DiscoDino wrote:Ok, an update:
R&P:
Decided to go with GBR in the US since their 4.75s have 38x8 teeth, as opposed to the 47x10 of the series, which are very weak, and to the 4.1 of Maxi-Drive that have 37x9, since I would be needing the 4.75s for both high and low range with the 37" MTRs. GBR states that they use better material, and production processes, which allow then to run such a ratio safely.
Front axles and CVs:
Still checking out the finest details between McNamara (MN) and Maxi-Drive (MD). MN state that I can use the LC CVs in a drop-in application, still looking into that, and with so many abundant LCs here in Saudi, I think that would be smart and cost effective. MD allow me to run the AEU2522 stock LR CV, however, I will need to machine some locations for the bigger bearings, and purchase some more tid-bits.
WOULD APPRECIATE ANY PERSONAL INPUT ON THIS SUBJECT, AND IT IS A VERY CLOSE CALL, AND EXPERIENCE IS A MUST FOR DECISION MAKING!!!
Rear axles and HD flanges:
Will depend on which manufacturer will win the above bid.
I have to say that both MD and MN have great customer service, and MD has shined through into detailed answers and so forth.
Appreciate receiving comments and inshights once again,
From what i have heard on Pirate the GBR 4.75s is a much stronger than the series 4.7s. Although you should check out MN hypoid gear set (which is a hilux crown and pinion) which I would think would be a lot stronger. If you went to a hilux third member (either a MN bolt in job or modify your housing to take a hilux third) then you can run 30 spline axles which would be a lot stronger than a 24 spline (I think a 30 spline is 20% stronger based on area of the axle at the root of the spline (I did this calc myself))
Thoughts on the front axle:
Now the strongest crown wheel would be a hilux reverse rotation third member (modify your housing to fit), the next would be a hilux standard rotation third or the MN hxpoid gearset in a MN third (same thing except the MN will bolt straight in), the next would be the GBR gearset (MN says that the hilux gearset would be about 3 times stringer than a stock rover set (Im sure hes exagerating here but he reckons they are a lot stronger)
Now front inner axles. Strongest would be 30 spline inner spline, then comes the rover 24 spline. Both of these splines are a lot bigger than the outer spline so either one will do. Now the outer spline (of the inner axle) depends on what CVs you run. The biggest axle is the rover 23 spline (to suit 110 cv or early rangie). The next biggest would be the hilux spline to suit the hilux CVs (dont know the size or could but its a fair bit smnaller than th 23 spliners). Then the next is the rover 32 spline (this is a very small axle) thats in the later model discos and defenders.
CVs : strongest is a longfielded hilux CV, then a 110cv, then a early rangie CV (with 10 spline stub axle).
Now IMO the strongest setup would use the longfielded hilux CV. These things are incredibly strong (they are absolutely amazing). Now the down side to using one of these CVs is that you will almost guarantee that you will break the inner axle at the outer spline (the toy guys that I wheel with only break inner axles but these axles are stock toy axles and not allow) With a MN alloy inner axle I dont know which would break but I would guess that it would be the outer CV stub axle which would be a good thing (if you dont lke changing inner axles) if its still going to be the inner axle (like the toy guys) then it will be a PITA and expensive.
If you went with alloy axles with 110 CVs then you wont break an inner axle BUT in all likelyhood when you do grenade a CV you will make a mess of the inner axle and probably stuff it as well. I guess this is why the winch guys run the rangie 23 spline CVs with the 10 spline stubs and use the stub axle as a fuse (but I think that this only works if you use fairly new CVs all the time)
In the front I dont think its all that critical if you run a hilux crown or a GBR, I dont think either will give trouble. Same goes for either 24 spline inner axle inner spline or 30. Its always going to be the outer spline of the inner axle or the CV thats ging to break.
For the front I would run the MN alloy axles with the longfielded toy CVs and carry a spare set of front axles and CVs cause I dont know which would break first. This combo would be a lot stronger than a 110 based setup IMO
To give you an idea of how strong a longfielded toy CV is I wheel with RUFF, POS and bjonroids from this board they run 38.5 claws, 38.5claws, and 42 tsl swampers respectively all with longfields. Non of them has broken a longfield and before they had the longfield CV with much smaller tyres (33s,35s,35s) you could guarantee that at least two of them would break a stock CV on every run we did. (the 38.5 claws measure 40 x 16 inches - they are a bloody big tyre)
This is all just my opinion and I dont have any of these problems - I swaped in some Dana44s a long time ago (although the 42 tsls do give them a bit of trouble)
Sam