Spline sleeve issues - how many miles before yours failed?

[owenfackrell]

Originally Posted by Acer

Why does the failure mileage vary so much? There has to be a scientific reason, whatever that may be.

It would seem that it's a combination of corrosion, due to it being a dry joint and it's sealed from the gearbox lubricants and from the angle drive whilst the seal between the box and angle drive unit is a simple face joint with no gasket, and a non hardened surface on the splines.

[BLACK065]

Originally Posted by Acer

Imagine it being bust with only 24k on the clock. That is outrageous! Must have been used to tow an elephant to its paddock

It never had a tow bar. When I look back I remember being stuck, unexpectedly, in mild snow etc during my early ownership which leads me to think I never had the 4x4 facility.

[Acer]

Originally Posted by BLACK065

It never had a tow bar. When I look back I remember being stuck, unexpectedly, in mild snow etc during my early ownership which leads me to think I never had the 4x4 facility.

Others have made the point that tyres are very important. Could be that your summer tyres (assuming that is what you had) just were not up to the job. I posted a link to an XC90 having a nightmare with a slippery slope, but you can clearly see the rear wheels spinning.

Failing that early would seem unusual based on what I have read. Especially if we consider it was pretty new and had never towed. Did you get it checked and fixed?