Salisbury rear axle

Hi, I have only just realised when looking at my landrover that it`s axles were different (stupid I know!). It has a salisbury rear axle and normal front axle, however the salisbury rear axle clearly reduces ground clearance by about 1-2 inches. Have done some research and it says the salisbury axle is much much stronger, but it is prone to `plowing` as it sits much lower, also it seems almost impossible to fit a locker which I will want to do in the future.

-Somebody said you can trim the salisbury axle with an angle grinder to improve clearance a bit- would that be bad for it?
-Would it be worth fitting a normal rear axle for the increase in ground clearance? However guessing this would be expensive and well beyond my abilities!

thanks for the stupid questions

Quote "Somebody said you can trim the salisbury axle with an angle grinder to improve clearance a bit- would that be bad for it?"

I would not attack it with an angle grinder you will not make any significant difference to the ground clearance but you will ruin the diff.

You can get lockers for the Salisbury diff :- Ashcroft Transmissions
110's have the Salisbury diff because of the extra load expected on the diff, it is possible to change it but this may be a retrograde step.

It would help solve the ploughing issue by fitting a diff guard one of the slider types but this will reduce the ground clearance a little bit more but save your diff from damage.

Have you just read about the ploughing problem or experienced it? if you have not as yet experienced the problem why try to fix a problem you do not have.

No....Thank you for the daft question.

Why would you want to trim the axle casing when it is one of the strongest axles around.

Fit higher tyres to gain ground clearance and fit a diff guard.

Thanks for the advice, I haven`t had it `plow` yet but so far have only done fairly easy greenlanes. To gain ground clearance I`m going to fit 285/75/16 tyres as it is currently running some worn 235`s just worried as the salisbury axle does seem to sit soo much lower :/ ! I won`t attack it with an angle grinder then haha. A normal rear axle seems so a lot more rounded rather than really angular like the salisbury axle.

George1994 said:

Thanks for the advice, I haven`t had it `plow` yet but so far have only done fairly easy greenlanes. To gain ground clearance I`m going to fit 285/75/16 tyres as it is currently running some worn 235`s just worried as the salisbury axle does seem to sit soo much lower :/ ! I won`t attack it with an angle grinder then haha. A normal rear axle seems so a lot more rounded rather than really angular like the salisbury axle.

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The 235 is the width of the tyre.

75 is the height.

I'm not sure what greenlaning you are planning but I think you may need to rethink your strategy.

You're not driving the Somme.

funkykipper said:

the 235 is the width of the tyre.

75 is the height.

I'm not sure what greenlaning you are planning but i think you may need to rethink your strategy.

You're not driving the somme.

Click to expand...

:d

Fair point, but logically if I went offroading a standard 110 could go places that I couldn`t due to having less ground clerance. 285`s should give me a bit more clearance though shouldn`t they?

George1994 said:

Fair point, but logically if I went offroading a standard 110 could go places that I couldn`t due to having less ground clerance. 285`s should give me a bit more clearance though shouldn`t they?

Click to expand...

Errrr. A Salisbury was standard fit for ALL 110's until the introduction of the new Rover axle (came in with the TDCi's in 2007 I believe), it was also standard fit for later 109's so it has a very long pedigree.
I think you have convinced yourself that your 110 is "different" and is going to perform badly off road. Let me tell you that if you are driving a Green-lane and you are dragging your diff casing then you shouldn't be driving that Green-lane at all as it is obviously too badly damaged (a Green-lane is a public road remember). If it is just normal off-roading then perhaps you should try straddling the ruts rather than just going straight along them?

Consider if the larger tyre is where you want to go as you are modifying the vehicle remember, great for some people but not for others.

I fitted a Salisbury to my S111 SWB V8 back in the 1980's (the standard axle couldn't cope with the power + my driving), never caused me any problems.

Had a Salisbury on my old trials machine and yes it did lots plowing and scraping over rocks ect but kept going and never broke. Can't see much point in fitting a diff guard to one

I fitted a diff guard to mine as I was concerned about slipping backwards into rocks etc when negotiating steps.

The diff guard is about protecting the flimsy rear plate IMO, not the substantial axle, I just preferred the design of the longer type which covers the whole diff as I thought it would aid slipping and allow plowing when grounded.

Sounds like my 110 should be very capable then! and as for fitting 285`s, the amount of mixed opinions I hear about them is flippin ridiculous-some say they are fine and don`t rub as standard, some say you need to lift the landy for them to be oksome say you need spacers, some say you don`t need spacers-everyone I ask says something different...