MK 1 Diff change

[cartooner]

Hi, I have an Ex-Fireservice MK1 from Germany. It is fitted with the ridiculous 5.83 diff. in a twin-wheel axle. Now I bought this diesel MK1 which has a single wheel axle with what I hope( did not check yet) a better suitable diff. Are these diffs interchangable dispite the
twin wheel/ single wheel difference? thx

[carnut1100]

Ok, my Transit Mk1 had a different axle fitted when we got it, but according to my workshop manual they are different diffs.
There is one which was fitted to light duty Transits with single wheels and another that was a much heavier unit fitted to twin wheel vehicles and here in Aus it was used on SWB factory six cylinder models with single wheels and six stud pattern.

Maybe there are different variants in the UK so you may be able to swap it.

[madmark]

cartooner you are well out of luck ,the swb type axle is completly difrent!
you need to look for a complete axle with 4.63 diff or have your one fitted with a 4.63 diff, this is what i done with mine

[cartooner]

Ok thx, I was afraid for that. This 4.63 does it have to come from a MK1 LWB or will a MK2 also do?

[FredTransit]

the Mk2 has a narrower track (the distance between the wheels on one axle), don't know if it would be noticable though.

[madmark]

Ok thx, I was afraid for that. This 4.63 does it have to come from a MK1 LWB or will a MK2 also do?

yes it does!

[cartooner]

Ok thx, I was afraid for that. This 4.63 does it have to come from a MK1 LWB or will a MK2 also do?

yes it does!

yes it does have to come from a MK1 or yes the diff from a MK2 does fit the MK1 housing?

thx guys.

[madmark]

mate get yourself a mk2 or mk1 rear axle,the mk2 will be difrent on the rear brakes they are self adjust as the mk1 isnt, or if you know anybody who is good with transits axles get the crown wheel and pinion swapped!
anything else you need to know just ask as i have done everything on mine!

[travlinman]

can someone tell me were they get the info for axle being narrower as the back axle upto mk3s are the same or is this just hearsay

[travlinman]

still waitin for fred to tell me were info came from about axle being narrower or this more rubbish

[Gunslinger]

i've seen this said before about the mk1 axle being wider.

here is what i know, from experience.

mk2 and mk3 axles are interchangeable, as are the diffs etc. however, from the spring mountings out to the brake hub plate the mk2 has an extra inch (aprox) on each side, giving you a slightly wider track, however spring mounting locations are identical, so as long as you use the correct half shafts for the axle then you will be fine, and i belief mk1's are also the same measurements regarding the spring and shock mountings.

mk2 and mk3 brakes are slightly different, if you want to swap stuff around, best to take the entire lot including the back plate and transfer it over, it will fit as the mountings where the same. There are subtle differences in the brake cylinder bores and drum dimensions. Diffs are interchangeable, and i believe the bearings are too but not 100% sure about this, hub seals are of a slightly different different design, but should fit

when you switch diffs, make sure you keep the correct bearing adjuster carriers with the correct axle and the correct side/mounting, as these were threaded in situ during manufacture and as a result, slight differences may cause headaches later.

When i was messing around with my axle, it was said to me that the mk1 axle was slightly wider than the mk2, by about the same amount as mk3 to mk2, so if i wanted to fill the arches properly then grab a mk1 axle and half shafts, but i was told the same about the brakes as above, best to swap the entire assembly as the mk1 brakes were far inferior to the newer versions.


I kept my mk2 axle and used all mk2 spares, except for the diff which came from the mk3, the full set of bearings i had were for the mk2 and fitted no problems, and as i did not want problems with the mk3 rear cylinders being of a different rating, i used mk2 ones too.... and the best i found for these were lockheed units, as the other makes just would not stay fitted properly using the retaining ring supplied, the grove in the cylinder mounting was way too shallow and poorly manufactured


for proof on widths someone would have to measure them or at least read the manuals and check the track details..... but for mk3 and mk2 i can guarantee you that the mk2 is wider, not only my putting the 2 together on the floor off the van, but by measuring and also with the mk3 axle fitted i could not get my hand down the back of the tyre without getting it stuck on the floor panel, this is the main reason i went back to the mk2 axle, as the clearance worried me in the event of a partially flat tire causing too much movement and allowing it to rub

[travlinman]

great answer gunslinger all the details and to the point thanks--i now the mk1 and mk2 are diferant on the prop flange and splines from diff being smaller but the width i find hard to believe ford messed about retooling for something so basic but obviously they did thats why they get into somutch trouble keepit simple if it works

[Luke]

remember this is on lwb - on swb it was the other way round a mk3 axle is 1" wider than a mk1/2