1999 LAND ROVER DEFENDER Workshop Manual

ProCarManuals.com

FRONT AXLE AND FINAL DRIVE
1
DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION DESCRIPTION
The welded steel front axle casing houses a separate
spiral bevel type differential unit, which is off-set to the
right of the vehicle centre line. The differential unit
drives the front wheels via the axle shafts and
constant velocity joints which are totally enclosed in
the spherical and swivel housings.The front wheels are pivoted on tape roller bearings at
the top and bottom of the swivel housing. The wheel
hubs on all axles are supported by two taper bearings
and driven by drive flanges which are splined to the
one piece, stub shaft/constant velocity joint.
Front axle hub and swivel housing
1.Axle casing
2.Ventilation pipe
3.Axle shaft
4.Wheel studs and hub
5.Stub axle
6.Wheel bearings
7.Inner and outer hub seals
8.Axle shaft seal
9.Hub lock plate, thrust washer and nuts
10.Brake disc
11.Drive flange
12.Shim washer and circlip13.Dust cap
14.Constant velocity joint/shaft
15.Thrust collar for CV joint
16.Roller bearing
17.Spacer
18.Circlip
19.Top and bottom swivel taper bearing
20.Top and bottom swivel pins
21.Spherical housing, seal and retainer
22.Swivel housing
23.Constant velocity shaft seal
ProCarManuals.com

54FRONT AXLE AND FINAL DRIVE
2
DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION Lubrication
The differential, swivel pin housing and wheel hubs
are individually lubricated and separated by oil seals
(7) and (8), see J6267A, to prevent oil transfer across
the axle when the vehicle is traversing steep inclines.
The wheel bearings are lubricated with grease and the
swivel housing and differential with oil. On later
vehicles, identified by having only a filler plug in the
swivel housing, grease is used to lubricate the
housing assembly,
Ventilation
Ventilation of the differential is through a plastic pipe
(2) which terminates at a high level in the vehicle axle.
The swivel housings ventilate through axle shaft oil
seals (8) into the differential and the hub bearings
vent via the oil seals into the swivel housing.
ProCarManuals.com

FRONT AXLE AND FINAL DRIVE
1
FAULT DIAGNOSIS FAULT DIAGNOSIS
Complaint - Oil leaks
An external leak of lubrication can be caused by a
faulty internal seal. For example, if the seals which
separate the differential from the swivel housings are
faulty and the vehicle is operating or parked on an
embankment, oil may leak across the axle leaving one
swivel with a high level and the opposite swivel and
differential lacking lubrication.
See’Description and Operation’for illustrations of oil
seal locations.
When investigating leaks or checking oil levels, it is
essential that all the lubrication is drained from any
housing with a high level and that the other levels are
checked.
Swivel oil should be checked for signs of grease
leaking from the hub bearings and oil contamination of
the hub grease.
Check that the axle ventilation system is clear, as a
blockage can cause internal pressure to force oil past
the seals.
If the vehicle is driven in deep water with defective oil
seals, water may contaminate the lubricants and when
checked, give a false impression that the housing has
been over filled with oil.
Do not assume that a high oil level is due to over
filling or, that a low level is because of an external
leak.
ProCarManuals.com

ProCarManuals.com

FRONT AXLE AND FINAL DRIVE
1
REPAIR FRONT AXLE ASSEMBLY
Service repair no - 54.10.01
Remove
WARNING: Remove and refit of axle
requires a further two persons to steady
axle when lowering or repositioning axle.
1.Support chassis front.
2.Remove road wheels.
3.Support axle weight with hydraulic jack.
4.Remove radius arms to chassis frame nuts.
5.Disconnect steering damper from track rod.
Using a extractor remove track rod links from
swivel pin arms.
6.Remove four nuts and bolts securing radius
arms to axle bracket.
7.Remove radius arms.
8.Remove bolts securing brake hose brackets .
Refit bolts to prevent oil leakage.
9.Remove bolts from brake calipers and tie to one
side.
10.Remove nuts and washers securing shock
absorbers to axle.
11.Disconnect drag link from swivel pin housing
arm.
12.Remove two nuts and bolts securing panhard
rod to axle bracket. Lift rod clear of axle.
13.Mark for reassembly drive shaft flanges.
Remove four nuts and bolts, tie propeller shaft to
one side.
14.Release axle ventilation pipe banjo and lower
axle assembly. Remove road springs.
15.Disconnect anti-roll bar linkSee FRONT
SUSPENSION, Repair. Anti-roll bar ball.
16.Remove axle assembly.
Refit
17.Position axle under vehicle, supporting left side
of axle, and fit anti-roll bar linksSee FRONT
SUSPENSION, Repair. Anti-roll bar links.
18.Fit propeller shaft. Tighten bolts to47 Nm (35
lbf/ft).
19.Fit panhard rod to axle bracket. Tighten bolts to
88 Nm (65 lbf/ft).
20.Fit drag link to swivel pin arm. Tighten fixings to
40 Nm (30 lbf/ft).
21.Fit shock absorbers to axle.
22.Fit brake calipers. Tighten bolts to82 Nm (60
lbf/ft).
23.Tighten upper swivel pin bolts to78 Nm (58
lbf/ft).
24.Fit radius arms to axle brackets. Tighten bolts to
197 Nm (145 lbf/ft).
25.Fit steering damper to track rod.
26.Fit radius arms to chassis side member. Tighten
fixings to197 Nm (145 lbf/ft).
27.Tighten track rod end to40 Nm (30 lbf/ft)and fit
new split pin.
28.Remove chassis supports, fit road wheels and
tighten to correct torque:
Alloy wheels -130 Nm (96 lbf/ft)
Steel wheels -100 Nm (80 lbf/ft)
Heavy duty wheels -170 Nm (125 lbf/ft)
ProCarManuals.com

54FRONT AXLE AND FINAL DRIVE
2
REPAIR
ProCarManuals.com

FRONT AXLE AND FINAL DRIVE
1
OVERHAUL FRONT DIFFERENTIAL
Service repair no - 54.10.07.
Overhaul
NOTE: The front axle differential, for all
models, is the same as that fitted to the 90
rear axle and can only be serviced as a
complete assemblySee REAR AXLE AND FINAL
DRIVE, Repair. Differential assembly - 90.FRONT HUB
Service repair no - 60.25.14.
Overhaul
1.Remove hub assemblySee FRONT
SUSPENSION, Repair. Front hub bearings.
2.Remove outer bearing.
3.Mark, for reassembly, relationship between hub
and brake disc, if original hub is to be refitted.
4.Remove 5 bolts and separate hub from brake
disc.
5.Drift out grease seal and inner bearing from hub
and discard seal.
6.Drift out inner and outer bearing tracks.
7.Clean hub and drift in inner and outer bearing
tracks.
8.Pack hub inner bearing with recommended
grease and fit to hub.
ProCarManuals.com