Axle choice, Some help in searching for info!

[steve 90]

I don't want to start a whole new thread about the subject as I am sure this has been covered many times. I am trying to decide between fitting Toyota or nissan axles to my challenge truck. I have spent hours and hours searching but Im not entirely sure im putting the right "key words" in to get what I want. Im looking for a discussion that debates the pro's and cons of the two, Which are the more durable and anyones experiences with the two options under heavy use. Any help with the search or maybe just a link to info you know of on the site would be great.

Many thanks.
Steve.

[-Scott-]

For starters?

http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/phpBB2/ftopic125913.php

http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/phpBB2/ftopic139486.php

http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/phpBB2/ftopic115462.php

http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/phpBB2/ftopic95621.php

[CWBYUP]

Are you talking built axles or just standard ?

Standard GQ Nissan have it hands down. Put in a set Caloffroad CV's and its a pretty sweet package.

If you wanted to go the more custom job then theres heaps of ways you can do it depending on who you speak to.

Personally, I'd go the Nissan as its just cv's and your there.

Nick

[steve 90]

Are you talking built axles or just standard ?

Standard GQ Nissan have it hands down. Put in a set Caloffroad CV's and its a pretty sweet package.

If you wanted to go the more custom job then theres heaps of ways you can do it depending on who you speak to.

Personally, I'd go the Nissan as its just cv's and your there.

Nick

Well to start with I was thinking if I went the Toyota path I would put Longfields in. Or If I went Nissan just throw an ARB in the front. Would that make much difference to choice??


I assume from reading through the threads that when you say "Built" its the same as we would say Modified??? Just thought I'd better check so we wern't getting our wires crossed.

Thanks.
Steve.

[steve 90]

For starters?

http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/phpBB2/ftopic125913.php

http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/phpBB2/ftopic139486.php

http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/phpBB2/ftopic115462.php

http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/phpBB2/ftopic95621.php

Thanks, Just started reading through these, The axles i'd been searching for info on were 80 series Landcruiser vs the GU Nissan (are GU's the stronger C.V's??) I see a lot of this is talking about the 60 series, Is there much difference between the 60 and the 80? Do they use a common Diff?

Thanks guys, Very helpful.
Steve.

[Gwagensteve]

60 series use the same R&P front and rear, whereas the 80 uses a smaller (hilux sized) high pinion front.

Apparently, 60 series with longs in them seem to be about as strong as anyone needs, but, if you're running a 90 they won't be wide enough AFAIK.

Another option might be GU front and 80 series rear, that gets you an offset rear to work with the LR transfer case, and full floating rear shafts.

Steve.

[ISUZUROVER]

Apparently, 60 series with longs in them seem to be about as strong as anyone needs, but, if you're running a 90 they won't be wide enough AFAIK.

Another option might be GU front and 80 series rear, that gets you an offset rear to work with the LR transfer case, and full floating rear shafts.

Steve.

60 series are too narrow for a 90. The most popular option in rovers is GU front and 80 series rear.

Since you are in Cymru, a set of 101 axles is another option, but hard to get parts for. Unimog portals are cheap in Europe.

[defmec]

rear sailsbury front ashcroft cvs and axles would be stronger and less hassle

[joeblow]

i'm not a nissan driver, i'm not a tojo driver. would,nt waste my time with anything landrover. what you want is something off the shelf and tough. from all the vehicles i have worked on over the years ( luckily i have a cruisy job now ) one thing stood out- you can't beat nissan diffs. i've rarely ( maybe one) come across a nissan front that had contaminated wheel bearings. i have never seen a nissan do swivel hubs. i have never seen a nissan do king pins, rarely had to change diff bearings on a locker install, and rarely had to do anything to the bum. out of all the diffs you could get the nissan is as tough as there is, toyota doesn't even come close( lost count of the rebuilds on those front and rear!). go nissan diffs and you won't look back...trust me.

[steve 90]

rear sailsbury front ashcroft cvs and axles would be stronger and less hassle

I run ashcroft in everything at the moment. I think Ashcroft is as good as you can get for a stock rover casing. Dave is an excellent bloke and stands by everything he sells 100%. They are perfectly fine for 99% of people running 35's but I have had some problems.

I am looking to do more long distance events, also go up a size in tyre's again, along with an engine change which should see me running atleast twice the HP I have at pressent. So I really need something thats going to stick an agressive driving style which Is why im looking for something with larger internals.

[steve 90]

Thanks for all you help guys.

Would an 80 series front not be man enough even with logfields fitted? Is the Diff fragile?

The only Nissans ive seen have huge rear diffs which worries me a little from a clearance point of veiw. Is the 80 series any smaller?

[steve 90]

Apparently, 60 series with longs in them seem to be about as strong as anyone needs, but, if you're running a 90 they won't be wide enough AFAIK.

Another option might be GU front and 80 series rear, that gets you an offset rear to work with the LR transfer case, and full floating rear shafts.

Steve.

60 series are too narrow for a 90. The most popular option in rovers is GU front and 80 series rear.

Since you are in Cymru, a set of 101 axles is another option, but hard to get parts for. Unimog portals are cheap in Europe.

Im not overly keen on the 101 axles as ive seen C&P and C.V breakeges a few times. Although it would save me buying new wheels.

Not convinced i want to run portals, Ive seen Volvo break, Unimog are very heavy and if I did fit them I would want to re work the chassis to keep the height and C of G down. I want the truck to be an all rounder that is equally at home on some of the faster events as it s at a technical one day event on wooded hill sides.

[Gwagensteve]

There's 2 Nissan rears - H260 (huge - really huge) and H233... H230(?) that's the same size as the front of any GQ/GU These aren't too bad for ground clearance.


The advantage of the 80 series rear is the LH diff offset - more suitable for your application - and the full floating design. I'm not a big fan of semi floating axles.

The Nissan front centre is definitely stronger than the 80 series front centre. axles - not much in it but there's more HD options for the 80 series than the nissan.

I think I'd look at the 80 rear GU front if I were you.

Steve.

[joeblow]

Thanks for all you help guys.

Would an 80 series front not be man enough even with logfields fitted? Is the Diff fragile?

The only Nissans ive seen have huge rear diffs which worries me a little from a clearance point of veiw. Is the 80 series any smaller?

well think of it this way...would you rather be scraping a little bit..or fixing broken shit all the time?

[ISUZUROVER]

Apparently, 60 series with longs in them seem to be about as strong as anyone needs, but, if you're running a 90 they won't be wide enough AFAIK.

Another option might be GU front and 80 series rear, that gets you an offset rear to work with the LR transfer case, and full floating rear shafts.

Steve.

60 series are too narrow for a 90. The most popular option in rovers is GU front and 80 series rear.

Since you are in Cymru, a set of 101 axles is another option, but hard to get parts for. Unimog portals are cheap in Europe.

Im not overly keen on the 101 axles as ive seen C&P and C.V breakeges a few times. Although it would save me buying new wheels.

You can run Dana 60 CW&Ps which are the same size but stronger. As for the CVs - heat treating them or fitting longfields (80ser/D60) and custom axles. However they are 6-stud, so you still need new wheels... The sals is the same as a Dana 60 - they can handle 44" tyres without breaking stock (D60) CW&Ps - rover must have done their usual trick of using inferior steel.

What size tyres and HP will you be running??? Nissan H260 rears aren't any larger than a salisbury/Dana 60.

[bazooked]

if you want the best and arent affraid to spend a bit of coin go here....


http://www.spidertrax.com/s.nl/sc.1/.f

[1MadEngineer]

Thanks for all you help guys.

Would an 80 series front not be man enough even with logfields fitted? Is the Diff fragile?

The only Nissans ive seen have huge rear diffs which worries me a little from a clearance point of veiw. Is the 80 series any smaller?

well think of it this way...would you rather be scraping a little bit..or fixing broken shit all the time?

WTF?

A Built 80 front will be plenty strong enough and much cheaper than the equivalent nissan. then get a SALS rear and convert it to D60 locker gears and put some decent alloy axles in it from the US.

[steve 90]

I've spent the last few days ringing round and searching for axles. Toyota seem to be easy to get and relatively cheap, I have found about 10 sets!

Nissan Y60 (which I believe is the GQ) also quite a few around and also quite cheap.

Nissan Y61 (which I believe is GU) Only found one breaking in the whole country, I have rang everywhere (and I really mean every where) Searched the Net, Put out requests on various sites etc etc. The one I found the axles had already gone and the bloke said he got mega £££££s for them.

So im a bit stuck for GU, which I think are my preference for the front atleast. Started looking at getting a set from Australia but I don't think my budget will run to getting them sent over and I don't really have a clue where to start.

[Slunnie]

Thanks for all you help guys.

Would an 80 series front not be man enough even with logfields fitted? Is the Diff fragile?

The only Nissans ive seen have huge rear diffs which worries me a little from a clearance point of veiw. Is the 80 series any smaller?

well think of it this way...would you rather be scraping a little bit..or fixing broken shit all the time?

WTF?

A Built 80 front will be plenty strong enough and much cheaper than the equivalent nissan. then get a SALS rear and convert it to D60 locker gears and put some decent alloy axles in it from the US.

That setup snaps Maxidrives. Would you not consider JacMac 35 spline setup for the salisbury?

[steve 90]

A Built 80 front will be plenty strong enough and much cheaper than the equivalent nissan. then get a SALS rear and convert it to D60 locker gears and put some decent alloy axles in it from the US.

So what exactly is a built 80? Would that be an 80 series with Longfields? An 80 series with ARB and Longfields? Im starting to consider this as after reading through the info on here the GU is my first choice , but they seem impossible to find. Would the 80 with Longfields and std diff stick some abuse? Is there any other week points like drive flanges/hubs etc? And would it be preferable to GQ front?

Anybody have any idea on hub face to hub face distance for any of these axles. Ive seen some references to it in the other threads but nothing definate. I could do with getting some wheels ordered from the US (I think all Jap 6 stud spacings are the same? Am I right?) but need to know axle length to work off set.

Just as a guide, The truck at the moment weighs 2100kg's ready for comp but is going on a diet, Will have 250ish HP if things go right, Possibly going to LS at some point in future It runs 37 inch Boggers but the next set will probably be 39 if that makes any difference.

[Slunnie]

Solid spacer to replace the pinion crush tube also.

[ISUZUROVER]

Thanks for all you help guys.

Would an 80 series front not be man enough even with logfields fitted? Is the Diff fragile?

The only Nissans ive seen have huge rear diffs which worries me a little from a clearance point of veiw. Is the 80 series any smaller?

well think of it this way...would you rather be scraping a little bit..or fixing broken shit all the time?

WTF?

A Built 80 front will be plenty strong enough and much cheaper than the equivalent nissan. then get a SALS rear and convert it to D60 locker gears and put some decent alloy axles in it from the US.

That setup snaps Maxidrives. Would you not consider JacMac 35 spline setup for the salisbury?

Slunnie - that is exactly what 1Mad is saying! D60 locker and 35 spline alloy axles. There are other suppliers besides JM - but I think they are the only suppliers of stub axles (if you want to keep the rover stud pattern).

[1MadEngineer]

as far as aussie made axles go i am yet to find someone who can harden them properly? sure many try but then you compare them to some of the US stuff and they are not as good. Its just easier to buy some custom AlloyUS, Moser, . . . . .

A built 80 is very cost effective, chromo longfield cv's and axles, chromo drive flanges or hub gears (cap screwed and wired), Yukon gearsets that have been chryo treated. ARB and a solid pinion spacer.

Yes the nissan diffs are strong and with the CAL-offroad cv's are tuff, but they have a few small issues that lets the 80 just pip them. (oh and the cost)

[steve 90]

Is there anywhere in Australia that I might be able to source a set of Nissan GU axles and get them shipped over?

Any recommendations of a decent place to try would be great?

[nottie]

if you want the best and arent affraid to spend a bit of coin go here....


http://www.spidertrax.com/s.nl/sc.1/.f

Not really the ultimate
Just ask Roger with the bulldozer buggy. They bend the outer knuckle as they are only plate steel and really need some extra bracing.

[Chrismb]

A mate of mine is in the process of building up a rangie and has used the Rover Tracks 30 spline Toyota conversion, it uses the rover housing and lets you fit a toyota centre and includes longfield 30 spline cv's and axles http://www.rovertracks.com/products/driveline.html

It seems to be a really good kit, and pretty straight forward to install, they are running a toy V6 diff in the rear and a toy 8" high pinion in the front with ARB's.

Could have been cheaper for him to run 60 series diffs, but he wanted everything to be as bolt in as possible as he doesn't have the fab skills.