300Tdi Discovery
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 axles fitted with ABS brakes or non ABS
brakes are of the same construction except for
different top swivel pins in the swivel housing and a
sensor on the constant velocity joint.
Front axle - ABS
The front wheels are pivoted on taper roller bearings
19 at the bottom of the swivel housing and a ’Rialco
bush’ 25 at the top. The top swivel pin also houses the
ABS pickup (electrical connection) as shown in the
main illustration, J5367.
Front axle - non ABS
The front wheels are pivoted on tape roller bearings at
the top (see insert) 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.
Lubrication
The differential, swivel pin housing and wheel hubs
are indiviudally lubricated and separated by oil seals 7
and 8 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.
Ventilation
Ventilation of the differential is through a plastic pipe 2
which terminates at a high level in the vehicle on both
ABS and non ABS axles. The swivel housings
ventilate through axle shaft oil seals 8 into the
differential and the hub bearings vent via the oil seals
into swivel housing.
