Section : Rear Axle

Rear axle, brakes, wheels and tyres.

1500 Rear axle in a MkIV

Posted By : Jonathan Pashley, 28-Jul-2004, 05:27pm

Just a thought before the old shed goes to the great car park in the sky
Whats the feasability and benefits (if any) in putting the diff from my 1500 into my mkIV
any advice welcome

Jon Pashley

Followups :

1500 Rear axle in a MkIV

Posted By : Mark Stradling, 28-Jul-2004, 05:43pm

If it's just the diff you are changing - no real problem, but then no real benifit either.

The 1500 has a different ratio diff, which will throw your speedo out and hurt your performance slightly. If your Mk IV one is dead and you have one lying around it will save - or at least postpone getting your wallet out for a while.

If you are looking to change the drive shafts too, then it's again easy if you have a late, wide track Mk IV (post-73), but if you have a narrow track, 70-73 car you need to change the rear radius arms (and possible mounts too - can't remember the outcome of that one in the end).
- 1500 Rear axle in a MkIV
  
  Posted By : James Carruthers, 28-Jul-2004, 08:21pm
  
  Yup - you need different radius arm mounts too... they're at a slightly different angle.
  
  Always keep every spare you have - you never know when you might need it - or flog it on eBay!
  
  James
- 1500 Rear axle in a MkIV
  
  Posted By : Jonathan Pashley, 29-Jul-2004, 10:32am
  
  Thanks Mark and James so no real benefit then
  It is a late MkIV so maybe I should keep the driveshafts for spares or even get them reconditioned as mine are quite noisy on the UJs
  
  Looks like there will be less and less going to the great car park in the sky then !)
  
  Jon
  - 1500 Rear axle in a MkIV
    
    Posted By : James Carruthers, 29-Jul-2004, 11:33am
    
    Jon
    
    Take my advice - strip everything - or put the car in the "Going Spare" board.
    
    I stripped my car down - but probably only 1/2 of it!
    
    I forgot lots of little things - that have since cost me money to buy new.
    
    For instance radius arm mounts - about 30 quid new... but I had a set of them on the car I sent to the scrapper!
    
    James
    - 1500 Rear axle in a MkIV
      
      Posted By : Jonathan Pashley, 29-Jul-2004, 12:08pm
      
      Good advice I think James.
      I better get my finger out then my storage space is about to disappear as my father has sold his house where my 'nice' spit lives and I need to clear out my garage where the 'shed' lives
      
      a few weekends with the spanners and angle grinder look likely(look out e-bay here I come)
      
      Cheers
      
      Jon