Lightweight S3 Brakes and Diff

vtwin · Oct 7, 2020

Does anyone know if front brake cylinders are the same as a normal Series 3 Landy I suspect mine are seized on one side as the wheel is tight to turn, will see If I can get it apart tomorrow.

My first look underneath and the rear diff has no level plug, I reckon they have fitted a different diff as I think a lightweight one has the diff plug on the casing and not the axle. The only way I can think of checking the oil is to drain the oil and try and refill the recommended amount through the breather hole.

kermit_rr · Oct 7, 2020

Before you get a new cylinder, see about cleaning up the old one first! Might not be too bad once you get it apart

Andy J · Oct 7, 2020

Sounds like you have Range Rover diffs & the brakes are the same.

vtwin · Oct 8, 2020

Front brakes are 11", after a lot of wd40 I got the stuck pistons out with an airline but they are well and truly corroded so picked up a new set from the local 4x4 garage, I don't know enough to identify the axles and brakes, but they don't look like the axles on the old S2A lightweight I used to own years ago.

Rougharse Racing · Oct 11, 2020

From memory, the lightweight axles are likely to have extra reinforcing along the bottom. Internally they will be identical to other Series axles, if the half shafts are original they may have flat drive flanges to keep the width down.
A few years ago I had a Range Rover diff without a filler plug, I just drilled a hole in the appropriate position and tapped it for a bolt. The casting is soft metal.

vtwin · Oct 18, 2020

On the road but the front brakes don't have the bite they should, rears lock up easily. New cyls and shoes on the front maybe the hoses are weak so they are next on the list.
Road speed is slow even with overdrive engaged 50mph seems flat out, tyres are road type but would that make all that difference, the engine is a 19J diesel and not sure if it revs the same as a petrol, everything has been mucked around on it so maybe low ratio diffs?

kermit_rr · Oct 18, 2020

Overdrive was designed to lower engine revs for a quieter experience and slightly meter mpg, not to increase your top speed.
If the front shoes are new then they will need to wear in before you get full brake performance!!
Can't believe i used the P word on a Landover forum!!

Rougharse Racing · Oct 18, 2020

Make sure the front shoes are adjusted up properly, the rears may be coming on first, causing them to lock up. It also may take a while for the fronts to bed in.
You need to get it sorted asap, the back end locking up is a bad thing as it makes the vehicle unstable and liable to spinning.
Your Lightweight will be on low ratio diffs as all Series motors had low ratio diffs, with the possible exception of the V8's. Is your engine making maximum revs? It could be worth checking that the throttle cable / linkage to ensure that it is getting maximum travel at the injector pump.

kermit_rr · Oct 19, 2020

rear shoes could be catching too, chamfer the leading edges if they arent already, could make a huge difference

vtwin · Oct 19, 2020

Thanks guys, good points to check, I am sure the engine is flat out as its screaming like hell but will check the throttle linkage, not using it on the road again until the front brakes are fixed as it would be iffy in an emergency.

Rougharse Racing · Oct 20, 2020

If it is revving it's nuts off, it could be worth raising the gearing.
I'm not sure if the series 3 transfer boxes have different ratios for petrol and diesel, could be worth checking.
If they are the same it could be worth trying Range Rover Classic/ Discovery / Defender diffs to gear it up a bit.

vtwin · Oct 25, 2020

Rougharse Racing said:
If it is revving it's nuts off, it could be worth raising the gearing.
I'm not sure if the series 3 transfer boxes have different ratios for petrol and diesel, could be worth checking.
If they are the same it could be worth trying Range Rover Classic/ Discovery / Defender diffs to gear it up a bit.

vtwin · Oct 25, 2020

Definitely engine running flat out fit to fly to bits, I will have to try and see exactly what transmissions and diffs are fitted in it.

Lightweight S3 Brakes and Diff

vtwin

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Rougharse Racing

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vtwin

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