Discovery problems???

[d3m0n1c_4b]

i was just going through a review on Disco's fromn 1991-2004, on Drive.com.au, and it was saying that they have like a heap of problems with engines(e.g.turbo's and starter's failing) as well as them saying the 5 cyl diesel has been know to snap timing belts and the odd camshaft.

is ther eanyone reading this who has or has had a disco and can elaborate. from what i've heard they were meant to be a good truck.

[Muddydigger]

Just about any vehicle that has a timming belt wil be known to snap it, they all do as timing belts have a shelf life. It seems that the remedy is to change it every 100,000 klms or so. Landrovers are mechanicale machines like all the others they are not infalable but no worse than any other. They are know to leek oil and its a standing joke amoung the 4wd faternity.

As long as its got a good history it shouldnt be any more a problume thn any thing else out there. If in doubt take it to a Landrover repairer to have a full pre purchase check done.

[wishihadabigfoot]

There's a reason it's the only brand named after a dog.

[Defender=1st]

There's a reason it's the only brand named after a dog.
You can name a dog anything ;)

[d3m0n1c_4b]

cheers, just checking. i'm looking at getting one next year and just seeing if i'm getting my self in to something worth it or not. but i'm still looking at them, only the TDi's though, seeing as how the government doesn't want me to have an 8

[fourbyboy]

see, the problem is...its a discovery. lol. only joking.

not my car of choice though...

[Muddydigger]

Its generaly people who dont have an understanding of Rovers that bag them. normally one eyed Yota or datsun owners.

Discovery is a good 4wd, they can see a grown man cry, then again so do the other makes and models.

Each and every manufacture has bad apples. Rover is no exception . Rovers owners become loyal to the brand and theres a reason for it, straight out of the box they are brilliant off road, and smooth effortless black top driving. They are cheap to buy and normally cheap to run.

Get a check done before you buy any Rover if your not sure what your looking at.

[olihaub]

Its generaly people who dont have an understanding of Rovers that bag them. normally one eyed Yota or datsun owners.

Discovery is a good 4wd, they can see a grown man cry, then again so do the other makes and models.

Each and every manufacture has bad apples. Rover is no exception . Rovers owners become loyal to the brand and theres a reason for it, straight out of the box they are brilliant off road, and smooth effortless black top driving. They are cheap to buy and normally cheap to run.

Get a check done before you buy any Rover if your not sure what your looking at.



in the space of 40,000km our series one 3.9l v8 rang rover did the following

2 clutches @ $2000 a pop

The rear diff shat itself. @ $1250

Gear box @ $1500

We sold it after the gear box at 160,000 km cos we just couldnt trust it anymore, and this was in our family car not the landcruisr 80 series which did all the off roading and was so reliable its not funny.

landcruiser did one clutch at 360,000km and the water pump at the same time because the housing was leaking, not that it actually needed it.

plus i think the odd light globe and this was our off road car lol


so buy a rover at your own peril

oh and by the way before you say the discovery wasnt looked after properly, it was serviced and looked after by Bruce Davis in annangrove. who is pretty much the king of land rovers world wide so it was a very well looked after car.

And i also must say that altho it was a very expensive shitbox and that we only took the discovery off road twice it handled everything just as well as a stock 80 series

[d3m0n1c_4b]

what year model was that?? so far i'm aimign at TDi, and as later model as possible so it has less kay's on the clock and is just simply newer.

[olihaub]

what year model was that?? so far i'm aimign at TDi, and as later model as possible so it has less kay's on the clock and is just simply newer.


It wasnt a TDI tho it was a 3.9l V8 i think 95

[d3m0n1c_4b]

cheers.yeah, even if i wanted a V8 that bad, i can't have one coz of new licensing laws so they were out of the competition, but i'd rather the TDi anyway. but thanks for the reply, gives me an idea of what to look for.

[disco_thrasher]

[quote=olihaub;481122]in the space of 40,000km our series one 3.9l v8 rang rover did the following

2 clutches @ $2000 a pop

The rear diff shat itself. @ $1250

Gear box @ $1500


have you ever thought its the way you drive seen they al parts that broke could be driver fault ????

my disco got 265000km on it i have just changed the clutch thinking it was time and i could have left it in a fair bit longer?/

it totallaly depends on how the vechile is treated by its past owners but thats with any 4x4 ,you abuse anything its gonna break ,rovers do need a caring owner tho

[disco_thrasher]

olihaub don't get me wrong not saying you a bad driver,,,,all factories produce a vechicle every now and then that gives more trouble than it should. sounds like you got the bad egg there

[brooksy]

I know of a couple Nissan Patrols (GU) that have spent more time in the service dept longer than the owners house. I also have a mate that his father has an 80 series that has had just about every oil leak possible & it has a complete service history.
Point is it happens to every motor vehicle manufacturer - Ferrari to Suzuki, show me any model of any manufacturer that hasn't had a couple bad eggs, go figure :crazy:


brooksy

[tempestv8]

That article has no credibility at all.

The TD5 engine in the Discovery Series II doesn't have a timing belt. It has a timing chain, and they are not known to snap.

The Discovery Series I used a TDi engine, and that did have a timing belt, which (like all timing belts) can snap. So it looks like the author just did a cut and paste and tried to pass off the article with some authority, but can't even get their facts right.

[HDJ105]

i was just going through a review on Disco's fromn 1991-2004, on Drive.com.au, and it was saying that they have like a heap of problems with engines(e.g.turbo's and starter's failing) as well as them saying the 5 cyl diesel has been know to snap timing belts and the odd camshaft.


I haven't heard of the TD5's having timing belt issues, but the 300TDi does. Mate broke 2 timing belts on his over 300,000km or so, 1st was under wty, both times it bends the push rods and after replacing everything off it goes again. There's a mob in the UK that make a gear drive conversion (that's how bad they are!).

Little 2.5L has very little torque off boost, but once spooled up they go good. Fuel economy is also good.

He also broke a back axle, and a front CV on 2 different 4wd trips I recall. The suspension on them is excellent, pity the std little wheels cause it to get hung up on the deep ruts.

[olihaub]

[quote=olihaub;481122]in the space of 40,000km our series one 3.9l v8 rang rover did the following

2 clutches @ $2000 a pop

The rear diff shat itself. @ $1250

Gear box @ $1500


have you ever thought its the way you drive seen they al parts that broke could be driver fault ????

my disco got 265000km on it i have just changed the clutch thinking it was time and i could have left it in a fair bit longer?/

it totallaly depends on how the vechile is treated by its past owners but thats with any 4x4 ,you abuse anything its gonna break ,rovers do need a caring owner tho


oh yeah i understand what your saying, and if it was a car i drove all the time i would say that it was most likely me :D .

BUT it was the car that my mum drove 99% of the time, and she makes grannies in coronas look like F1 drivers.

lol i only drove the thing like maybe 3 times to the shops and back without abusing it as i was 2 affraid of breaking anything.

on the other hand the 80series, the 4runner 2 door sr5 and then sierra got used and abused every single day of their existance and never had anything wrong with them and they all went over the big 300,000km mark.

but we also had a series 2 explorer which had all sorts of problems before popping the motor ($7000 repair) at about $70,000 and just 3 weeks before the warranty ran out.:(

[Snerk]

I have a Disco 300tdi and its a great machine.
Just do the timing belt at 80,000km and no worries.
Other stuff is just regular maintenance. Check its service history like any vehicle.
A lot of the stuff people complain about in reliability surveys is just trivial, but it distorts the results.
All makes produce occasional lemons, it means little overall.
Remember that, in most parts of the world, the Toyota Landcruiser and Nissan Patrol are regarded as oversized, technically backward dinosaurs. Australia is an unusual market by world standards.
Go to www.aulro.com (http://www.aulro.com) for more on Discos.

[Disco98]

The guy asked a serious question, so give him serious answers, people who just say its a land rover so its shit are full of shit, when someone asks a question about toyotas do all the land rover fans jump and and say they are shit, no cause a serious questions deserves a serious answer.

The D1 V8 above was clearly a lemon, or the person who replaced the clutch didnt know what they were doing, or a poor quality item was fitted, the gear box could have been poor servicing from the previous owner, it could have been anything, if you buy a poorly maintained vehicle, of any brand it will cost you money.

I have a series 1 Tdi disco, its dont nearly 230000km, it has been 100% reliable, for both myself and the two previous owners. I have re-done the rear diff cause i wrecked that giving it a hard time off road. The engine is faultless, so has the gearbox been, and the transfer. All i have done to it is replace stuff i have broken, or replace general wear items like wheel bearings, etc. They can be expensive to repair or with a little homework they can be cheap as to repair if something goes wrong.

As muddydigger said they are one of the best 4wd's on the market straight out of the box so if you want a cheap 4wd a disco is top of the list, with a 2in lift and set of muddies they will take you most places, add a rear diff lock and you have an awsome off roader.

The TD5's are a great engine, they go like hell, are cheap to run, but they need to be serviced regularly like any other diesel.

The Tdi's whilst they lack the power of the TD5 they are all mechanical so dont have the computer and electronic management systems that some people dont like, they are also cheap as chips to run, mine uses 10-11L/100km most of the time. The timing belts are only a problem if they arent changed at the set times, originally it was 100000km but that was revised to 80000km, some do it as often as 60000km. Other than that there is very little with the TDi engine that can go wrong if it is looked after. The 200Tdi was, arguably a better engine, timing belt wise, the 300Tdi had issues with it not riding straight on the pulley's but they was fixed in most vehicles under recall, mine hasnt been and issue.

Oil leaks are easily fixed with hoses, land rover make them leak after 12 months so you need to spend $75 a pop on new lines, i took mine off and had pirtek redo them for $13o for 2 of them and they havent leaked a drop in 18months, the only other oil leak i have is between the transfer case and the gearbox and thats my fault because i think i damaged the seal putting it back in after doing a seal kit on it, because an o-ring perished and caused a different oil leak, i am going to pull the lot out when i do the clutch and get it right.

Most people who bag land rovers have never owned one, so seek info from people who have, not people who knew a mate of a mate who owned one. Matt

[Disco98]

I haven't heard of the TD5's having timing belt issues, but the 300TDi does. Mate broke 2 timing belts on his over 300,000km or so, 1st was under wty, both times it bends the push rods and after replacing everything off it goes again. There's a mob in the UK that make a gear drive conversion (that's how bad they are!).

Little 2.5L has very little torque off boost, but once spooled up they go good. Fuel economy is also good.

He also broke a back axle, and a front CV on 2 different 4wd trips I recall. The suspension on them is excellent, pity the std little wheels cause it to get hung up on the deep ruts.

If you are worried you can contact a land rover dealer with the VIN of the vehicle you are looking at and ask if it has had the rectification kit fitted for the timing belt.

The Zues Timing Gear kit that is available is said to be worse than the timing belt, never used it myself but a couple of people in the LROC have and they have had serious problems with the gears, best of sticking to the belt and changing it regularly. Matt

[d3m0n1c_4b]

Thank you mate. that info was extremely useful. good to hear first hand info. other people have also given good info from this thread and thank you too. just good to hear pros and cons about the different engines. thanks again. i'll definately be keeping these coments in mind. i'm currently doing a traineeship (yes traineeship not apprenticeship) in vehicle servicing, so fairly basic mechanical stuff i should hopefully be able to handle, or at least know someone to help. thanks again for all the info, when i get one, the first thing i'll be doing is either 2 or 4" lift and then like 32/33" muddies of some sort, so i'm not going to really spend much more on my runner, if anything i'll change the suspension as it may sh!t itself soon.

[Disco98]

Thank you mate. that info was extremely useful. good to hear first hand info. other people have also given good info from this thread and thank you too. just good to hear pros and cons about the different engines. thanks again. i'll definately be keeping these coments in mind. i'm currently doing a traineeship (yes traineeship not apprenticeship) in vehicle servicing, so fairly basic mechanical stuff i should hopefully be able to handle, or at least know someone to help. thanks again for all the info, when i get one, the first thing i'll be doing is either 2 or 4" lift and then like 32/33" muddies of some sort, so i'm not going to really spend much more on my runner, if anything i'll change the suspension as it may sh!t itself soon.

Mate the disco's are a top truck, the worst thing about them is that its hard to fit big tyres under them, there are people with 35's under them but a 2in body and 2in suspension lift will need to be done.

If you buy one to run 32-33in tyres budget the money to have a defender transfer case fitted, defenders come standard with larger diameter tyres than the disco so fitting the fender transfer case will fix your gearing problems associated with running the larger tyres, around town you wont have a problem but on the highway you wont have the puff to maintain speed up hills with the Tdi, with the right gearing hills arent a problem. I run 31's and with a 2in lift i needed to trim a small amount of gaurd off the rear of the rear guards, they fit fine on the front, i know people who have run 32's easily.

And remember the rover diff centre is smaller than the cruiser and patrol ones so you get the clearance of a cruiser or patrol on 33's when you are running 31' or there abouts, i think you have an inch more clearance on the same tyres, but the rover diffs tend to be weaker in the centre, the centre pin can snap, and drop the centre gears out of the diff, i did two years of flogging the car before mine let go, an ARB locker and maxi axles will make it pretty well indestructible for everyday off roading though, provided you dont flog the shit out of it and try and get up tracks with right foot alone.

There are niggling problems, for example the fuel line from the lift pump to the filter housing on the firewall is to short so over time the engine moves under load and puts pressure on the fitting the pipe fixes to on the lift pump, eventually if fractures around the edge of the nipple it fits onto, $5 worth of flexible fuel line from Repco fixes that problem. Little things like that are mostly what people complain about with reliability, and they are cheap to rectify and once you do it right its never a problem again, and anyone with simple mechanical ability can do it.

The beauty of the TDi is that they are so simple, with your traineeship you will be able to do anywork that doesnt require more specialised tools yourself with the aid of the RAVE CD, that is the best $20 or so you will spend, it has exploded drawings of everything, details instructions on rebuilding anything that can be rebuilt, it covers everything.

Best of luck with it mate, find a good well looked after one and you will love it. Matt

[Andy_b]

I was actually looking at getting a series 1 Disco TDI, but my parents moved back to Canada and I got a good deal on a Prado TD, I had a Disco V8 before that on LPG and I never had any problems with it, But I didn't really like the LPG. So I sold it. Disco's are good 4wd. The auto's and Transfer cases are very tough. The axles are weak (24 spline) but can be fixed with Maxi-drives, however a family friend has a Range Rover classic with ARB lockers(10 spline axles) and has never blown a diff and axle in his Rangie and has done over 450,000km on it and has done just about every major 4wd track in Autralia.

Landy's are good cars they just need a little more TLC, then most fourby's.

Andy

[Paul100]

Sorry for a quick post hijack guy's !

Hey Muddydigger !
Good pic of Darcy ! , Wolverines are one of my favorite bands !

[HDJ105]

when i get one, the first thing i'll be doing is either 2 or 4" lift and then like 32/33" muddies of some sort, so i'm not going to really spend much more on my runner, if anything i'll change the suspension as it may sh!t itself soon.

Better budget for some better axles, CV's, track rods (all the HD Army fit's apparently), and some $ for a panel beater to trim the rear quarters for you.

[disco_thrasher]

Better budget for some better axles, CV's, track rods (all the HD Army fit's apparently), and some $ for a panel beater to trim the rear quarters for you.
mmmmmmmmmmm.......?????????????????????????

[brooksy]

Better budget for some better axles, CV's, track rods (all the HD Army fit's apparently), and some $ for a panel beater to trim the rear quarters for you.

Don't think so !!!!! :confused:
Axles will be the only concern but with intelligent driving can left alone for quite a while giving you the chance to save up (Maxi's $1,100 f&r). 32's require no body mods even with just a 2" lift. 33's can foul on the rear lower guard section on both the front & rear. This can be looked after by any person with the ability to switch on a 5" grinder. Where the tyres will foul the sheet metal is only the outer skin especially the rear quarter where it is a single skin for about the bottom 16" at least.



brooksy

[Muddydigger]

Sorry for a quick post hijack guy's !

Hey Muddydigger !
Good pic of Darcy ! , Wolverines are one of my favorite bands !

So they should be everyone should like the Wolves they are brilliant but im just biast!!
Sorry for the Hijack just had to reply

As I said every manufacture has bad apples. Disco is a great truck.
As for a clutch every 20000 klms or as stateted 2 in 40000 klms, id suggest sir you adjust your driving habbits seeing as you did a gearbaox and a diff too. Either that or you bought a lemmon in the first place and it was never right.
I cant unberstand that at all!
I know of Graham Cooper very well, and whilst I agree he and his staff are wizzards with Rovers I dont see he would even fathom what you state as a occured to your landrover other than driving it well beyond its design or faulty parts.

[HDJ105]

Don't think so !!!!! :confused:
Axles will be the only concern but with intelligent driving can left alone for quite a while giving you the chance to save up (Maxi's $1,100 f&r). 32's require no body mods even with just a 2" lift. 33's can foul on the rear lower guard section on both the front & rear. This can be looked after by any person with the ability to switch on a 5" grinder. Where the tyres will foul the sheet metal is only the outer skin especially the rear quarter where it is a single skin for about the bottom 16" at least.

brooksy

Well a mate couldn't get the smallest dia. available 7.50x16 MT's to fit without fouling.

And I witnessed him break a rear axle on one trip, and a CV on another with just the standard 245/xxR16 BFG AT/s.

Look at any offroaded Rangie and it will have Maxi's ;)

[d3m0n1c_4b]

Don't think so !!!!! :confused:
Axles will be the only concern but with intelligent driving can left alone for quite a while giving you the chance to save up (Maxi's $1,100 f&r).



brooksy
those maxi's you said brooksy, is that diff's, locker's or axles? sorry i'm still learning the different things in the 4wd world. cheers

'lil Nicky

[brooksy]

Well a mate couldn't get the smallest dia. available 7.50x16 MT's to fit without fouling.

And I witnessed him break a rear axle on one trip, and a CV on another with just the standard 245/xxR16 BFG AT/s.

Look at any offroaded Rangie and it will have Maxi's ;)


7.50x16 are actually 32" in dia as I have them on my trailer (they are an army issue tyre) if that is the same size comparison you are using & did he have any lift as I stated a 2" lift will allow 32" tyres on factory rims.
As far as broken axles & CV's, it has a lot to do with the driver. You can break CV's on any 4wd easy enough so that is totally irrelevent.
Rangie's are different to Disco's as Rangies run a smaller axle from factory than a Disco so that also makes that comment irrelevent as demonic is interested in a Disco not Rangie.


brooksy

[brooksy]

those maxi's you said brooksy, is that diff's, locker's or axles? sorry i'm still learning the different things in the 4wd world. cheers

'lil Nicky

That rough price is axles, about $550 for rear axles & the same for the front.


brooksy

[d3m0n1c_4b]

gee, i woulda though axle's to be more than that. i'm guessing they're a heap stronger than stocko ones. by adding a diff locker(of any sort), does this increase the strength of the diff??

[Andy_b]

You can also get Maxi lockers which come with a larger diameter axle. Which are crazy tough.

HDJ105, the standard tires on a disco are not 245/75r16, I think they're 205.

Andy

[HDJ105]

You can also get Maxi lockers which come with a larger diameter axle. Which are crazy tough.

HDJ105, the standard tires on a disco are not 245/75r16, I think they're 205.

Andy

Yep, I think you may be right, and he was running 225's now I think about it further.

[HDJ105]

7.50x16 are actually 32" in dia as I have them on my trailer (they are an army issue tyre) if that is the same size comparison you are using & did he have any lift as I stated a 2" lift will allow 32" tyres on factory rims.
As far as broken axles & CV's, it has a lot to do with the driver. You can break CV's on any 4wd easy enough so that is totally irrelevent.
Rangie's are different to Disco's as Rangies run a smaller axle from factory than a Disco so that also makes that comment irrelevent as demonic is interested in a Disco not Rangie.


brooksy

OK, OK, Disco's are the best truck's in the world!!!

And the amount of lift doesn't control the size of the wheel arch you're trying to stuff the wheel into. And he had an OME 2" lift BTW.

[Muddydigger]

OK, OK, Disco's are the best truck's in the world!!!

And the amount of lift doesn't control the size of the wheel arch you're trying to stuff the wheel into. And he had an OME 2" lift BTW.

No one here is saying they are the best 4wds in the world but they are under rated especially by those who dont know or have had experiance with them and instead base an opinion on hearsay.

[brooksy]

OK, OK, Disco's are the best truck's in the world!!!
.


Another irrelevent & stupid remark !!


brooksy

[Snerk]

My Disco 300tdi's standard tyres are 235/70/16s on factory alloys. It's had a 2 inch lift (XGS springs and shockers) which is great, but still has the standard size BFG ATs since they just refuse to wear out.
Goodyear MTRs are popular for Discos and I understood there were larger than standard sizes which would fit after a 2 inch lift without chopping the guards, but I can't remember exactly which size is best. But its been done, so get some advice.

One point to watch is that the cooling system is pressurised and the highest point of the engine is ABOVE the radiator so make sure the cooling system is not leaking anywhere or the top of your engine can be running hot, and eventually blow a head gasket. But that's just maintenance. People who neglect maintenance and then complain when their truck breaks down are just stupid tools IMO.

[Reddo]

Keep canning them, please, as this will keep the supply of vehicles and parts both available and cheap to all the fools (:)) that currently own them.

So far as the axles/diffs go - yes they will break, but usually doing stupid things, or they are simply worn out 'cause the vehicle is old, and has already done years of service towing or regular driving before being off-roaded.

I know one bloke that busted a rear Disco CWP snatching a Patrol up a steep rocky hill - but he was going totally off the show, side stepping the clutch etc on 35s, and even the legendary 80 series will bust CWPs doing that.

We've run 33s and not broken anything. However, going to 35-36s, we choose to upgrade - as you would do with most other vehicles, for peace of mind to bolster the smaller 4.11s.

Modifying Rovers is child's play, and they can be made very strong and capable for very few dollarsl - much cheaper overall than say an 80 series or Patrol. But like any vehilce you need to know when to quit or get the winch out.

[TP7]

What are peoples thoughts on the standard airbag suspension of the series 2 disco's? Does it negate the need for suspension upgrades to running 32/33" tyres? If not is it more expensive/difficult to upgrade to run bigger tyres?

[brooksy]

I have airbag rear in mine.
I have a 4" lift & 33" tyres on my D2. You can get away with the factory airbag & getting the ride height recalibrated but you will restrict down travel. I got bigger airbags in mine (13" travel) from "Airbag Man" & custom billet aluminium top plates that I did mounts on to suit the D2. I did this because I have 12" travel remote canister shocks. I basically designed my whole suspension system & with some minor valving issues that I have almost got licked I think no one else in OZ has done this to a airbag rear D2. My set-up works very well as many people have seen.
To answer your question, yes it is slightly more expensive but with my design you retain the benefits of having the airbag rear with self leveling & ride quality no matter how much weight you are carrying. It just takes a bit of extra thought to get it right.


brooksy

[d3m0n1c_4b]

with the air bag suspension, was it expensive to have the bigger air bags fitted? and was it only in the D2's, if so what year did it start?

[billiardbrett1]

I have just read all the replies andnobody has yet mentioned about the small locking screw on the oil pump in the TD5. They have been known to let go around 100k and fall into the sump causing the engine to fail bigtime. I know of one person who wrote to our club quoting repair costs of 12-15k. Apparentely LandRover know of this fault and there is a kit to fix the problem. Just something to ask about when looking at 1 to buy. Otherwise a great truck.

[brooksy]

with the air bag suspension, was it expensive to have the bigger air bags fitted? and was it only in the D2's, if so what year did it start?

Standard costs with parts & lift block kit diff mount (r), bag (r), top mount braket & moumt (r), coils (fr), modified top mount (fr), custom lower mount (fr), brakelines (f&r). But shocks is where price will vary.


brooksy

[d3m0n1c_4b]

cheers brooksy, when i get one i'll be paying you a visit, you can have another disco to work with.

[HDJ105]

No one here is saying they are the best 4wds in the world but they are under rated especially by those who dont know or have had experiance with them and instead base an opinion on hearsay.

Well seeing as I rode in it, drove it, towed it, fixed it and washed it's grease from under my nails I'd classify it as more than just "hearsay".:crazy:

[Disco98]

I have just read all the replies andnobody has yet mentioned about the small locking screw on the oil pump in the TD5. They have been known to let go around 100k and fall into the sump causing the engine to fail bigtime. I know of one person who wrote to our club quoting repair costs of 12-15k. Apparentely LandRover know of this fault and there is a kit to fix the problem. Just something to ask about when looking at 1 to buy. Otherwise a great truck.

the fix is to remove it and put locktite on the bolt, thats it, is piss easy. For some reason it wasnt added to alot of them at the factory.

As for chopping guards, there is more room under the D2's than there is under the D1's, i had to trim my rear guards (D1) to fit my 31in muddies under it, and thats with a 2in lift, the front is fine.

I give my truck a hard time up rocky hills around here, with 31in muddies and i busted my first rear diff over the long weekend at easter, there are circlips on either end of the pin that goes through the centre of the hemishpere to hold the smaller gears in the centre, one of the circlips fell off and the pin slid out and caught which in turn snapped it. If you dont damage the Crown Wheel and pinion gear like i did when some shrapnel got sucked into the teeth you can get diff centres etc on ebay for rover diffs for less than a hundred bucks.

I havent had a problem with my CV's, the key to making them survive is not running at full steam on full lock trying to get out or ruts and the like.

You can do a mod to put Land Rover County CV's in as they are stronger but i dont see the point, as Brooksy said Maxi axles are the way to go, they are tough, if you break one of those you are giving you truck one hell of a flogging, but its mainly the hemisphere that is the week point in the diff, and this is replaced when you add a diff lock, so a maxi drive diff lock or ARB diff lock etc will eliminate the weakest point, and provided you dont drive like a nut case you should get good like out of standard axles, i wouldnt replace them with maxi drive items until i broke the standard one first. If you want to go over kill you can get ashcroft Crown wheel and pinion gears which are stronger but there isnt really a need for it as they arent the problem. Matt