RAVE calls for an STC 50554 sealant on the driveshaft (axleshaft) splines when installing a new hub. I have seen posts and threads where people use threadlocker, and I found a reference to Loctite 640 which is a sleeve and bearing retainer. The 640 makes the most sense as it fills any microscopic voids in the metal so that there is full contact between the surfaces, but it also says it requires 500 degrees to get it free. Has anyone used this before? It also takes 1 hour to set which is nice because it gives you time to get everything back together but it requires 24 hours for full cure which leaves me down a vehicle for a day.

 

Loctite 640 is the red stuff right? it will definitely require heat to release.
I used it once and never again Blue and green is all I have used in the last 20-years

 

640 is the green stuff. It's primarily a gap filler, but it cures anaerobically when in contact with reactive metal and is pretty strong stuff. It will also be over a significant area. Hopefully I will never be taking this apart but just in case I'd like to know I can.

 

I found this cross reference on another site:
STC50550: Loctite 5900
STC50551: Terostat 8586
STC50552: Loctite 243
STC50554: Loctite 648
STC3811: Hylomar 101 (Amine curing RTV silicone sealant - engineering grade)
STC4404: Hylomar 607 (Oxime curing RTV silicone sealant adhesive)
STC4600: Hylomar 3400 (Permatex Anaerobic Gasket Maker or Loctite 518)

 

Here is the rest of the chart:

NOTE: This is the current list of sealant recommendations from Land Rover's Topix website (accessed May 2013). This information supersedes the sealants recommended in the CD version of RAVE.
Sealants
The following table lists those sealants which are used during repair/overhaul procedures covered in this manual; it is essential that the sealant specified for a particular procedure is used at all times.
V8 Engine
Sump gasket to cylinder block - STC 50550
Clutch/torque converter housing to cylinder block - Upper 4 bolts - STC 50552
'V' grooves at end of cylinder head - Inlet manifold gasket - STC 50550
Cruciform seal ends - STC 50550
Dipstick tube - STC 50554
Timing cover bolts - STC 50552
Engine Management System - V8
Engine coolant temperature (ECT) sensor threads - STC 50552
Manifolds and Exhaust System - V8
'V' grooves at end of cylinder head - Inlet manifold gasket - STC 50550
Manual Gearbox - R380
Gear selector housing - STC 50550
Selector housing bolts - STC 50552
Input shaft oil seal housing - STC 50550
Input shaft oil seal housing bolts - STC 50552
Reverse inhibitor shaft threads - STC 50552
Gate plate bolts - STC 50552
Gear case to extension housing - STC 4404
Extension housing bolts - STC 50552
Gear change lever yoke Allen screw - STC 50552
Gear case to centre plate - STC 4404
Detent plugs - STC 50552
Bias spring adjustment plate bolts - STC 50552
Transfer Box - LT230SE
Bottom cover plate - STC 4600
Bottom cover plate bolts - STC 50552
Front output housing core plug - STC 3811
Transfer box to gear case bolts - Petrol and Diesel engines - STC 50552
Transfer box to gear case studs - Petrol and Diesel engines - STC 50552
Rear cover - STC 4600
Differential warning lamp switch(es) - STC 50552
High/Low selector warning lamp switch - STC 50552
Rear output shaft housing - STC 4600
Rear output shaft housing bolts - STC 50552
High/Low selector fork set screw - STC 50552
Interlock solenoid selector cover - Up to 03 MY - STC 4600
Interlock solenoid circlip - 03 MY onwards - STC 50551
Neutral sensor - STC 50552
Intermediate shaft retaining plate bolt - STC 50552
Side cover - STC 4600
Side cover bolts - STC 50552
Differential lock selector shaft detent plug - STC 50552
Differential lock selector housing bolts - STC 50552
Front output shaft housing - STC 4600
Front output shaft housing bolts - STC 50552
High/Low selector shaft detent plug - STC 50552
Input gear bearing housing - STC 4600
Rear cover stud nut and bolt - STC 50552
High/Low cross shaft housing - STC 4600
High/Low cross shaft housing bolts - STC 50552
Rear Axle and Final Drive
Differential cover to casing - STC 3811
Differential cover to casing bolts - STC 50552
Differential cover to casing - STC 3811
Front axle
Differential cover to casing bolts - STC 50552
Front suspension
Drive shaft to hub - STC 50554
Rear suspension
Drive shaft to hub - STC 50554
Rear suspension
SLS air compressor bolts - STC 50552

 

Thanks for the cross reference. I couldn't seem to find one. The 648 is similar to the 640 but has a faster set and lower disassembly heat (250 vs. 400). I'll try to find some.

 

by the time you torque that down to the 300 or so lbs it calls for I dont see it backing off.

 

The torque is 360 ft-lbs. The nut is staked so it can't loosen up. The loctite is placed on the splines so that when the hub is installed there is no slop and therefore no movement between the axle shaft and the driven flange.


I find it interesting that the product RAVE calls for in the hub splines is the same as the dipstick.

 

to make up for the poor machine quality of their parts, i assume

 

The old style half shafts in RRC, D1, and defender would wear on the splines if they weren't oil properly. Some people have removed the inner seals to allow oil to flow all the way to the caps. See here: Ashcroft Transmissions - Late Rears

On a D2 this isn't possible, so they probably use this stuff to reduce the chances of the spline wear.