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diesel_jim

Member Since: 13 Oct 2008
Location: hiding
Posts: 6092

P38 diff into front axle???

I've had some ideas for my next project, and wondered what the concensus was....

As usual with my projects, I start with the axles. nice and fun

I'll use a normal late 110 rear axle with the P38 diff, going to add the braces a la Wolf XD axles. same on the front.

however, on the front, I was thinking of fitting a P38 diff.... I figure they're stronger than a normal Rover diff (otherwise why would LR use them in P38's and 110's??)

Looking at a Rover diff vs. a P38, the depth looks the same, and I've got the chance of an old P38 axle case, so I could cut out the retaining "ring" bit and weld this onto a normal 90/110 front axle to fit the diff in. Halfshafts look to be the saame dimateter and spline count.

What do people think?

cheers :kiss

23rd Sep 2012 9:17am

noworries4x4

Member Since: 24 Dec 2010
Location: Newton Abbot Devon
Posts: 1195

Disco 2 is the same as P38 except the right way round diffs on the drivers side and the exposed cv unit with ball joint hubs, very strong only drawback is the wheel bearings come compleat as a hub assy unless you have a 60t + press with special tooling but even then they can just smash the hubs, just use a Disco axle as is modify the mountings as required easier way of getting the strongest axle out there, apart from a Sailsbury but the unspung weight issues that they bring with them far outweigh their strength, If everything is under control you are not going fast enough.

Every Day 16 MY Discovery 4 Commercial Workshop and Escort Vehicle
Weekends 07MY L322 TDV8 Vogue SE
Series 1 80" 3ltr 6cyl with overdrive
No Worries 4X4

23rd Sep 2012 9:42am

diesel_jim

Member Since: 13 Oct 2008
Location: hiding
Posts: 6092

Cheers for that

Although I'd prefer to keep it a defender axle, as the width will be the same as standard, plus it'll take defender wheels.

23rd Sep 2012 10:35am

Landyphil

Member Since: 23 Jul 2012
Location: Lake District
Posts: 87

2003 Defender 110 Td5 USW Stornoway Grey

If you want to keep the Defender axle but want more strength with P38 parts what a lot of fellow trialers "just" change the diff carrier over into a conventional rover diff.

Bit of a halfway house but once pegged the end result can be pretty strong.

Other than pegging and rebuilding and never done a P38 4 pin carrier swap but I've been told it does require a bit of trimming.

Has anyone on else here done it? 90XS Tdci John Eales
110 CSW G4 Edition
88" Series 3 Racer

5th Oct 2012 6:59pm

tatra805

Member Since: 16 Aug 2011
Location: Dolany
Posts: 436

2008 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 CSW Bonatti Grey

I did the opposite, putting a rover center into a P38 diff. (well a rover sized/designed ATB in this case)

For that you need a spacer ring to correct the ring to pinion distance (goes between center and ring) Ashcrofts sells them together with the longer bolts.

So the opposite way would mean you'll have to machine off about 2-3mm of the ring contact surface on the P38 center to get the ring in the right position in the rover diff. (dont ask me to take out the diff and measure the spacer

)

I was told only the V8 P38 has a 4 pin rear diff, all others are also 2 pin. (and all fronts are 2pin) Never checked this though and no idea about D2 diffs.

5th Oct 2012 7:12pm

diesel_jim

Member Since: 13 Oct 2008
Location: hiding
Posts: 6092

Yeah, the 4.6 P38 rear is a 4 pinion, and fairly cheap.

I might just go the route of fitting the diff assy into a rover (90 front) casing and be done with it.

5th Oct 2012 7:54pm

T1G UP

Member Since: 08 Dec 2009
Location: Bath
Posts: 3101

2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Orkney Grey

i got 2 x p38 diffs for my 100" project. they require a bit of machining but will fit .

i've got some pics etc of how they should be machined to accept the defender r&p

5th Oct 2012 9:07pm

blackwolf

Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17386

2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey

I believe that the reason the P38 diff was used originally was because there wasn't a 4 pinion Rover diff until the unit for the Puma front axle was developed c.2008.

As far as I know the 4 pinion Rover diff is just as strong as the P38 and a lot more so if you fit an Ashcroft HD ring and pinion. ATB diff, and possibly get it pegged. Only downside, it's a lot more expensive.

5th Oct 2012 10:06pm

diesel_jim

Member Since: 13 Oct 2008
Location: hiding
Posts: 6092

Pics would be good Marcus.

Blackwolf.... the old V8 90 had a 4 pin rear (rover type) diff back in the 80's.

6th Oct 2012 7:09am

T1G UP

Member Since: 08 Dec 2009
Location: Bath
Posts: 3101

I've put them in my gallery.

https://www.defender2.net/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=967

6th Oct 2012 7:12am

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