The banjo axle was fitted to all MGB roadsters from 1962 and continued in intermittent use into 1965 to 1966. It is identifiable by its bolt-on centre casing, the differential is housed in a separate unit that bolts to the axle tubes, as opposed to the tube axle’s one-piece construction introduced later. This page covers the internal components specific to the banjo axle.
The standard final drive ratio is 3.909:1. A differential assembly is available as a complete reconditioned unit, which is the most practical approach for most owners rather than attempting a home rebuild from individual components. For those undertaking a full rebuild, the crown wheel and pinion, inner and outer pinion bearings, differential cage, bevel gears, thrust washers, and the full range of outer bearing shims are listed individually. Pinion thrust washers are available in a range of thicknesses from 0.112” to 0.126” for setting pinion depth.
Outer bearing shims range from 0.004” to 0.030” for setting bearing preload.
Half Shafts & Hubs
Half shafts differ between steel wheel and wire wheel cars, for steel wheels, for wire wheels. The hub assemblies at the outer end also differ accordingly, with steel wheel hubs and wire wheel hubs carrying different stud patterns. Wire wheel hub TPI, critical ordering note: banjo axle wire wheel cars up to chassis GHN3-30850 (approximately 1962 to 1964) used 12 threads per inch (TPI) on the rear hubs and spinners. Cars from GHN3-30851 onwards used 8 TPI.
These are not interchangeable. The rear axle hub nut is also handed, right-hand thread for the left side of the axle, and left-hand thread for the right side, so both must be confirmed when ordering. The Speedi-Sleeve rear hub seal repair kit provides a practical solution where the rear hub seal journal has worn, allowing the seal to be properly bedded without machining the axle casing.