I've almost got my new rear diff guard fitted but have found a problem with 2 bolts that hold the front part of the guard to the diff casing.diff.jpg
The 2 socket head screws at top left are the problem (and are only there temporarily). The holes seem to be M10, at least they can be run through with a M10x1.5 tap. However, when I try to use M10 bolts/screws they won't "bite", being obviously slightly too small. The supplier has included 2 M12 bolts to do the job which are clearly too big. It's a TD5 Rover axle and diff (post 2002) so why the confusion/problem? Anyone any suggestions? Are the threads AF perhaps?

If I can't solve it the proper way I'm prepared to bodge it for one trip. I'm thinking of putting some locking wire in the hole and "forcing" an M10 bolt to fit..any other ideas, folks?

Just had a look at the post and there's no pic even though the draft shows that it's attached. Just in case it never appears, the holes I'm talking about are on the nearside of the diff "nose", about halfway up the case roughly in line with the prop shaft.

Could always tap it to m12. Wire idea doesn't sound too great

It sounds as though you might have 3/8 x 16 UNC, which has a pitch of 1.5875mm, as opposed to M10, which has a pitch of 1.5mm, which is possibly why your M10 tap goes through without any problems.

After a trip to the local tractor shop to get some alternative bolts, it seems that they're Imperial. Spanner size is 5/8 AF if that's any clue. Not happy that the the supplier included metric stuff in the kit. Anyway, problem sorted without recourse to bodging.
Thanks to those who responded.

ogb said:

After a trip to the local tractor shop to get some alternative bolts, it seems that they're Imperial. Spanner size is 5/8 AF if that's any clue. Not happy that the the supplier included metric stuff in the kit. Anyway, problem sorted without recourse to bodging.
Thanks to those who responded.

Click to expand...

They're kit is probably designed with newer models in mind, I was just thinking they could have been metric fines but least you found some now!

ogb said:

I've almost got my new rear diff guard fitted but have found a problem with 2 bolts that hold the front part of the guard to the diff casing.diff.jpg
The 2 socket head screws at top left are the problem (and are only there temporarily). The holes seem to be M10, at least they can be run through with a M10x1.5 tap. However, when I try to use M10 bolts/screws they won't "bite", being obviously slightly too small. The supplier has included 2 M12 bolts to do the job which are clearly too big. It's a TD5 Rover axle and diff (post 2002) so why the confusion/problem? Anyone any suggestions? Are the threads AF perhaps?

If I can't solve it the proper way I'm prepared to bodge it for one trip. I'm thinking of putting some locking wire in the hole and "forcing" an M10 bolt to fit..any other ideas, folks?

Just had a look at the post and there's no pic even though the draft shows that it's attached. Just in case it never appears, the holes I'm talking about are on the nearside of the diff "nose", about halfway up the case roughly in line with the prop shaft.View attachment 125306

Click to expand...

the 2 bottom threaded holes are 3/8 bsf left over from early land rovers which used whitworth prior to unc and unf