Front Prop

Hi,

I got round to having a look about under the 110 today (I got a new creeper during the week and have just managed to nick it back form my 3yr old) and I'm now a bit baffled

I was looking at the front prop and I was expecting one UJ at each end but it has 2 UJs at the transfer box end.


Is this to allow a greater angle?

The landy isn't lifted as far as I know. It is a couple of inches higher at the bonnet than my dads defender 90 but that is on smaller tyres and still on it's original springs and is M reg. Mine is a complete bitsa, rebuilt in 2009ish running on 265/70s which would sort of explain the height difference.

Anyway I assume this is not a standard prop. There doesn't seem to be any play in the UJ themselves but the prop could be rotated a bit back and forth. All 4 wheels were on the ground and the handbrake on. How much play is normal?

Cheers

Grebby

its a double cardan prop it does allow great angles ,disco 2 one will fit ,front joint looks to have rusty water or grease come out of it

Thanks.

It's grease, the garage greased them the other day but apperaed to have missed the rear one. I bought a grease gun the other day so thought I'd put some in but got distracted by a cuppa appearing under the landy and filled the already full front one again then did the one I meant to.

Any disadvantage to having this type of prop over standard?

Also any idea on how much ratational play there should be? I could rotate the prop maybe an 1/8 of a turn. I can understand that the gearbox end would be free to turn if it was out of gear but with all wheels on the ground shouldn't the front diff stop it turning?

Grebby said:

Thanks.

It's grease, the garage greased them the other day but apperaed to have missed the rear one. I bought a grease gun the other day so thought I'd put some in but got distracted by a cuppa appearing under the landy and filled the already full front one again then did the one I meant to.

Any disadvantage to having this type of prop over standard?

Also any idea on how much ratational play there should be? I could rotate the prop maybe an 1/8 of a turn. I can understand that the gearbox end would be free to turn if it was out of gear but with all wheels on the ground shouldn't the front diff stop it turning?

Click to expand...

no best type of prop imo, you have play in crown wheel and pinion ,diff ,cvs and drive members it all adds up ,worth prising hub caps of and checking members and spline wear

Thanks once again

I'll see what I can do about having a look.

I'm all new to this big stuff

At least it working

Grebby said:

Thanks once again

I'll see what I can do about having a look.

I'm all new to this big stuff

At least it working

Click to expand...

Spoke too soon

UJs are now knackered

I've got the prop off now and will have to sort out replacing the UJs.

How do I tell what UJs are needed?

Grebby said:

Spoke too soon

UJs are now knackered

I've got the prop off now and will have to sort out replacing the UJs.

How do I tell what UJs are needed?

Click to expand...

Measure them, probably 27mm diameter and probably 75mm across (one of the standard sizes), the 75 is from the back of the bearing cup to the same place on the opposite side as they are recessed in the casting.

rtc3458 is 75mm ish rtc3346 is 85mm ish

Thanks once again James.

I have just measured them and they are 27mm dia and as far as I can tell 84 or 85mm long.

So they will be RTC3346 then

I've done a search on how to change the UJs but I don't have a big vice or press so may need to do some shopping

It's the UJs (both) at the double end that are knackered, the other end seems OK. Would it be sensible to change that one as well whist the prop is out?

For the sake of a tenner or so extra change them all, then you know where you stand. Just keep them regularly greased

That's basically what I thought

Just need to get a small bench press now to pop them in Wife is going to love that.

I drift mine in using a piece of dowel.

As long as you take it steady you don't need a press!

Thanks.
It's good to know that it can be done without a press but I've managed to persuade the wife that one would make things easier.
She has said that if the garage want to charge more than £50 labour to put in the UJs then I should buy a press and do it myself. I feel a new toy arrival happening

I use my big vice and some sockets to push out the old joints and push in the new.

A press would be handy for bushes etc once the prop is sorted, as well.

I used to use a vice until I made this up in the week.

That's not bad at all, and I have a spare bottle jack I never use. Got me thinking now!

kes86 said:

That's not bad at all, and I have a spare bottle jack I never use. Got me thinking now!

Click to expand...

Got all the metal cut to size at local engineering firm for £25

Well I've got me one of these on order and 3 new UJs so we'll see how it goes.

That dosent look like any double cardan prop I've ever seen!

And dosent the DC unit get attached to the axle end usually?

No idea Ginge

I was just going on what jamesmartin said.

Has this just got more complicated?