ARB RD03 conversion to 24 spline?

[asafk]

A friend gave me a present- an old (used) ARB locker (he refered to it as an old piece of useless junk).... but the wrong one. The one he gave me is RD03 (10 spline), and I have 24 spline axleshafts (D110).
is the RD03 rebuildable as 24 spline unit? has anyone made this conversion? if so, what parts should I replace?

thanks,

Asaf.

[GRIMACE]

you should just send it to me

[Aquarangie]

I had a 10 spline ARB locker like yours in the rear for about 3 years and with the 245/75's on I didn't break a thing. But the shift to 235/85's didn't do it much good and went through 3 sets of axles in 6 months

I have decided to sell it as I really need a bit more strength like my rear Maxi-Drive (front one soon I hope). I was looking into that at one stage, but I decided to just upgrade.

I have no complaints about the ARB locker itself as it's been a great unit, just the contempory 10 spline Rangie crap Only good 10 splines are dead ones!!!

I'm sure it can be done though. Good luck with it.

Trav

[p76rangie]

ARB sell the bits to convert them, but they are not cheap. It worked out about half the price of a new difflock. So I put the 10 spline locker in the front and purchased a new 24 spline for the rear and Maxidrive axles.

[ISUZUROVER]

24 spline axleshafts (D110).

Are you sure you have 24 spline axles? The rear salisbury has 24 spline axles but the front on most defenders is only 24 spline on the CV stub shaft. The inner axle at the diff end is still 10 spline. I think they may have changed to 24 spline from the 300Tdi on though.

[OneTenV8]

ARB sell the bits to convert them, but they are not cheap. It worked out about half the price of a new difflock. So I put the 10 spline locker in the front and purchased a new 24 spline for the rear and Maxidrive axles.

Can you simply do that...putting the rear ARB in the front axle ???



Can anybody tell me how the prices are for the Maxi Drive rear difflock/axle set ???
MacNamara???

[ISUZUROVER]

Can you simply do that...putting the rear ARB in the front axle ???

Can anybody tell me how the prices are for the Maxi Drive rear difflock/axle set ???
MacNamara???

Yes if you have a rangie, disco 1 or 90 you can put the rear diff centre in the front - since they are both rover diffs.

The prices in Australia for MD lockers (when I bought mine) were:
Salisbury - $1100AUD (e700) plus fitting
Rover - $1800AUD (e1100) plus fitting.

The Salisbury kit includes 2 axles, a locking dog, pneumatic actuator, switches and lines, and a modified centre casing half. For overseas customers Mal has to supply a completely new diff centre casing (but you re-use the old gears) so it may be a bit more.

The Rover kit includes all of the above, but you get a completely new (much stronger) diff centre and casing, with a 4 pin diff instead of a 2-pin.

I don't know the Macnamara prices, but I think they are in line with ARB - somewhere in the region of $1100-1400AUD (e700-850) but you don't get new axles (need to buy separately if you want to upgrade the front to 24 spline. The MD and Macnamara axles are a lot stronger than the standard ones.

If you buy a locker, I am happy to fit it for you (provided you have a welder and a drill I can use to do it). I have fitted a couple before.

[asafk]

24 spline axleshafts (D110).

Are you sure you have 24 spline axles? The rear salisbury has 24 spline axles but the front on most defenders is only 24 spline on the CV stub shaft. The inner axle at the diff end is still 10 spline. I think they may have changed to 24 spline from the 300Tdi on though.

well... Its a 1997 TDi300, so yes- I'm sure about the spline count.

what are the parts I need to change? only the sidegears, or anything else?

Asaf.

[p76rangie]

Contact ARB, they will tell you the parts. On the 24 spline locker the part that connects to the bearings in the centre was larger, as it is with rover 24 spline centres. Therefore I am not sure whether this area has to be changed as well to fit the 24 spline axles into the drive gears. When I looked at it a couple of years ago, they reckon that they were giving me a good discount and the parts were still $450. So I am pretty sure that it is more than just the drive gears.

Ian

[Bush65]

As p76rangie said there are a few expensive bits needed to convert an rd03 to fit a diff from a rover that has 24 spline axles stock, because of different bearings. From memory, $450 sounds right.

I think, with older rovers that the rd03 suits, then you only need to change the side gears to replace 10 spline axles with 24 spline axles.

[will_warne]

OK mate, basicly the setup your truck has (or should have....) is a Salisbury rear axle and 24 spline front axle (with 32 spline CVs). So, basicly, your locker, even once its coverted can only go in the front. That means you'll have to think about the added cost of getting a rear locker too (be it JacMac, ARB or Maxi Drive). Personally, I'd go and sell the locker and put the money towards the rear axle set up you want.

P.S. For those of you who run 10 spline, GKN make an uprated 10 spline halfshaft. They're only available here in the UK through Devon 4x4 at the moment. They retail at about £200 an axle set over here (that's cheap compared to MDs which cost £600+ ). Thought it might be interesting for some of you guys with 10 spline lockers as they seem to be giving good results so far.

[asafk]

OK mate, basicly the setup your truck has (or should have....) is a Salisbury rear axle and 24 spline front axle (with 32 spline CVs). So, basicly, your locker, even once its coverted can only go in the front. That means you'll have to think about the added cost of getting a rear locker too (be it JacMac, ARB or Maxi Drive). Personally, I'd go and sell the locker and put the money towards the rear axle set up you want.

.

thanks... already got a rear locker (detroit locker.... sweeeeet!! )

Asaf.

[LOCKEE]

I have a set of 24 Spline front Hardman Bros Axles, same that Mike Smith runs. brand new with genuine ARB 24 Spline Sidegears.

$850 + freight in Melbourne.

[will_warne]

thanks... already got a rear locker (detroit locker.... sweeeeet!! )

Asaf.

Oh, OK that would make sence then I'd go for the conversion then.

[ISUZUROVER]

well... Its a 1997 TDi300, so yes- I'm sure about the spline count.

what are the parts I need to change? only the sidegears, or anything else?

Asaf.

Rather than spend $$$ upgrading the locker to 24 spline, you may as well swap to aftermarket 10/23 spline axles and AEU2522 CV's. This will give you a stronger setup than you currently have, since the 10 spline inner is stronger than your tiny 32 spline axles at the CV end.

Maxi drive makes aftermarket axles for about $550AUD a pair.

This has been posted here before but have a look at the axle strengths... These are specs from Mal Story at Maxi-Drive - notice he refers to the 32 spline axle as "hopelessly small" - he had someone come to him with a defender and front and rear ARB's who snapped both front axles the first time he went offroad.

10 SPLINE: Used for axle shaft to diff side gear in ROVER Type diffs from the first L/R in 1948 to app 1992. Also used in L/R series 1 & 11 vehicles at drive flange and early R/R & Disco CV joints.
Square form (40 o included angle) Major dia 28.2 (1.11") Root dia 25.3 (.997") Zp ( polar section) .212
App torque capability for axle of 1500 Mpa UTS Hytuf 5635 Nm (4160 ft lbs)

32 SPLINE: This is the hopelessly small inner axle to CV connection used on all vehicles since app 1988. Not strong enough for the torque that can be applied with a across axle diff lock. For this reason all front Maxi-Drive diff locks use the more durably 23 spline size and if required the stronger 23 spline CV joints are used in place of the weak 32 spline CV joint.
Vee form 45 o PA, Major dia. 26.3 (1.035") Root dia. 24.1 (.950")
Zp (polar section) .192
App. torque capacity of axle of 1500 Mpa UTS Hytuf 5095 Nm (3760 ft lbs)

[LOCKEE]

Any interest in the axles and 24 spline upgrade?

[Bush65]

Any interest in the axles and 24 spline upgrade?

Sent you a pm Lockee.

[LukeV]

Just wondering, are the stock 24spline axles OK to run 33's (prob MTs or maybe nastier) with a locker in the rear with a relatively light right foot?
I have an '88 RR and a 10spline locker, but can get that converted to 24spline fairly cheaply (I know ppl who know ppl .

How much do the 24spline axles cost from wreckers?

I have also heard (don't flame please) from a mechanical engineer mate, that after testing aftermarket axles compared to the stock LR axles, the LR axles turned out to be stronger. I guess it depends on which stock axles they tested, as there appears to be good sets and not so good sets (thinks of Aquarangie??)

[Aquarangie]

The 24 spline axles that are fitted to the later Discos and Rangies will fit, but you will need to change your wheel hub because the flange bolts are larger and diffrent thread. The old style flange bolts will fit, but theren would be play in the axle once under strain off-road.

You can tell the 24's by the flat type flange, although the very late 10 splines like on Aquarangie were like this as well.

The Maxi-drive replacement axles are still one of the best options, as per McNamaras axles. There not cheap, but you get what you pay for

Good luck.

Trav

[GURU]

I did this conversion in the rear diff of my RR when i fitted the locker.

wou also need the stub axle from the disco as they are shorter and stop the hub nuts sticking out the end of the hub so the flat type axle can fit on (learnt that the hard way when I tried to get it to go togeather and wondered why the axle hit the end of the stub axle.

I got my stuff from toorak tractors (make sure they send you all bolts, as they didn't with me and I had to spend more $$ getting new ones) for about $200 for hubs, stubs and axles.

If no one buys my rear diff complete and I have to wreck it out I will have mine for sale (axles, hubs with bearings and seals, stubs and all bolts to fit them) for $150

[quaddrive]

yep. priced this up for a customer this week.
parts alone was $600 plus labour to convert if not doing it yourself.
Cheers
Giles@ARB Perth

[ISUZUROVER]

I have also heard (don't flame please) from a mechanical engineer mate, that after testing aftermarket axles compared to the stock LR axles, the LR axles turned out to be stronger. I guess it depends on which stock axles they tested, as there appears to be good sets and not so good sets (thinks of Aquarangie??)

This is true for cheap aftermarket axles, they are a lot weaker than Genuine, but Maxi-Drive and Macnamara axles are a lot stronger than genuine because they are made from AMS6418/EN25 high grade steel and not from cast stock.

I snapped a cheap aftermarket 24 spline axle in my 2.25 diesel 109 on 32's. I have had 33's and maxi-drive 24 spline axles for a couple of years of hard driving offroad and they are like new.

[J Top]

I used to change side gears in RD03's often for customers.
I thought the side gears were like $40 each.
If the newer rovers have bigger side bearings could you not just sleeve the carrier to fit them.We used to have to do this with some of the different hilux diffs.
J Top

[LukeV]

[asafk]

A relief, I must say.


Asaf.