OK to remove prop shaft....?

Hey all,
I'm new here, but had a good read of some freelander threads - great!

I've a 2001 td4 that's served me well over the past 50k miles (now at 106k).Lately the prop shaft is making itself heard, and now a reliable mechanic tells me the bearings cannot be replaced as the shaft is fooked...something about the shaft was fitted before but splines were not in line...
Anyway, replacement shaft needed. Can't find 2nd hand, afraid to price new.
I remember hearing b4, and I just read here, that the freelander will run 100% without the shaft, might even do better mpg!
Is this so, and will I have blinking lights on the dash..? I'm never off-road so I dont mind 2wd.

Cheers,
Podge

Hi Earthling. . . .yes its ok, best to remove the first prop ,ie/ from ird to vcu. . .it will be two wheel drive ,will go like a bat outa hell, could get a lot of front wheel spin , and mpg will improve a lot , but dont take it off road. . . .un get it back to 4x4 a s a p as thats wot its spose to be

Ming is right, it will work.

Do a search for "mondo mode" for a number of threads on this.

You'll see that my tuppence worth is that it should be temporary only. The vehicle's handling characteristics and balance change significantly, and there is no way I could have lived with 2wd for long.

You also need to inform your insurers as you have modfied your vehicle.

4wd is obviously great off road but it is what gives the Freelander its excellent on road manners. You never know what is around the next corner, and it could be, especially at this time of year, something that is best encountered with a 4x4!

Cheers

Blippie

Remove the front prop (mine went with a knackered 'tripod' joint some time back) and you'll be suprised by the difference!

The handling does change as Blippie has said - you'll need to take it easy on the loud pedal when starting off otherwise you'll end up making little progress as the wheels spin!

It takes a little getting used to though, and you don't get the 'grippy' feeling when taking sharp corners or roundabouts so go careful, Winter isn't perhaps the best time to be making the switch!

As for off road, so long as the surfaces are reasonably firm and you pick routes, maintain motion etc you'll be OK - even I managed to keep up following an S2 forward control around Salisbury Plain the other week.

Not as a result of running on the rough stuff, but the IRD bearings are making an onimous hum, the occasional clonk when lifting off power... so once I've rebuilt the IRD I'll get another front prop and return it to how it's meant to be.

reet - yu gaylander owners - can one of yooz go measure up the vcu dims and the bearing mount positions and post em up here please.

The Mad Hat Man said:

reet - yu gaylander owners - can one of yooz go measure up the vcu dims and the bearing mount positions and post em up here please.

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hmmmmm....not the most motivating speach I've seen . simple though...lets see if it's effective

burrits fur slobby - that'l make all the diffrence .

I posted some pics on thread 'vcu again' they might help although no dimensions on them.

The Mad Hat Man said:

reet - yu gaylander owners - can one of yooz go measure up the vcu dims and the bearing mount positions and post em up here please.

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bossy aint he. . . . . .

ming said:

bossy aint he. . . . . .

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never mind that!! just gert yer space arse under yer gaylander and measure it

slob said:

never mind that!! just gert yer space arse under yer gaylander and measure it

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phookin ell slob ,use int pant mode

where's me zog-LZ phrase book

slob said:

where's me zog-LZ phrase book

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down yer thunders. . . . . .yer dip stick

Yep, that's where i find my dip stick, down me thunders

anyway, to get back to the topic....I removed the shaft - can't believe i didn't do this ages ago (well before the damage was done ) drives great.
The mechanic says that the last time bearings were replaced, the front shaft was forced onto the vcu into the wrong spline. It seems it has one wide spline that must be aligned to the shaft, which it wasnt, and is now wedged and damaged. anyone come across this problem.

Thats a new one on me Podge, I've had the propshafts off a few times and refitted the splines randomly, no problem. Maybe I was lucky, but I never noticed a wider spline. Podge just fitted an old prop shaft in the garage onto an old VCU in three different positions rotationly, no problem. Are you sure its not just rusted in, they can be very tight.

Thanks for that, Revver, mechanic must be wrong. I'll take at it myself in garage and see if i can prise front shaft off vcu... If it works, you'll have saved me a hell of a lot....and will have lost my mechanic a customer
Thanks

Nice one Revver, you HAVE saved me a heap of money ..
Prised shaft off vcu with nothing more than a hammer, wedge chisel and a 17mm spanner !
There'll be strong words with mechanic tomorrow - I almost forked out on this until I decided to drive in Mondo mode. All i need now is a new carrier bearing and i'm 4x4 again.....Cheers Revver!