Got a few rusty spare parts, are they any good?

Today i got hold of some parts that had been on a trailer for the last 3 years, trailer was sold, parts dumped off the trailer onto the yard and no one was going to cover them up, so I was told I could just take them...

So I have 3 diffs, 2x10 splines 1x24 splines, 4 half shafts, one propshaft and 1 300tdi turbo with manifold...

the diffs are a bit rusty but move freely... my rear diff is making a strange noise so I was hoping to use one of these ones, but are they good to be used?

the halfshafts have surface rust too...

how can I clean all the surface rust off? and anything I should check on each diff to make sure im not fitting something that is already knackered?

here's some pics

CWP will be shot will whine like a goodun! drive shafts will clean up and be ok. diffs would be ok for an offroader play motor buit for a on road they will be noisey I had 2 24 spline ones and they are stripped awaiting good CWP's

i may well get corrected , but as far as i can see the hard casing would be rusted through making them only good for a get you home type thing

its not rusted through, its all surface rust... the diffs are not completly rusted is just the bit that was outside the casing...

whats the cwp???

so, they are no good then? a mate has a clunk coming from his rear diff, which is a 300tdi, 24 spline, so i was thinking of using one of these diffs..

the rear diff on my 90, which is a 10 spline, makes a BRRRRRRR noise when I lift off the throttle, for a moment and then stops... not sure what it is, but was thinking of using one of the 10 splines diffs too..

but if its no good....

The surface will be pitted the CWP is Crown wheel and pinion.

If your mate does use this 24 spline diff and his old diff centre is ok (24 spline) does he want to sell for some beer tokens?

I need a few 24 spline centres if poss.

In the first picture, the 24 spline is on the right, which is the better of all 3 with no rust on it..

the other 2, the 10 spline are the ones with rust..

I was just thinking of taking the diff out and put one of this, not taking it all apart and replace parts as I dont really know what i would be doing.. and as replacing a diff is such a simple job, thought, might as well try?

but if you are saying the rust on these is so bad the diffs wont be any good... i might not bother, will have to think about it.

One on the right i'd inspect the crownwheel probably ok. Assuming the bearings are ok theyre not going to fail explode straight away might be noisey and wear out super quick if the crownwheels are that rusty the bearings will not be too great I would expect. Hey they were free I wouldn't use them myself. If I was competing and they were my only option course I would throw one in to keep going but theyre pretty bad the 2 rusty ones.

jai... got some better pics today with my camera.

I was wrong on what i said earlier, the 2 more rusty ones are 10 and 24, the good one is a 10 spline.
Checked it all today for movement and the bearings and all move freely and there's no rust on the bearings...

So, with this new pics what do you think? the 2 land rovers where these might be installed are only off road toys, the only time they drive on the road is to get to the muddy places, which is a max of 30 miles

So, here goes...

10 Spline Diff number 1





10 Spline Diff number 2





24 Spline Diff number 1

the ones with rusty crown wheels are scrap

james... im not much into the internals of a diff, but I guess the crown wheel is the big one?

If that's the case, than what you are saying is that the 10 splice diff 1 and 24 spline diff 1 are no good?

its a shame, because this rust is only on half of it, basically the bit that was facing outside the casing... I never saw how these were stored, but its a damn shame that they werent stored properly...

another thing, I guess the only thing I need when replacing a diff, is a diff to casing gasket?

No gasket - just clean up the faces and use RTV sealant

Pah, get em wire brushed up using a slow grinder, then again with some machine oil on there for polishing, run em up in your back axle and see how you go. They might condition themselves enough to be worth using for a trialler/play day motor.

Those type of lads break diffs all day and don't bother of they're noisy.

You've got money sat there mate don't weigh em in.

Plus 200tdo disco prop is very sought after by 300tdi lads (assuming it is a 100inch prop) and the halfshafts are good to go, again 10spline bits are getting rare and folk are after axle bits all the time.

Wish I had that haul you got there, there's a good few rounds in that lot

Think positive

They are all fine. Just clean them up and fit them. All that rust will come off in 5 miles of driving. Just remove the larger bits of rust fit them with new fluid, drive 5 miles then flush the diff oil out and refill with new. Job done

they arent fine ,they will have like unclefester says have hard facing comprimised ,yes the would run for a while ,depends on your driving if your likely to bust a diff each weekend and not do any or much road work then usuable

ask yourself why things keep breaking. I bet if you seent out on decent internals and a hd diff it would save you money in the longrun.

Or learn to drive around the issues. My mate has had over 8 s/h diffs last year he could have brought a decent diff and shafts and have money in his pocket. Alas he will probably do another 8 this year and have his RRC in bits when he most needs it.

Put it in and take ur chance i certainly wouldn't want rusty debris being thrown around my bearings good luck Jai

jai_landrover said:

Put it in and take ur chance i certainly wouldn't want rusty debris being thrown around my bearings good luck Jai

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Me neither, but in the interests of science/profit it may have to be done!

I would not let a wire brush anywhere near them!

To get a good overview of their condition, soak them in diesel for a couple of days and then use a paintbrush to remove the surface scale.

It the pitting is not too bad, then they could be used for spares as a last resort.

Any pitting will have gone through the case hardening and will weaken the components properties.

I found a set of rr classic diffs in a land rover breakers that had been outside for over a year and were in "much" worse condition than those. I fitted them changed the oil seal and ran them. They have been in my series 2a for 8 years now and i have done over 20000 miles no problem and i have never had a problem. as long as they spin they should be fine.

scrappyloz said:

I found a set of rr classic diffs in a land rover breakers that had been outside for over a year and were in "much" worse condition than those. I fitted them changed the oil seal and ran them. They have been in my series 2a for 8 years now and i have done over 20000 miles no problem and i have never had a problem. as long as they spin they should be fine.

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See?

I think some of you guys worry too much!

thats either very exceptional or wernt as bad as made out ,would you fit some and set of on a long journey