Bleeding front prop again! Britpart so shouldn't be surprised

kooky_guy · Nov 6, 2011

Rangie started vibrating on overrun and making random metallic noises from underneath yesterday. Just been underneath and found this on one of the ujs on the front prop. I assume this is the source of the problem....? Basically it looks like the cup seal has just rotted away and disintegrated.

The damn thing is only 18 months old.

I've still got the original front prop so I'm thinking of having a go at replacing the Ujs on that - never had much luck doing them before but Mad Hat Man's tutorial makes it look reasonably straightforward... (Famous last words...).

My biggest problem is getting the prop off - none of my sockets will work on the prop bolts. Anyone used those prop bolt tools on eBay? Are they worth bothering with?

Still not sure whether I'd better off getting a garage to do it as I need it done urgently. Grr.

Fur Trapper · Nov 6, 2011

kooky_guy said:
Rangie started vibrating on overrun and making random metallic noises from underneath yesterday. Just been underneath and found this on one of the ujs on the front prop. I assume this is the source of the problem....? Basically it looks like the cup seal has just rotted away and disintegrated.

The damn thing is only 18 months old.

I've still got the original front prop so I'm thinking of having a go at replacing the Ujs on that - never had much luck doing them before but Mad Hat Man's tutorial makes it look reasonably straightforward... (Famous last words...).

My biggest problem is getting the prop off - none of my sockets will work on the prop bolts. Anyone used those prop bolt tools on eBay? Are they worth bothering with?

Still not sure whether I'd better off getting a garage to do it as I need it done urgently. Grr.

Glad you posted a pic looks like a grease failure as in the lack of grease! As most uj failure is the lack of grease about 95% of the time, and breakage for the remainder.

You just bought a cheap one. Brit part does sell oem just ask for it, you get what you pay for.

But when you talk to them don't start off saying I want the cheapest Uj you got

wammers · Nov 6, 2011

Prop nuts and bolts are 3/8 UNF not meter****. The grease nipple is there so you can grease the UJ. Think about it.

kooky_guy · Nov 6, 2011

It does look a bit dry in there, but the joints have been regularly greased so I'm not sure what's happened. After the previous failure I've been quite attentive to my greasing points. The whole prop was a britpart item - didn't find that out until it arrived at the garage and they had fitted it but I assumed it couldn't be that bad.

The heating element in my britpart replacement mirror glass has just packed up as well so I've well and truly learned my lesson with that bunch.

The tools I've been looking at are allegedly 9/16 AF. Will they not fit properly then Warmers? I'm not very up on my non metric sizes...

Here's one of em...

Range Rover P38 Propshaft Nut & Bolt Tool 1/2 Sq Dr | eBay

trukka · Nov 6, 2011

Hi kooky,

I used the propshaft tool and a 9/16 open end spanner to remove my front prop shaft yesterday.

Did it on the road outside - suspension on highest setting and drove front nearside on to a section of 8x8 wood.

Took a little while - hour and a bit.

wammers · Nov 6, 2011

kooky_guy said:
It does look a bit dry in there, but the joints have been regularly greased so I'm not sure what's happened. After the previous failure I've been quite attentive to my greasing points. The whole prop was a britpart item - didn't find that out until it arrived at the garage and they had fitted it but I assumed it couldn't be that bad.

The heating element in my britpart replacement mirror glass has just packed up as well so I've well and truly learned my lesson with that bunch.

The tools I've been looking at are allegedly 9/16 AF. Will they not fit properly then Warmers? I'm not very up on my non metric sizes...

Here's one of em...

Range Rover P38 Propshaft Nut & Bolt Tool 1/2 Sq Dr | eBay

3/8 UNF bolt is 9/16 spanner size. The 3/8 refers to the diameter of the bolt shank. Just as a 6mm bolt is 10mm spanner size. UNF is Unified National Fine. Bolt/thread size. AF is Across Flats. Spanner size.

dogsbody · Nov 6, 2011

Cynical old bugger that I am, take a lot of care getting the first bolt undone. The garage who replaced the prop may have replaced the bolts for non-standard ones. No reason why they would have but stranger things happen in garages.

kooky_guy · Nov 6, 2011

Thanks all. Think I'll get one of those tools then.

I assume the OEM ujs from Island 4x4 ought to do the job? They seem a reasonable price.

Just broken my Pc now. Having a good day today so far!

What's the best grease for ujs? I've been using Castrol LM...

Fur Trapper · Nov 6, 2011

any moly or lithium grease

lee s · Nov 6, 2011

years ago i asked for the cheapest prop shaft,it was fine but soon had to replace the uj's.the grease only went through to 2 of the joints!!!!!!in the uj's.
get good ones like gkn if greased well,they will last years..

wammers · Nov 6, 2011

dogsbody said:
Cynical old bugger that I am, take a lot of care getting the first bolt undone. The garage who replaced the prop may have replaced the bolts for non-standard ones. No reason why they would have but stranger things happen in garages.

Well 10mm (nearest metric to 3/8) won't go through the holes and a 10mm bolt head (17mm Across flats) won't fit against flange. Neither will a 17mm spanner sized nut fit. So think you can safely assume they are 3/8 UNF bolts with 9/16 spanner size nuts.

Pikey · Nov 6, 2011

I have a 14mm ring spanner that has never failed to get propshaft bolts off it's a deep set one and works a treat

Point to remember if replacing the bolts is that the ones that go thru the handbrake drum are longer that the ones that bolt em to the Transfer box flanges.

kooky_guy · Nov 6, 2011

Well the nuts and bolts look to be in good condition - they're just a pig to get at, especially the transfer box end.

Definitely don't intend to skimp on the new UJs. Fingers crossed I can get them in ok! The Britpart propshaft will be going in the bin.

Interestingly, the predictive text on this touchpad keeps trying to replace britpart with burglary.

Computer is fixed now too so today is looking up!

Bleeding front prop again! Britpart so shouldn't be surprised

kooky_guy

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