Maxi Drive now make 49% reduction gears

[ShaunP]

Too true, there are lots here in Oz but not as many as Nissans and Toyotas. As for Jeeps they don't really rate down here, and unlike the US, Jeep parts aren't cheap. The funny thing is that Toyota replacement service parts are the most expensive in general terms here, and they are the most popular 4x4, general service parts are quite cheap for DIsco's here, but there are lots of aftermarket LR shops selling parts, there would be 5 I can think of here in Brisbane. As far as bars, diff locks, axles etc they are mostly all made here anyway so we get them cheaper than you guys first up. Low ratio gears aren't a big seller here for any trucks really, rock hopping isn't what most people do here. While 4x4s are kind of a national pass time we use them mainly to go places that you can only go and see if you have a 4x4, is more about the destination not climb up the hill. But your correct low volume = cost, no way Mal at Maxi-drive is going to start poping gears out by the 100, and making shit loads of his portal drop axles and rear wheel steering, he'd go broke. However he will pop out axles, drive flanges and rear ball joints cause he sells a lot more of them.

 

[SCSL]

The funny thing about prices is they will fall into market equilibrium in the absense of articifial influences. Politicians generally try to legislate price controls when the perceive something to be too expensive. Instead, their time would be better spent looking for the existing artificial influences effecting market prices & removing them.

 

[Electro Gremlin]

Fair enough, so does GBR charge the exchange deposit on top of the $700 or is that incuded in the $700. For that sort of money I reckon I could drive in to MR and drive out tomorrow with the gears fitted and all new bearing in the box, that's if I was feeling lazy of course.

Nope, the core charge is an extra $500 over and above the $2000 price (not including shipping each way). Not sure what they do with the two old gears, maybe they use them in rebuilds, but obviously somebody's making an extra buck off of them somewhere.

All I can say is that charging $2000 plus a $500 core charge doesn't exactly stimulate demand. So given the choice, the Ashcroft is a much better deal -- my LT 230 is bleeding like a hemophiliac anyway (even with 100% Lucas oil stablizer), so this may be my next big purchase after the DUI distributor.

Norm

 

[ShaunP]

2 x $15 seals and a tube of Blue max will stop will stop it leaking, I wouldn't pull it out unless it's totalled, they normally go on forever.

 

[Electro Gremlin]

2 x $15 seals and a tube of Blue max will stop will stop it leaking, I wouldn't pull it out unless it's totalled, they normally go on forever.

Been there, done that. That fix lasted 2 weeks.

---Norm

 

[ShaunP]

The bloody things leak out of the bolts that hold the covers rather than the covers them selves. I run my transfer on a pretty thin synth oil and it's pretty dry on the 5 speed and transfer case, My old mans TDI is the same, they are seldom dead dry but they shouldn't drip particularly if you are running straight Lucas.