What is this?

[Tom Santoli]

What is the welded box type section of steel in the photo? It is attached to the drivers side axle housing on a 1975 109 SW I own.

I haven't seen it before on LR front axles; is it some type of repair or protection?

Admittedly, I've seen mostly 88 inch front axles in my travels.

[yorker]

it looks like a "gusset" to reinforce the axle tube's strength.

[Tom Santoli]

Gusset, excellent term.

Is this typical or should I be looking for some axle tube failure it it was installed to address?

Thanks,

Tom

[Rineheitzgabot]

I would love to see a couple more pics from different angles, if it's not a pain in the a$$.

[JSBriggs]

Looks like the factory HD front housing. Its gusseted from the factory, and has thicker flanges that the swive balls bolt on. Mine is loose, Ill see if I can snap some pics.

-Jeff

[gudjeon]

Military Spec?

[Tom Santoli]

A couple more pictures of the front axle gusset.

HD front axle was standard on 109s in 1975?

Tom

[rovers2a]

looks like to me that there is a military HD front axle!

[jp-]

looks like to me that there is a military HD front axle!

Is that 24 spline?

[Tom Santoli]

Is there any external way for me to determine this?

My parts CD shows this gusset on later 1 Ton 109 front axles, would this be the same as a military HD axle?

No other evidence of this having been a military truck.

[usadventureracing]

I have one of these on my rear axle, it is a series IIa from the British Navy

[Tim Smith]

I've got that too. It's on a 109 military but it's not a one ton.

I've also snapped plenty of axles in that truck so I don't think having that gusset automatically means 24 splines.

[JSBriggs]

Her is the one I have. I bought it for my 109 pick up. It was RHD, but I dont know if it was MIL Spec/1 ton or what.

-Jeff

[thixon]

Just curious here. I assume they were worried about tube flex, hence the truss/gusset/large peice of steel welded to the axle tube. Did Land Rover mistake the weak axle issue caused by twist and work hardening with axle tube flex and decide to truss the axles on military vehicles?

[daveb]

I think they just didn't want them to bend. It can happen under hard use. I think all my series LRs had the trussed rear axle. But they are only trussed on the long side.

Just curious here. I assume they were worried about tube flex, hence the truss/gusset/large peice of steel welded to the axle tube. Did Land Rover mistake the weak axle issue caused by twist and work hardening with axle tube flex and decide to truss the axles on military vehicles?