Southdown front diff guard

[JST]

As you can see along with the X-Eng post i have had some time to work on the truck recently!

Anyway, for years, well since i started off roading, i have had a Southdown front axle guard fitted to each truck in turn (well the same guard that i kept transferring). A great bot of kit, it protected the drag link well and i knew i could not worry about anything underneath the front axle, it was good at stopping the muck coming up over the axle as well and limiting it coming up into the engine bay.

However in competitions (yes i can remember!) it did catch me out on sections that others had driven with the same spec/tyre size. This was due to clearance. The guard does hang about half and inch or so below the axle and it can also create a good base for suction to take hold of in deep ruts/mud. However i liked it and kept it fitted as i was confident it was giving me good protection to the axle and drag link not to mention the diff.

Having always and only used Southdown for under body protection i was therefore interested to hear that they are thinking of bringing out a diff pan guard. The front one can also come with a drag link protection arm that bolts to the diff nose in place of the std LR one.

Its a good hefty bit of steel which is pressed to form the shape required to go over the crown wheel. There are several options for fitting it, either bond or weld it on if its going over the top of the existing diff pan (or bond and weld it) or weld it on if its a replacement diff pan (ie cut the old one off first)

I went for the tac weld option in four places to hold the guard over the top of the old diff pan and then sealed the edges to stop moisture/water/muck/mud etc getting in there.

Having used the truck in anger since fitting it i am very pleased, its got tonnes for frontal protection for the diff and i have been able to drive some sections that were 'tricker' with the older front guard fitted.

Disadvantages over the full axle guard are that you need to have uprated steering bars, mine is currently running QT bars although i think Southdown may be doing their own bars in the future as well. Its also not as easily transferable between vehicles.

The one i have is a bit 'wonky' as the hole for the axle filler cap is slightly out (its too low) but it still does the job superbly.

Giving full diff protection rather than just the crown wheel means that its ideally suited to the job and can't/won't bend off or snap the moutings, they are also cheaper than the other normal replacement HD diff pans!

[Orgasmic Farmer]

Looks tidy.... but having broke a diff the other day and punched a hole though the casing with a bit of broken gear I would be reluctant to weld something on that's not fully integrated and oil proof. If you're running fully uprated internals I guess its OK. The drag link protector is worth having. Comes as standard with a QT style guard though. And uprated links are not the be all and end all. We managed to bend a brand new Sumo in half on the Tay and both mine and Steves are well bent (though still serviceable). Gwyn Lewis's drag link protector is a good bit of kit though and won't lose any clearance under the diff.

I must say though have a southdown steering guard too and its very effective and extremely well made

[q-rover]

I've got their front axle guard on my P38 and had a rear tank guard on my RRC.

Very good bits of it and Dave is a sound bloke.

[SDDave]

Just a quicky, the new guard that James has is the trial model and the correct location for the drain plug hole has been put in place for the next generation.

As he says it will be either a fit over un-damaged existing crown wheel casing or complete hack off and replacement of the original(IE- Fully Welded).

A word of warning on the fit over style of track rod protectors,box. Many have been doing them for some years, both here and in the states. The trouble is, if there is an ingress of stones or slurry mud the track rod can become trapped or jammed in its bi-lateral movement from lock to lock. They can require as much if not more TLC as our original full width axle guard.

Food for thought!!

Dave

[q-rover]

Have you got any rear diff protectors for a P38 RR?

[JST]

Have you got any rear diff protectors for a P38 RR?

nah, i dont need them i run 90s........

[Projectblue]

nah, i dont need them i run 90s........

Nice one James, I've been meaning to ask if Dave had got around to designing this. Must get one sourced pdq

[JST]

best drop him a line David, especially before the 25th DRD!!!!

[RedLineMike]

ive got a southdown axle guarde & steering gaurd

bent both o them at the tay

do the job though

[JST]

TJ101 steering guard is a bit bent courtesy of Tangoman i think certainly was bent when he got it.

like you say though they still do the job. i highly rate any of defender products i have steering, fuel tank side, fuel tank rear, frotn axle and rear axle guards on mine and all are superb bits of kit not to mention one of his 8274 front bumpers.