My brain is hurting. The number of part numbers I have come across for the T5 platform is nuts. The fronts do not worry me as much since one really only should look for the 2.0mm pitch on the axle end threads over the earlier finer 1.5mm pitch. That is the easiest way to ensure you have the latest although I don't think there is really a difference - some claim HD and non, but I think that only applies to the rears with locking diff or not. And in that case I read HD became standard anyway. So again, look for course 2.0mm thread pitch for rears and you should have "HD". If I am wrong on any of that, I would love to know though since my replacement front shaft does have HD in the part number..... "T5 LH HD FRONT". That kind does make me think there was a none HD, if only early on, for the fronts. One thing is for sure though, on the front any left will fit any right will fit, HD or not.

The rears though are another story. It would appear that there are, in theory, four versions. Like the front they are side specific. And there are versions for non-locking rear diff and locking. Where I need help is knowing if there is a way to identify them in pic. I am looking for shafts to rebuild and so many sellers seems to get the parts numbers wrong. If they have a VIN listed, I can run that to check the rear diff option at least. But most don't.

So anyone here wrench on these all day and know of any clue to help ID them? Does anyone know what is actually different between locking and non? I suspect maybe locking are shorter at center since the diff is a wider but that is a guess.

Oh, and here is my messy list of part numbers that still makes little sense. It is like LR has five numbers for what is in theory the same part.

CV AXELS FOR ROVER LR3

TDB500090 - front left driver for 4.4
TDB500080 - front right passenger, long shaft for 4.4
TOB500250 - rear left driver locking diff
TOB500260 - rear right passenger locking diff (verified locking and location) also

LR072069 - Front Left Hand Driveshaft - for Range Rover Sport (2005-2013), Discovery 3 and Discovery 4
LR072070 - Front Right Hand Driveshaft - for Range Rover Sport (2005-2013), Discovery 3 and Discovery 4 - For 2.7 and 3.0 Diesel with Auto Box
LR072063 - Rear left - Range Rover Sport and Discovery 3 & 4 Rear Driveshaft - Left Hand - For Vehicles WITH Rear Locking Differential
LR072071 - Rear right - Range Rover Sport 2005-2013 and Discovery 3 & 4 Rear Driveshaft - Right Hand - For Vehicles WITH Rear Locking Differential

Front pass: LR071930 replaces: LR047292
Front driver: LR072067 replaces: LR047293

LR047285????? Right rear also??? LR Range Rover Sport LR3 LR4

TOB500280???? LR047288,LR071933 — 2005 to 2009. RH rear, dunno if locking

 

I dont think I am onto something, but I might be. After running more VINs, often sellers claiming locking, I did start to see a patter in design. There is a slight chance that locking have a beveled edge on the outside joint and open diffs do not. Still not sure of this tho.

 

I know my HD has the bigger joints like the one on the left. Not much help, but I understand your frustration. Seems there aren’t many people that know the details on these land rovers.

 

I have locking rear diff and my half shafts have beveled edge like that.
Shafts are also much beefier that those on open diffs.I am only aware of two different kinds for the front, old style, that requires stake nut and newer design that comes with a crown type nut.

 

Yeah, after spending a day researching - mainly the rubber boots - I have to come to the same conclusion. That even though many of the beveled ones on eBay have a VIN listed that shows non-locking, I think they are the locking version. They are larger but not my much, about a quarter inch across. And once again there are a lot of sellers listing either CV boot as the same product, TDR500070 is the outside boot for non-locking. TDR500080 is the outside boot for locking. I had to pull up quite a few euro based sited to get specifications on the boots to know for sure.

For reference, this is a locking boot. If measured to the ID it could be 1mm less. As for inner boots, no clue. Never found much on those but there is a chance they are the same for locking and non. I also did find in the workshop manual that the left and right rear CV assemblies as a whole are apparently identical. Not sure why LR felt the need to assign 30 parts numbers between the left and right then.....

 

Extra note which may be why I am finding non-locking with locking axels listed that just occurred to me. Some of these come from a sport. I have never looked up the Sport specs but I wonder if on the Sport they decided to go with beefier rear axels by default. That would certainly explain some of the listings because the LR4/LR3 and Sport share a ton of the same stuff.