Diff locks! MaxiDrive v McNamara

Post by **giacomo.m** » Thu Sep 16, 2004 8:11 pm

Hi all.I would like to hear the pros and cons between MaxiDrive and McNamara for rear axle.
Thank you.
Giacomo

Post by **ISUZUROVER** » Thu Sep 16, 2004 9:08 pm

OK - I have a Maxi Drive salisbury locker and I am very happy with it.

The pros are:
Very good value for money (1100AUD for sals locker and 2 axles).
100% reliable
can run on vacuum or 15psi compressed air
Mal is a great bloke.

The cons are:
Must modify diff housing
Not easy to swap between vehicles (need new actuator block, etc).
Cannot use larger than 24spl axles (because of locking dog).
Cannot remove one of the axles without removing stub axle first (because of locking dog splines)

For Macnamara design:
Pros:
Can run up to 35 spline axles in salisbury.
More compact design, easier to swap between vehicles - probably the best locker design around.
vacuum or high pressure compressed air lockers available.

Cons:
Apparently not the easiest person to deal with.

If you have a 90 with a rover rear axle, and plan on running anything larger than 35" wheels I would go the macnamara with hypoid (toyota) diff centre. It is not cheap (3000AUD) but you won't have problems with ring and pinion breakage.

Post by **daddylonglegs** » Thu Sep 16, 2004 9:14 pm

The Maxidrive difflocks are beautifully machined from high quality materials, but the design is a little old fashioned. Nothing wrong with that in itself but installation time and cost is considerably higher because the banjo housing must be removed to be modified for the selector box. I would like to see an internal pneumatic actuator that is concentric with the halfshaft for quicker installation. One hub and spindle also must be removed to fit the special difflock half shaft.
The McNamara difflock is a more up to date design and installation is in principal much quicker and cheaper, but it is a design that is still evolving and is subject to occasional production changes, so a ready supply of spare parts for the superceded models may be a problem.
For example, the spline and tooth count on the difflock dog ring, carrier and side gear has changed at least twice in 4 years for the Rover type and Hilux type diff.
Bill.

Post by **patrolman** » Thu Sep 16, 2004 9:28 pm

so to high jack but is there a website for maxidrive and also McNamara?

Post by **ISUZUROVER** » Thu Sep 16, 2004 9:41 pm

You really couldn't use google and find these yourself???

http://www.mcnamaradiffs.com.au/

http://www.4wdworld.com.au/products/maxidrive/

Post by **patrolman** » Thu Sep 16, 2004 9:43 pm

ISUZUROVER wrote:You really couldn't use google and find these yourself???

http://www.mcnamaradiffs.com.au/

http://www.4wdworld.com.au/products/maxidrive/

i did last night but i thought there was another site for maxidrive

Post by **Aquarangie** » Fri Sep 17, 2004 1:27 pm

I have a maxi in the back of aquarangie. The complete unit has been on three diffrent Rangies, my old 84 which it originally was fitted to when I bought it, my dad's 88 when I traded the 84 Rangie on a Disco (very bad decision, long story!!) and now on Aquarangie.

Being an 84 Rangie rear housing, on the 2 later Rangies the top shockie mount needed to be re-located (the leter Rangies as we all know have both facing forward mounts) to the earlier style mounting poisition. Also the later hub design have a totally diffrent bolt size and thread being Aquarangie is a 93 model so the flanges need to be changed to the more flash brass unit.

As Ben stated, not the easiest units to swap over, but bloody good lockers. Old fashioned maybe compared to the McNamara units but reliable, simple, no bullshit design which suits me. But it's really personal prefrence and what your budget can stand.

But there are plenty of other alternatives out there and worth looking at in future.

Trav

Post by **GRIMACE** » Fri Sep 17, 2004 1:35 pm

And also apparently you might possible be able to redrill your maxi carrier to take a toyota hilux crown wheel :?:

I have the maxi and so far so good :lol:

Post by **giacomo.m** » Fri Sep 17, 2004 3:55 pm

ISUZUROVER wrote:OK - I have a Maxi Drive salisbury locker and I am very happy with it.

The pros are:
Very good value for money (1100AUD for sals locker and 2 axles).
100% reliable
can run on vacuum or 15psi compressed air
Mal is a great bloke.

The cons are:
Must modify diff housing
Not easy to swap between vehicles (need new actuator block, etc).
Cannot use larger than 24spl axles (because of locking dog).
Cannot remove one of the axles without removing stub axle first (because of locking dog splines)

For Macnamara design:
Pros:
Can run up to 35 spline axles in salisbury.
More compact design, easier to swap between vehicles - probably the best locker design around.
vacuum or high pressure compressed air lockers available.

Cons:
Apparently not the easiest person to deal with.

If you have a 90 with a rover rear axle, and plan on running anything larger than 35" wheels I would go the macnamara with hypoid (toyota) diff centre. It is not cheap (3000AUD) but you won't have problems with ring and pinion breakage.

Hi and thank you all. but for McNamara design :
- problems of alignement with propshaft and transfer case?
- problems for 1 1/4" of hypoid off-set with +2" lift?
Thank you.
Giacomo

Post by **ISUZUROVER** » Fri Sep 17, 2004 5:28 pm

I don't think you would have problems - after all mcnamara has sold lots of these and most people running them have lifted trucks. You will have to lengthen the propshaft slightly though.

As discussed elsewhere (search) you can also fit toyota diff centres and mcnamara toyota lockers to the 90 housings if you want to save some money and do some of the work yourself. But you need a high pinion front if you do that.

Post by **giacomo.m** » Fri Sep 17, 2004 6:54 pm

Why I need high pinion front?
Thank you.

Post by **ISUZUROVER** » Fri Sep 17, 2004 7:14 pm

If you are fitting toyota diff centres you need a high pinion front to clear the track rod. The Macnamara hypoid rover centre is low pinion (and uses toyots gears) but the centre casting is specially made to clear the rover track rod.

Whereabouts in Italy are you?

Post by **giacomo.m** » Fri Sep 17, 2004 7:57 pm

for axles? MaxiDrive or McNamara?
I live in Rome,and sorry for my english.
Giacomo

Post by **ISUZUROVER** » Fri Sep 17, 2004 9:17 pm

You need to use special length mcnamara axles that are 30 spline at the diff end to match the hilux diffs and whatever outer spline you want to use (usually 30 - with mcnamara drive flanges). There is a lot more information here:

http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/PHP_Modul ... lux+center

http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/PHP_Modul ... lux+center

I don't know how common toyota hiluxes are here in Europe. I have not seen many and only just saw one landcruiser yesterday. So maybe this may not be the best option for europe. In australia hiluxes are about the most common 4x4 and diff centres, CV's and crownwheel and pinions are plentiful.

What size tyres do you run, what size do you want to run, and have you ever broken a crownwheel and pinion???

Oh and I am in Karlsruhe (Germany). What is the 4x4ing like around Rome. I haven't been there yet but will be travelling there in a couple of months. Unfortunately both my Land Rovers are in Australia.

Post by **Slunnie** » Fri Sep 17, 2004 10:41 pm

With the JacMac locker you can just run the regular rover setup with factory height pinion, rover gears and axle half shafts. Hypoid is just another option that is available.

Post by **giacomo.m** » Sat Sep 18, 2004 6:56 pm

ISUZUROVER wrote:You need to use special length mcnamara axles that are 30 spline at the diff end to match the hilux diffs and whatever outer spline you want to use (usually 30 - with mcnamara drive flanges). There is a lot more information here:

http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/PHP_Modul ... lux+center

http://www.outerlimits4x4.com/PHP_Modul ... lux+center

I don't know how common toyota hiluxes are here in Europe. I have not seen many and only just saw one landcruiser yesterday. So maybe this may not be the best option for europe. In australia hiluxes are about the most common 4x4 and diff centres, CV's and crownwheel and pinions are plentiful.

What size tyres do you run, what size do you want to run, and have you ever broken a crownwheel and pinion???

Oh and I am in Karlsruhe (Germany). What is the 4x4ing like around Rome. I haven't been there yet but will be travelling there in a couple of months. Unfortunately both my Land Rovers are in Australia.

Hi, I make it appeal to know me that you will come in vacation to Rome for two months.but you live in Australia or in Germany? in case you lived in Austalia you would have the possibility to acquire and to carry to Rome for me the slotted bushes?
Thank you.
Giacomo.

Post by **ISUZUROVER** » Tue Sep 21, 2004 5:44 pm

giacomo.m wrote:Hi, I make it appeal to know me that you will come in vacation to Rome for two months.but you live in Australia or in Germany? in case you lived in Austalia you would have the possibility to acquire and to carry to Rome for me the slotted bushes?
Thank you.
Giacomo.

Sorry I am in Germany, and won't be going back to Australia for at least 6 months. So depends how long you want to wait.

Post by **giacomo.m** » Tue Sep 21, 2004 6:47 pm

Hi, and tank you for your availability.I have sent an e-mail to Sam for knowing the cost of its slotted bushes,but until today nobody answer.therefore it can are given that 6 months are not too many.

Post by **rustyveedub** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 5:27 pm

Does vacum work better at locking diffs as opposed to air pressure? As i see the Hypoid Diff is vacum operated.

Post by **RangingRover** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 6:48 pm

The way I see it, a vacuum locked diff is a better setup, because you always have a supply of vacuum (Its taken from the intake manifold for a maxidrive, from memory) With an air locker, you have an extra element in that the compressor needs to have pressure built up, and can also blow fuses etc. But thats personal preference talking...

Post by **ISUZUROVER** » Mon Sep 12, 2005 8:57 pm

RangingRover wrote:The way I see it, a vacuum locked diff is a better setup, because you always have a supply of vacuum (Its taken from the intake manifold for a maxidrive, from memory) With an air locker, you have an extra element in that the compressor needs to have pressure built up, and can also blow fuses etc. But thats personal preference talking...

That is true - and you can swap the lines around and run a vacuum locker on 15-20psi compressed air - can't do that with a compressed air locker.

Also, if you are a good sucker, you can turn a vacuum locker on and off just by sucking on the tubes!!!

Post by **Redback** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 8:27 am

Hi guys i have a question about the vacuum Hypoid diff lock pictured below with the larger crown and pinion can you just take the rover (DiscoII) one out and fit this straight in or does the diff housing have to be modified to suit the larger crown wheel.

Baz.

Post by **red90** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 12:58 pm

It bolts straight in. The crownwheel is actually smaller. They use a Toyota 8" ring gear. The Rover gear is 8.5".

Post by **Redback** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 1:02 pm

red90 wrote:It bolts straight in. The crownwheel is actually smaller. They use a Toyota 8" ring gear. The Rover gear is 8.5".

So thats smaller but larger surface area on the teeth and stronger

Post by **ISUZUROVER** » Tue Sep 13, 2005 5:58 pm

Redback wrote:
red90 wrote:It bolts straight in. The crownwheel is actually smaller. They use a Toyota 8" ring gear. The Rover gear is 8.5".
So thats smaller but larger surface area on the teeth and stronger

The rover/disco diff is 8.25" (crownwheel) diameter and spiral bevel, the toyota is 8" diameter hypoid. The hypoid design means it has a bigger pinion head for the same rover ratio and also more teeth (number and surface area) in contact at any one time.

Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Diff locks! MaxiDrive v McNamara

Diff locks! MaxiDrive v McNamara

Who is online