaking? Perferably with at least a rear locker. Also do they make chromoly axle shafts for them? Also any suggested suspension kits for disco's out there? My goal is to run about 33-35" tires, and have no problems trimming some fenders if needed. I'm thinking about a 4-6" lift kit if any companies make them.

lutz · 11-03-2009, 12:07 PM

stock axles only good for open diff and tires no bigger then 32's.theres a few companys that make axles and lift kits . do some searching and you will find alot of info.

Kyle_T · 11-03-2009, 12:33 PM

stick with jeep if you want 35"s without spending a ton. toy conversion is going to be a good option for what you want to do.

stock axles will break with 31's, at least a front birf will. ive seen it. not even being hard on it...

keep it low, they are more top heavy than others... search www.discoweb.org then come back when you are ready to start cutting and welding.

BigBlueToy · 11-03-2009, 02:53 PM

I just got a drum brake Salisbury for $200, that should hold up fine . Still waiting for that front axle to pop. Either I wheel like a girl or I am a good (lucky) driver. Its gonna happen eventually. Guess I am just wheeling on borrowed time. Remember that a Rover has very little in common with a Jeep.

HH60Gunner · 11-03-2009, 04:21 PM

Any ideas on what would make good replacement axles? D60, D44, 9"??? Also would there be any certain year off of a certain vehicle that would work better? The rig I intend to build up would be pretty much a trail only rig, that I would most likely tow to the trail. If it turned out to be street legal too that would be nice though. I can do bolt on type shit and did most my own stuff on my old XJ before I sold it, but I do know a few people more skilled then myself that could help with welding / fabrication.

michaels · 11-03-2009, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HH60Gunner

Any ideas on what would make good replacement axles? D60, D44, 9"??? Also would there be any certain year off of a certain vehicle that would work better? The rig I intend to build up would be pretty much a trail only rig, that I would most likely tow to the trail. If it turned out to be street legal too that would be nice though. I can do bolt on type shit and did most my own stuff on my old XJ before I sold it, but I do know a few people more skilled then myself that could help with welding / fabrication.

rover after market stuff is good to 35s locked. i'm assuming this is for a DI. if i'm not mistaken, the speedo isn't calibrated through wheel speed sensors, so swap in whatever axles your budget and experience dictate. i'd just do the toy coversion from keith. you'll spend about $4000 total on the axles complete that way with gears, and ARBs. you can significantly alter that price by putting an aussie or lockright in the rear, but just remember you HAVE to have a selectable locker up front.

i'm on 33s on stock stuff running on borrowed time in a DII. i have spare axles, a hub, and diff ready to go if something blows on the trail...

BigBlueToy · 11-03-2009, 04:57 PM

Wheel it til it breaks! you would be surprised how tough stock stuff can actually be, its not the ticking time bomb some people would have you believe. Head to the scrap yard and pick up some spare shafts and CVs and a spare diff, this will all probably cost you $50. Carry them in the back of your truck when you head off road and be prepared to fix something if it breaks. Way cheaper than all that fancy aftermarket stuff. When you get tired of breaking and changing stock parts, then its time to beef up. Unless your racing in the KOH you can probably afford half an hour to swap a busted half shaft on the trail side.

PTSchram · 11-03-2009, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lutz

stock axles only good for open diff and tires no bigger then 32's.

Where the Hell did you hear this? AFIRover is running 35s and his axles have not been the weak link, the diff carriers have been though. My '93 SWB when I got it had 10-spline axles in the rear... The diff carrier was sheared off at the ring gear. The axles are fine.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kyle_T

stock axles will break with 31's, at least a front birf will. ive seen it. not even being hard on it...

I have a wheeled truck with 230K miles on it. 32" tires, original CV joints. I wheeled it HARD and never had a CV joint (birfield) problem.

No, you can't beat on them forever, but they aren't as frail as so many will lead you to believe.

A "late 90s" Disco will serve most wheelers well, even in stock form.

Run the stock stuff, don't lift it too far, drive it!

michaels · 11-03-2009, 06:33 PM

what does everyone use to extra broken peices from the housing?

KevinNY · 11-03-2009, 07:34 PM

Is AFI locked? Because I have seen numerous broken rear axles with 33's locked, and those drivers were smart enough to keep spares in the rig.

BigBlueToy · 11-03-2009, 07:36 PM

9.00-r16s on 10 spline 4.7s no lockers but plenty of beating on them, nothing broken...yet. I think it helps that the 9.00s dont have the traction of sticky rubber, the tire slips before anything breaks.

11-03-2009, 10:52 AM	#1
HH60Gunner Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Member # 95583 Posts: 6	Disco stock axle strength??? I'm a former Jeep guy and don't know much about disco's. I'm looking to buy a late 90's disco here in the next few months and had some questions. What size of tires can stock disco axels take w/o breaking? Perferably with at least a rear locker. Also do they make chromoly axle shafts for them? Also any suggested suspension kits for disco's out there? My goal is to run about 33-35" tires, and have no problems trimming some fenders if needed. I'm thinking about a 4-6" lift kit if any companies make them.

11-03-2009, 12:33 PM	#3
Kyle_T Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Member # 69765 Location: Fort Worth, TEXAS Posts: 320	stick with jeep if you want 35"s without spending a ton. toy conversion is going to be a good option for what you want to do. stock axles will break with 31's, at least a front birf will. ive seen it. not even being hard on it... keep it low, they are more top heavy than others... search www.discoweb.org then come back when you are ready to start cutting and welding. __________________ ~ Kyle 1999 Land Rover Discovery II - Lift, Tires, Stuff. Last edited by Kyle_T; 11-03-2009 at 12:33 PM.

11-03-2009, 04:57 PM	#7
BigBlueToy Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Member # 88052 Location: Montreal Posts: 562	Wheel it til it breaks! you would be surprised how tough stock stuff can actually be, its not the ticking time bomb some people would have you believe. Head to the scrap yard and pick up some spare shafts and CVs and a spare diff, this will all probably cost you $50. Carry them in the back of your truck when you head off road and be prepared to fix something if it breaks. Way cheaper than all that fancy aftermarket stuff. When you get tired of breaking and changing stock parts, then its time to beef up. Unless your racing in the KOH you can probably afford half an hour to swap a busted half shaft on the trail side. Last edited by BigBlueToy; 11-03-2009 at 05:00 PM.

11-03-2009, 07:34 PM	#10
KevinNY Registered User Join Date: Aug 2005 Member # 52706 Location: Guilderland, NY Posts: 217	Is AFI locked? Because I have seen numerous broken rear axles with 33's locked, and those drivers were smart enough to keep spares in the rig. __________________ The Goat, '73 Series III coiler, PS, Daihatsu 2.8 Td, locked and HD stuff, swampers, yada yada yadaa

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11-03-2009, 12:07 PM	#2
lutz Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Member # 138875 Posts: 9	stock axles only good for open diff and tires no bigger then 32's.theres a few companys that make axles and lift kits . do some searching and you will find alot of info.

11-03-2009, 02:53 PM	#4
BigBlueToy Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Member # 88052 Location: Montreal Posts: 562	I just got a drum brake Salisbury for $200, that should hold up fine . Still waiting for that front axle to pop. Either I wheel like a girl or I am a good (lucky) driver. Its gonna happen eventually. Guess I am just wheeling on borrowed time. Remember that a Rover has very little in common with a Jeep.

11-03-2009, 04:21 PM	#5
HH60Gunner Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Member # 95583 Posts: 6	Any ideas on what would make good replacement axles? D60, D44, 9"??? Also would there be any certain year off of a certain vehicle that would work better? The rig I intend to build up would be pretty much a trail only rig, that I would most likely tow to the trail. If it turned out to be street legal too that would be nice though. I can do bolt on type shit and did most my own stuff on my old XJ before I sold it, but I do know a few people more skilled then myself that could help with welding / fabrication.

11-03-2009, 06:33 PM	#9
michaels Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Member # 99425 Location: auburn, al. Posts: 241	what does everyone use to extra broken peices from the housing?

11-03-2009, 07:36 PM	#11
BigBlueToy Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Member # 88052 Location: Montreal Posts: 562	9.00-r16s on 10 spline 4.7s no lockers but plenty of beating on them, nothing broken...yet. I think it helps that the 9.00s dont have the traction of sticky rubber, the tire slips before anything breaks.