Land Rover Restoration Part 10 - Front & Rear Axles 1/2

This series of videos follows the restoration progress of a 1978 Series 3 Land Rover. Part 10, rebuilding the axles.
We start by checking the differential for wear. Checking the backlash with a dial indicator, and checking the contact pattern. Next we replace the differential pinion oil seal.
The next task is to install the axle plugs and breathers. Then attach the stub axles.
From there we rebuild and fit the chrome swivel balls and swivel housings. Including rebuilding the housings with new roller bearings and Railko bushings. We’ll also look at attaching the steering arms, and setting the steering preload or tension using a fish scale.
/ geoffreycroker
/ geoffreycroker
[e-mail]

[@williamstainer7214]

Surprisingly enough to respond to your gear pattern comment they are very good. You want the pattern to edge further towards the “toe” of the gear, ie further out towards the edge rather than it be further down i the centre like you suggested. On our aircraft transmissions we set the pattern relatively high, along with roughly about the same amount of backlash

[@bobuk5722]

Hi folks, I'm guessing, but I suspect the reason for this is to maximise leaverage and contact area on the gears thus reducing the tooth load and consequently the wear. Obviously you don't want the contact pattern ever getting off the outer edge of the gears, just 'reasonably' close. BobUK.

[@vguitarman]

The quality of this series is ruining other channels for me.

[@AlfOfAllTrades]

I take it you haven't found Clickspring yet, then :) But yes, Geoffrey is right up there.

[@AlfOfAllTrades]

@Mustafa Wanq I hope this was written literally dripping with irony.

[@AlfOfAllTrades]

@Mustafa Wanq Thanks, l know for sure, now :D

[@brlbrlbrlbrl]

This and BOM's Project Binky are the only two car projects I follow. The quality and attention to detail is just on another level.

[@vguitarman]

@Lassi Kinnunen The fiero build is fantastic and fun to watch. There's just a bit more satisfaction in these vids here. Hard to explain. I also quite like the Restore It vids with the e30.

[@rille47]

Geoffrey you are a very skilled mechanic and you work cleanly, thorough and methodical, it's a joy to watch. In some way you also find time to be educational (which is great). You put in the time on the video editing and have mastered this skill. The fact that you are addicted to old school heavy metal just makes it better. Your great sense of humor is not lost on me either. I love these videos you make, so thank you for taking the time and making the effort.

[@michaeletc]

This should be on Netflix...

[@topoftheleaguemostlygamer3021]

An amazing series it would be

[@darnellengelbrecht4400]

I hear that, it’s similar to Meat Eater in that people who aren’t really interested in the topic at all would find it fascinating, going into all the detail. Just like new innovation products from companies bring a new consumer to the brand, putting this on Netflix would draw a whole new kind of person into the world of restorations / touring in a time when the second hand car market has a lot of good deals

[@MrButtonpresser]

Who even needs to be into Land Rovers? I wasn't before this. Excellent production quality.

[@jaredrattray]

@Lassi Kinnunen Absolutely agree on both points!

[@MrEyad1990]

I dont even have a landrover . But i really love watching you work ..

[@zawzawaung6789]

Up here in Putao, Kachin State, the wealthy owner of a local hotel go his hands on a couple of mid-60s Landrovers...thinking he would restore them. Since watching your videos he's been disabused of the notion, realizing that parts will not magically show up in the post. Both vehicles were formerly used by the Burmese government, and run into the ground. One has an engine from an early Isuzu Trooper. Locals are masters of mending and making-do, but I think these Landrovers are beyond redemption. Other still-running machines are WWII American M-35 2 1/2 ton trucks, and occasionally a British 3-tonner.

[@GeoffreyCroker]

Cool. I will come and pick them up one day :) I have been to Myanmar but I don't think visitors were allowed further north then Mandalay back then.

[@mcallbee]

I wish they let us post pics here...I was in Pyin Oo Lwin and I got a picture of a 60's pickup truck that looked amazing.

[@nickboylen6873]

Erotikstudio Winkler GmbH, I strongly disagree. Their mechanics are often more resourceful, or even inventive, but they are also far more often dangerous.

[@bborkzilla]

I've seen several WWII era Willys MB's and Ford GPW's running around here with Isuzu diesel engines.

[@bob-ny6kn]

@@mcallbee Post a link to your pic. Start an account on dropbox, imgur or any photo-sharing space.

[@jonathanguerra3663]

Wow, christmas is a couple of days early!!!

[@jangoofy]

ah 13:52 - Stahhhlwille, the reason I started coming here in the first place, such memories

[@paulwomack5866]

Did you see his restoration video on that set?

[@hugodrax1674]

Should've used that German bloke at that point saying Shhhhhtahlwille

[@bobuk5722]

Yup, Geoffrey knows how to make highly entertaining, informative and succinct videos. BobUK

[@ferstuck37]

Those swivel areas even though they have a seal are exposed to the elements, why don’t they have gaiters for them as is common on most vehicles :)

[@olivertrevellyan9789]

These videos are the reason why I wake up every morning

[@andresfernandezduran3281]

Hey Mate! You are my hero....can’t stop watching. My 1976 SIII is waiting for the same treat...Cheers!

[@Chris-ib2mg]

absolutely incredible. Your videos have become the standard for my 1960 restoration. Excellent!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@garagefaff]

Holy timeline misdirection Batman! Those axle cases and FWH are all done in advance Roll on part 2!!! 👍👍👍

[@MrCrankyface]

It's so incredibly satisfying seeing how thorough you are bringing this vehicle back into top condition. Great work both mechanically and video wise!

[@Mile3500]

That photograph at the end could be a desktop background

[@GeoffreyCroker]

www.geoffreycroker.com/2019_land_rover_axles.jpg

[@BravoCharleses]

@@GeoffreyCroker What a mensch!

[@billzemon8628]

Great idea. Downloaded .jpg and installed. Looks great. I owned a 64 Land Rover in Ecuador. Learned a lot of life lessons trying to keep it running.

[@Mile3500]

@@GeoffreyCroker oh, bless your soul!

[@steveturpin4242]

The top Landrover repair videos on YT! Thanks.

[@MrCJNI]

OK so I just need lots more of this. I don't own an old Land Rover. Or any Land Rover. I barely own what could be charitably defined as a car. But this channel is so well done, so watchable that I have to just rewatch the videos over and over. Superb use of bandwidth. Thanks Geoffrey!

[@theogantenbein7870]

After decades of VW and Mercedes ownership i just learned about the joy of setting the bearing preload with a fish scale on my newly purchased Opel (Vauxhall/Holden) Frontera. Most annoying 😄. But a fun car.

[@StraightLineCycles]

This thing is coming along very nicely I hope at the end of it all you do a all-in-one video to highlight everything you've done

[@777pistolero]

Rammstein in the toolbox... cool!

[@markuskaljunen7066]

whats the song name?

[@adrianwhite888]

@@markuskaljunen7066 kzbin.info/www/bejne/jWTUaYKaatZ9n9E

[@frantisekhajek8]

@@markuskaljunen7066 Rammstein - Du Hast :)

[@lookcreations]

Enjoying this over my cheese butty before heading back out to my series 3 109” project 👍😎

[@SafariLifestyles]

Glad to see someone else went through the same process of the nuts and bolts not being protected.... I have also zinc plated them all.

[@devotidchannel]

I bleed green and just found this!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you. Ive rebuilt 2 of these and to see this quality of production video on the thing I love is...... well..........Im literally at a loss for words.

[@EssentialMountainHomesteading]

Great video, I have a 67' 109" and love all the information you're sharing.

[@dragon4r4]

Another excellent video, thanks Geoffrey and love the humour

[@peterhabel]

Thanks for sharing. Brilliant video.... getting myself in to the mood to restore the front axle on my Defender. This is a great inspiration!

[@BalintCzupi]

Thumbs up for the old famous german toolbox, the "radii" and the glorious plating :)

[@gonesailing]

Thanks very much. Heaps more entertaining than anything Netflix, Disney or Apple TV can offer of an evening 😅

[@dirk4926]

I'm happy to see you back on the project

[@batbawls]

The paint is humble yet fantastic. Classy 👌🏼👌🏼

[@mattcorbel]

perfect saturday morning. another croker video. i daily my series 2a and love these.

[@simonhughes9472]

It’s awesome to have you back Geoff, keep making the videos!!

[@porteog]

I'm about to start a full nut and bolt restoration on a series 3 Land Rover and I'll be forever grateful for these videos. It's also highly likely that I'll be asking a lot of additional questions! My brother lives in Tauranga so perhaps I'll get to see the car in the flesh one day when I'm over. Keep up the good work! Regards, George

[@aribach]

Really enjoy your videos. Thanks for all your hard work and dedication to enlightening us how to keep our grand old ladies running :)

[@WaynesWorld69]

I'm loving these videos! Binge watched the first 9 twice already!

[@homeless_horse2038]

That makes 2 of us

THE best restoration vids! Keep it going and many thanks for this content. Love it!

[@Geordie90210]

Brilliant as always! Thanks for sharing.

[@AlexWeetch]

Another 10/10. Thanks for always doing such a great job with these. The best thing about watching this one was that I already did this a few months ago so it was quite relaxing to watch.

[@Parknest]

Geoffrey, I've been watching all your videos from the start and I love all the attention to detail. This will be better than new when it is finished. Your are fortunate that you have stuff (such as the lathe) that most DIY-ers don't access to. The attention to detail is also reflected in the quality of the production of your videos. I've never owned any Land Rover vehicles but I once nearly bought a SWB Freelander with a 1.8 K-Series petrol engine and I've driven a Range Rover and a LWB Freelander.

[@mikekjellman]

the quality of your work (both the land rover itself and your videos) is just absolutely top notch! keep it up!

[@NigelMarston]

Really enjoying this series, not least because of the dry sense of humour.

[@RustyRecovery]

Great video as always. Thanks for sharing. Look forward to part 2. Jason

[@MarcosColuci]

Thank You! This is a wonderful christmas gift!!!

[@cittim]

best video series on youtube. Thank you!

[@dudesandtools]

Great series ...... I've watched it a dozen times already.......you sir are a genius...... can't wait for the next video

[@sjoerdvandermaaden]

Impressive craftmanship and inspringen for my 77 RRC restauration!

[@dougsaunders8109]

Nice to have you back

[@mattwhite5307]

I have loved watching your content - keep it up mate - it is inspiring me to get some of my rusty old junk working again!

[@piggymito]

Love the first part of this video dude, it's got a real Wes Anderson vibe to it! Top work as always. 👌

[@hiddenwatersflyfishing]

So happy to see more great videos!

[@graemelliott3942]

Cheers from LA Geoff! Great Video. Looking forward to the next one!

[@Skremn01]

Bloody good effort. Can’t wait for more.

[@steveturpin4242]

Brilliant descriptive series...thanks.

[@aearles7]

Great to see you back!

[@doug12341988]

Great video, I look forward to the next one!

[@tonybaggett1984]

This channel is like a beautiful woman that only sees you periodically. You may not see her all the time but when you do it is an absolute joy. Please keep up the excellent work and never stop uploading. I need my fix every once and a while 😂

[@GeoffreyCroker]

I am often compared to beautiful woman 🤣

[@iverspivers]

Great quality work, filming, and editing. Your videos are helpfull and inspiring to watch. I have a series 3 too. Thank you!

[@gertv6777]

I’m not a Land Rover guy but your cinematography work is so good I have to watch your videos as soon as I get a notification. It’s so amazing to see the difference in Land Rover verses American built trucks of the same era..... it’s definitely time to upgrade to at least a limited slip dif, as good as you are at rebuilding everything else it will not be difficult for you to set up a dif

[@GeoffreyCroker]

I thought about it. But it’s an expensive upgrade I probably don’t really need.

[@labellesworkshop]

Loved every second of it, keep up the great work!

[@tomanharalampiev4990]

one of the best restoration channels

[@ronnieskimming7242]

Brilliant channel.

[@iteerrex8166]

I have always wanted a Defender. These vids are gona be great help when I finally get one. Happy holidays everyone.

[@NathanNostaw]

A defender is similar, but a whole other beast altogether. These videos are for a series land rover, the early ones pre defender.

[@PeteCourtier]

An artist at work👍 Love it

[@NathanNostaw]

Add a few more parts and a bulkhead rebuild you will have made a full video rebuild series for your series. Super valuable info you are sharing and a nice light hearted presentation. Thanks for sharing.

[@chuckbester8430]

great video! Excellent visuals,

[@nicholasmcintyre4166]

Just discovered your channel. Watched the entire land rover restoration up till now. I'm definitely subbing, can't wait for more content!

[@Doughboy1941]

The music toward the end had me thinking something was going to go wrong. So glad I stumbled across you channel way back when. Keep it up. Regards, Silas.

[@BalancedLugger]

Another masterpiece!

[@captainq]

I, for one, am glad you're back and posting videos again. I will also settle the debate now: These are fun videos.

[@davidbrown8365]

Brilliant. Simply brilliant.

[@conrad1468]

Great visual aids and information.

[@michaelbradley4050]

Really enjoy your videos! Keep up the good work!

[@ioannisiordanidis3562]

Hi Geoffrey, thank you for the video, loved it! The axles themselves look very new and rust free. I would love to see the video where you restored/repainted those as well. These videos are beyond belief good. Gem of a channel! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@mwendakanyuru1051]

Your explanation is so good since i began watching the series three restoration i have loved land rover so much. I wanna get one series 3 109 and gradually work on it. Am inspired. Much greetings from kenya

[@bogdanisari4365]

Beautiful work

[@rayg9069]

Whitworth bolts holding the backing plates on, Luxury. Series 2A use BSF (well mine does), Nylocs for those are getting hard to find at Bunnings, still popular in British aircraft restoration circles. Thank you for the detail on the front swivel housings, being new to Land Rovering I wasn't clear how it all fitted up and worked.

[@alexs8710]

Cant wait for the next part. Awesome video mate! Happy holidays!

[@VintageRestorationsAustralia]

Super useful video, thanks

[@jonofriedrich5429]

Christmas came early! Love these videos, mate!

[@tutekohe1361]

Rover 90 diff pumpkins fit the axle housings for a higher final drive ratio, ergo less revs and lower fuel consumption. Great video, Geoff, thx 👍

[@rdbanks2823]

Really good video! Tip for the bearing races: pop them in the freezer for an hour or so, they'll drop right in without any oil :)

[@etiennelasschuijt7838]

Great work! And love your sense of humor! :')

[@collinwilliams9690]

Just wanted to say I love your videos. I’m a big car guy (off-road vehicles especially) and got recommended your channel, I instantly loved the video quality and style and I am very impressed. I’ve been binge watching this restoration series and had to take a break to let you know to keep up the good work. I hope to see many more!

[@hyhgtsssassfilj]

Thought we'd have to wait another 6 months from part 9 but woo hoo 10 in time for xmas. Brilliant as normal. Makes me want a series landrover more each time as my drive looks distinctly unoiled. Merry Xmas.

[@kevinchamberlain7928]

I knew a bloke who swapped his defender wheels for Nissan Micra ones. Then he swapped the chassis, running gear and body for the now redundant, wheel-less Micra. ones also. "This is the most reliable, economical Defender in the world," he said. He reckoned off-roading was exactly the same as he only used it on Tarmacadam.

[@steveturpin4242]

Open University! Thanks. Essential viewing!

[@cykoshroom23]

Great video!

[@user-nr2xb4zg7w]

Thanks for the explaination of the differential. I never got that.

[@nicholass3964]

At 13.00 LMFAO keep it up, Geoffrey. Thanks

[@isaacray8530]

Part 2!!!!

[@leonardpadin869]

Hell yeah. Been waiting to see this.

[@ebagmaiyup7436]

Fantastic!

[@CraigsWorkshop]

Excellent video as usual Geoff! Cheers, and merry christmas. Craig

[@davewood9329]

thank you awesome as always

[@allanloveday8764]

It’s amazing how similar the front axle of this truck is to my ‘91 80 Series Landcuiser

[@CSkwirl]

Same as my '90 Daihatsu Feroza too

[@normantorok5919]

another great vid. thx

[@mattknight142]

Love it!!

[@Watchyn_Yarwood]

Put those bearing races in the freezer section of the fridge overnight. They will drop right in without hammering. Same for any press fit metal on metal parts

[@victorpelini5995]

Works great but some peoples arent good enough at planning/forget. He forgot to order quite a lotta parts so im guessing he isnt the best at planning it all out. Hes def a talented mech nontheless !

[@tombob671]

Excellent job👍.... Merry Christmas from Oklahoma

[@GeoffreyCroker]

Merry Christmas Oklahoma :)