Hilux Axles

[Gary P.]

Just a quick picture to show anyone who was wondering about the reason for changing over to a hilux rear end!!! I just hope that the extra weight doesn't slow me down too much!!

[jpayne]

gee Gary yours look good. Mine are almost like a camshaft with the spline cut into one side of the shaft. when centered on the lathe there was over 1 mm of ovalness.
The phots does not do the size difference justice, the axles are 'F'in huge in comparisson.
Cheers,
Justin

[Gary P.]

For anyone interested, the weight difference between the Hilux Housing (with axles, without brakes) and the Escort housing in the same spec was 14KG

[gen mk 1rs2000]

i wonder how much a "boat anchor" atlas rear end compares to these figures ?

[jpayne]

Gary, once you add the center its a fair bit heavier isn't it. The center is quite a bit bigger than the escort lego diff. from memory each axle is 15kg's the housing is about 15 and the center is 30+kg's. I sent one to queensland and had to weigh the parts. and that was a cut down version!
cheers,

Justin P

[Tom Heitmann]

Justin,

I think that I was the receiptant of the assembly in Qld. Have not fitted it yet as I have too many projects on the go and all my cars are for road use only due to my age limiting my reflexs.

The axles are 8kg each, the housing is 16kg and the diff center is 24 kg totalling 56 kg.

Cheers, Tom

[Gary P.]

Sorry guys, I wasn't clear enough! (was that the sound of my wife in the background,going.....REALLY?)

The 14 kg difference included the centre. My Hilux assembly came up at 53kg, the Escort with centre was 39kg. I had ithe Hilux made up about 10mm shorter than standard Escort so I could lower the car and not have to bash the guards......too much!

[jpayne]

Yep thats my memory for you.
If im not holding them on the scales in front of me I obviously cant remember. Damn this age thing.

Cheers

JP

[paul735]

Anyone tell me what is cost them to get thier Hilux housing and axles cut down?
My figures have it all working out just a bit more expensive than the just LSD centre alone to suit a standard escort diff, and that includes buying the Hilux rear end.

[jsa]

Paul,

Axles from the RN10 to RN25 model range are already the right width, no need to shorten.

Like Gary, I chose to have the diff made slightly narrower, to adjust for disc thickness less a bit more for tyre clearence. The spline on the axles has enough length to be shortened and still maintain full engagement.

Stud pattern requires changing if you want Escort pattern

The housing from the same model range is also the Escort width, overall and for spring saddles. BUT, it is a heavy housing. The 80's Hiace housing is lighter but the width needs to cut down and spring saddles moved.

Costs a few hundred bucks to restud and have a hiace housing changed.

[shaunb]

So guys are Hilux rear ends heavier or not than an Atlas / Capri rear end?

One of the guys in our local club is rallying a MK2 with a hilux rear end (risk braked etc) but is finding the weight really noticeable.

He has been rallying Escorts for years here and OS and has had Atlas rear ended cars before but this is his first hilux equiped car.

I am guessing that the softer springs we run on gravel would make the weight more noticeable than in a fairly stiffly sprung circuit car?

He is presently hunting up atlas / capri bits to put one of them together.

I didnt think there would have been much difference in the all up weight of either?

Shaun B

[mickas]

Yes the hilux diff is heavier. check out our other discussion on falcon diffs.

[jpayne]

It would appear that there are several different weight housings, I guess depending on what vehicle they were taken from. My weights were for a housing from a Hiace van not Hilux ute and was full width not cut down.
I have been very happy with the choice and was a very simple swap undertaken very cheaply.

Justin P

[proey]

There also appears to be different cast centres housings. I haven't weighed them but there could be a saving there.

[jsa]

[proey]

[jsa]