LR Series - lost rear drive

[otherwayup]

My Series lost drive to rear wheels on Tuesday; drive shaft spinning but no traction. Drove it 1/4 mile home in 4WD, put it away and will look at it at the weekend.

 

Hopefully it's a halfshaft, but I can't think of any way to work out which side before I start removing and looking. Is there a way?

 

If it turns out to be the diff., then I need some advice, as it has had a 3.54 FDR 10 spline diff. fitted:-

 

Haynes suggests special tools to rebuild, so I'm assuming I just get a replacement diff./case asy?

 

I don't use it off road other than farm tracks/boggy fields, so no need for anything special. Do I just buy a used replacement or should I get a reconditioned asy?

 

I read mention of imperial and metric types, but is that all internal, and I can just buy a diff. asy with 3.54 FDR, 10 splines and right number of driveshaft flange bolt holes?

 

Any sources/suggestions where to buy from?

 

Thanks.

 

Darren.

 

[defender]

I broke loads of halfshafts when I had a s3 if it's broke on the outside end it's easy but if it's broke on the inside it's harder.

One time it damaged the sun and planet gears.

I even broke one I was rolling back slowly and I let the clutch in in first and pop.

Edited August 11, 2017 by defender

[guzzicat]

Yes been there with Series,if your luck is like mine it will have snapped at the diff end,other half shaft out & remove diff, not hard just dirty.

[bornfree]

We used to cut a shallow groove in the outside of the halfshaft so when it broke it was always on the outside and a 15 minute job.

[bluesj]

Most likely to be the a half shaft and most likely the short one (less flex) if its the diff (most likely) you can sometimes get the bit out with a magnet on a stick

It could also be the drive flange splines.

[otherwayup]

Turned out to be near side halfshaft at the diff. end. Broken end looks a bit worn/ground. I don't want to do work for no reason, but assuming I did manage to get the broken bit out with magnet, shouldn't I really remove diff. to really clean out the particles that must be left inside?

 

Can I just drain and refill?

 

Is there a magnet on the drain plug to capture small bits maybe?

[la bala]

Last one i had go was the same as yours. Near side and broke at diff. I had to remove diff to get it out. I fitted both new while i was at it. Dont forget when you order to get the correct spline size. Good luck.

Edited August 11, 2017 by la bala

[figgy]

What oil in the diff it's a landrover they don't hold oil the loose bits if they are in there should fall to the bottom of the diff. Any damage is already done. Mostly they go ok.

[chrisp]

When they break they can leave shards of metal behind so its safer to remove the diff and clean out

 

But if your lucky enough to get the broken end out without removing the diff then id take a chance and hope all the bits are in the bottom of the diff pan and not in the gears !

[Hendrix's rifle]

If you can get it out drain it, refill and after a few miles drain again. Should get any bits left in there out. If it was me doing it, I'd pull the diff out though

[otherwayup]

Drained the old diff oil tonight and as warned it was pretty smelly (smelt bit like gas)

 

Worrying thing is, the EP90 I bought off tinternet and put in the gearbox last year doesn't smell the same.

 

Should EP90 smell strongly when new or just when old/used?

Edited August 16, 2017 by otherwayup

[Gordon R]

Some years since I used 80sand 90s oil, but it just smelled like ordinary oil.

[simonm]

I recently changed the oil in my Defender diffs and new EP80/90 does smell like new oil, not a particularly strong or unpleasant smell.

If you've no idea what was in the diff before, or for how long, I wouldn't worry about it and most people seem to forget to change diff oil so it's a good job done ✅

[243ack]

Drained the old diff oil tonight and as warned it was pretty smelly (smelt bit like gas)

 

Worrying thing is, the EP90 I bought off tinternet and put in the gearbox last year doesn't smell the same.

 

Should EP90 smell strongly when new or just when old/used?

 

'EP' oil stands for 'extreme pressure'. The EP additives are sulphur based, so after a time and as the oil degrades a bit, the sulphur additives form 'rotten egg' gas, hydrogen sulphide. No problem. Oil still works ok - just a bit whiffy!.

[otherwayup]

Sorry to labour the point, but is it normal for EP90 oil to smell like normal oil when new?

 

Just worried the stuff I've bought is not actually EP90 after all.

[ditchman]

EP oil smells rank...........................

[la bala]

EP oil smells rank...........................

I quite like the smell ditchman, but all those years working with motor scrapers we used Amoco, all the grades smelled the same.

[bornfree]

EP90 has quite a strong smell when new. But its even better when dropped out of a Rockwell diff of an ERF unit after a 300 mile run.

[otherwayup]

I decided to take the diff. off in the end. So glad I did, as there were a LOT of bits of shaft in there.

 

New shaft, gaskets, nuts/bolts and oil, £40 all in. 👍

 

You gotta love the Series at those prices.