Discovery Prop Shaft/Transfer Box

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stansfield

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Hi Guys, I’m in need of some advice and help. I have the opportunity to buy a 53 pale V8 Discovery 2 from my neighbour. Great you think, but on Friday night the front prop shaft managed to rip it’s self apart at the coupling closes to the transfer box. The four bolts at each end of the shaft are still in place. I can buy a replacement used part on eBay for £100, but I’m concerned more about what caused the problem. If it’s the transfer box, should I run a mile? The car will move only with the diff locks in but I really don’t know what I’m talking about. The cars only done 78K with full history, never been of road, used only for the school and train run. Any comments or advice would be welcome I only have until Monday to say yes or no. Thank you:)
 
As stchris356 says it sounds like a broken UJ, which isn't much cost or effort to do ... unless it's also taken the prop yoke or flange with it .. mine did (300 Tdi) and needed a new prop and transfer box output flange/seal .. though if the flange is in place it's probably OK. Have a good look at it though, this is what mine looked like and that was still bolted together ...

Picture021.jpg


Good bargaining point to get the price down though ... D2 front props are double cardan and cost a lot new.
 
StChris356,Paul D, I’ve taken a few pic's I just need to work out how to get them on here. Paul, the damage looks almost identical to yours. As mentioned everything is in place except the exploded prop shaft. Sod it I’m going to buy it, even if the transfer box has gone, I feel it’s worth saving and spending money on. Do you think it’s worth investing in new parts? I’ll keep you updated, I think you are going to be hearing from me again. Thank you very much to you both.
 
stansfield said:
StChris356,Paul D, I’ve taken a few pic's I just need to work out how to get them on here. Paul, the damage looks almost identical to yours. As mentioned everything is in place except the exploded prop shaft. Sod it I’m going to buy it, even if the transfer box has gone, I feel it’s worth saving and spending money on. Do you think it’s worth investing in new parts? I’ll keep you updated, I think you are going to be hearing from me again. Thank you very much to you both.
Click to expand...


Famous last words but I don't think you'll regret it!
 
To get pics on either send them to photobucket then link to them .. or the easiest is to click the 'go advanced' button under the quick reply box and use the paperclip (attachments) icon to attach pictures from your hard drive.

I swapped mine for a new prop complete, but then it was cheap fropm Paddocks and I wanted to make the repair as quickly and easily as I could ..

Without seeing the D2 you're buying it's hard to say but if you're happy it's already cheap enough i'd have another look at it, suck your breath in and suggest it's completely fecked ... as, of course, it could be ... ;)

Whereabouts are you? Put your town in your Bio .. UserCP at the top of the forum page .. someone more knowledgable might be able to have a look for you and give more 'real' advice ... ;)
 
Amazes me how folks can keep driving with a propshaft in that condition, it must have been noisy well before it blew up.

'squibs063' on ebay has a secondhand front shaft, he's good to deal with.

When you get it, take a bit of time and fit new greasable u/j's all round, then, don't forget to grease them!

Peter
 
In my case the rear UJ, which is shown in the pic, had no play or movement in it .. the front had and was noisy, but that held on! We were on holiday and trying to get home, Raining, cold, dark, towing the caravan etc etc .. Sh1t sometimes happens ... ;)
 
stansfield said:
Hi Guys, I’m in need of some advice and help. I have the opportunity to buy a 53 pale V8 Discovery 2 from my neighbour. Great you think, but on Friday night the front prop shaft managed to rip it’s self apart at the coupling closes to the transfer box. The four bolts at each end of the shaft are still in place. I can buy a replacement used part on eBay for £100, but I’m concerned more about what caused the problem. If it’s the transfer box, should I run a mile? The car will move only with the diff locks in but I really don’t know what I’m talking about. The cars only done 78K with full history, never been of road, used only for the school and train run. Any comments or advice would be welcome I only have until Monday to say yes or no. Thank you:)
Click to expand...

The "root" of the problem is the non-greasable UJ's Land Rover in one of their stupid moments fitted to the "hookes joint" (double UJ) on the transfer box end of the front propshaft, so over time the UJ's corrode and fall apart through lack of grease, this is accelerated even MORE on the V8 as the CATS sit near it and help "dry it out" although ALL D2 owners TD5's included should look at this "potential" failure

Fitting a second hand prop will only solve it on a temp basis, to be sure you need to either rebuild a used one with greasable UJ's and a NEW centering bearing, or fit a brand new shaft and budget / plan to rebuild it in the near future.

I would def knock this cost ( a new one) of the price of the car without a doubt.

Mail Order 4x4 Discovery 2 Front Propshafts
 
As a matter of info on the prices, I live in Spain and don't get pattern parts to any great extent out here, but I've just had the front prop shaft replaced on my 2001 Auto disco and the official LR part from the Estepona dealer was a massive 662 Euros (about 600 GBP), so the Paddock Spares/MailOrder 4X4 price of 295 GBP is looking good for you!
 
Spanish Dave said:
As a matter of info on the prices, I live in Spain and don't get pattern parts to any great extent out here, but I've just had the front prop shaft replaced on my 2001 Auto disco and the official LR part from the Estepona dealer was a massive 662 Euros (about 600 GBP), so the Paddock Spares/MailOrder 4X4 price of 295 GBP is looking good for you!
Click to expand...

Jeez ... tell us what you want, send the money to cover postage etc and I'll send bits out for you .. for a few beer tokens .. ;)
 
stansfield said:
Hi Guys, I’m in need of some advice and help. I have the opportunity to buy a 53 pale V8 Discovery 2 from my neighbour. Great you think, but on Friday night the front prop shaft managed to rip it’s self apart at the coupling closes to the transfer box. The four bolts at each end of the shaft are still in place. I can buy a replacement used part on eBay for £100, but I’m concerned more about what caused the problem. If it’s the transfer box, should I run a mile? The car will move only with the diff locks in but I really don’t know what I’m talking about. The cars only done 78K with full history, never been of road, used only for the school and train run. Any comments or advice would be welcome I only have until Monday to say yes or no. Thank you:)
Click to expand...


Sounds like the quick solution would be a new front prop at LR prices that's about £550 !!!!! So use that as part of your negotiations.

You have an opportunity here to get a very nice car for little money - don't waste it.

Good luck

Dave
 
new2landies said:
thats a generous offer, some kind peeps on here :)
Click to expand...

Someone once bought me a shed-load of gear from America and shipped it for about a quarter of what it would have cost me here .. I don't mind helping if I can, and I believe in Karma .. ;)
 
Been there, done that, watched a french family struggle to start a 205. in south of france.

After half an hour-I walked over and fixed it, split fuel pipe to carb-funny as to hear 2 french children shout thank you in English and local look round like wtf
 
Paul D said:
Someone once bought me a shed-load of gear from America and shipped it for about a quarter of what it would have cost me here .. I don't mind helping if I can, and I believe in Karma .. ;)
Click to expand...

I also think there is alot more to Karma than people think...thats why given the opportunity i don't mind helping peeps too...sometimes you do think whats the point, but i would still help people it's in my nature :)
 
Spanish Dave said:
As a matter of info on the prices, I live in Spain and don't get pattern parts to any great extent out here, but I've just had the front prop shaft replaced on my 2001 Auto disco and the official LR part from the Estepona dealer was a massive 662 Euros (about 600 GBP), so the Paddock Spares/MailOrder 4X4 price of 295 GBP is looking good for you!
Click to expand...


Had my g/box cooler pipe replaced there but thankfully it was under warranty!
 
how do you remove the transfer box on a 1997 discovery 300tdi. any info would be of great help. I MEEN IT HELP thank you.
 
jack up gear box remove both mounts, let down jack as far as possible ,undo props ,remove center consol levers gaiters etc ,drain oil on t/box undo diff lock ,high/low linkage ,speedo plug undo 6 x bolts holding t/box
 
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