Front propshaft - which way round?

I am replacing my front propshaft (200tdi 1993 90). I have taken the old one off and I can't remember which way round it was. Can anyone tell me?

theshanclan said:

I am replacing my front propshaft (200tdi 1993 90). I have taken the old one off and I can't remember which way round it was. Can anyone tell me?

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RAVE says fit with slipper joints to transfer box.
Haynes says fit with slipper joints towards front of vehicle.

I trust RAVE more than Haynes and mine are fitted with slippers towards the xfer box. Dont forget front prop has the UJs out of line.

i dont think it really matters but i put mine so that the part fo the shaft that comes out faces towards the floor to help it drain after wading should any crap get in there.

Thanks

The sliding joint end of the shaft fits to the transfer box .

i have mine the other way round and its been on there from a good 38,000k with no problems.

big ad said:

i have mine the other way round and its been on there from a good 38,000k with no problems.

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You're probably right, but mine went with a big bang at 50mph so if there is a right answer, I had to check.

Shifty1962 said:

RAVE says fit with slipper joints to transfer box.
Haynes says fit with slipper joints towards front of vehicle.

I trust RAVE more than Haynes and mine are fitted with slippers towards the xfer box. Dont forget front prop has the UJs out of line.

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How many splines difference from straight does the prop have to be? And does it matter which way the prop is offset?

prop goes with the shorter most section TO the gearbox, ie the splined end.
they go ONLY either eyes inline or at 90 degs to each other,

NO OTHER WAY ! or yer will get some right trouble ending with getting another prop !

90truckcab said:

prop goes with the shorter most section TO the gearbox, ie the splined end.
they go ONLY either eyes inline or at 90 degs to each other,

NO OTHER WAY ! or yer will get some right trouble ending with getting another prop !

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Where do you get 90 degrees from?
RAVE diagram looks about 45 degrees offset on front prop.
They dont give an actual figure. Thats why I posted the diagram in my previous post.
Both of my props have this offset and they've done nearly 120,00 miles. I changed the original UJs at 116,000 miles because one of the spiders had a small amount of play The other three were perfect but I changed them and kept them for emergency spares if needed.

Ie one uj at 12 oclock and the other at 3 oclock

D.G.F.S. said:

Ie one uj at 12 oclock and the other at 3 oclock

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So that will be a 90 degree offset? As the spiders have 4 legs set at 90 degrees apart on the same axis centres it wont make any difference to the total angular capability to offset by this amount.

RAVE picture clearly shows apprx a 45 degree offset. I'm too thick to work out the actual mechanics of it but somebody somewhere has worked out that there is something to be gained by doing it this way.

I'm sure for most peeps it makes absolutely no difference where you set your UJs but your pays your money and makes your choice.

My prop ujs were offset but a mechanic said that it was incorrect so he put them in line, since then when I first go into 4th gear it vibrates like hell until I get to about 35mph. I just wasn't sure how many degrees the offset should be. If I clean the prop there should be marks to show allignment anyway?

If your vibration has started since your mech changed the prop alignment I'd go back and get him to sort it pronto. Sounds like he has buggered the shaft balance which will stress all the moving parts including the diff and xfer box flange bearings.

There were no alignment marks on my props when I changed the UJs but I made my own for future reference using some "V" letter stamps and a large hammer. My props had never been off the vehicle and came from the factory with the offset at about 45 degrees on the front prop. I chose to offset the rear prop to give the extra articulation even if its never needed.

Wen it stops ****in it down ial go out and offset it, but I may be waiting a long time though.

Or wait until its really muddy and get your mech to sort it

Tempting.....

a little bit of light reading for ya - here

Now that says fit with the slippers towards the front same as the Haynes manual but RAVE says fit with the slippers towards to transfer box (as mine were from new). Don't think it would be different between a Disco and a Defender so confusion still reigns.

Can anyone explain why it matters what end the slip joints are?

Ive just got my mates 90s origional workshop manual which says prop slider at transfer box end with a slight offset for the ujs. Like shifty said, why would a discos prop be any different?