Bad vibration

Hi all.
I have just got my 1st land rover ('94 defender 90), and very recently under load I've been getting harsh vibrations, especially on motorways and on hills. Put clutch in, it disappears, dived underneath today to discover there's a lot !! of play in the front diff, so I'm assuming this is the problem. In my ignorance I thought well I'll just remove front prop until I can get an axle but..... no drive. so I guess there's a diff in the transfer box so drive is going forwards, correct ?

Ok so where do I get a cheap axle from a what models/years can I use for parts.

Thanks in advance.

Doug

engage the diff lock mate and it should drive, are the uj's on the prop showing any play?, if so change em mate. my diffs have a fair bit of play but when i got bad vibration it was my uj's.

Uj's are fine, no wear at all. Ah yes diff lock haven't used that yet. good idea
Cheers Doug

Check that you haven't got a broken or stripped a half shaft!

Even if the props were badly worn or bent you should still have drive to the front wheels.

Jack it up at the front end and with the handbrake on see if you can turn a wheel. If you can, it will be the shaft.

A half shaft is cheaper and easier to replace than an axle!

Remember that if it has stripped the spline at the drive flange, replace that as well.

By the way, :welcome2:

Thanks for reply oldseadog.

The lack of all drive happened when I, in my ignorance removed the front prop, thinking that I could still drive it in two wheel drive for now, not realising there's a diff in the transfer box. At present I'm thinking that there's either a large amount of play in the diff or the halfhafts are worn at the diif end. I've had a look at the drive flange end and that looks fine. I'll start to strip the axle soon, I've never done one before, never entirely understood diffs but once I'm in there it'll all become clear, I hope

Cheers Doug

If you engage the diff-lock you can still drive it even without the propshaft on.

Am I right in thinking that diff lock should only be used sparingly. And I shouldn't use it on my daily drive ?

Cheers Doug

I drove normally on the roads for a couple of weeks with no adverse effects, whilst waiting for a new shaft.

Just don't thrash it, and you should be OK.

as long as you havnt got a prop to the front axel you can drive with diff lock engaged no bother

if you have a prop to the front wheels and drive on solid surfaces with diff lock youll get transmission wind up and trash something !

Well it turns out I don't know my arse from my elbow as my problem was the rear uj, I think I was so focussed on the front axle play that I ignored everything else. there is play in the half shafts which I will change in due course, still all sorted now.
Thanks to everyone for all the replys without taking to pi**, as I've had with other forums I had experience of (other makes). I now know more than I did before joining the landyzone. I've also been sorting out a few electrical niggles after looking through old threads on here.

But where's the snow I've been looking forward to ? I was out today at our rugby club in shorts FFS

Cheers Doug