Prop shaft damage

Hi guys with this enforced down time i have decided to crack on with tidying the underside of my discovery. Having dropped the back axle off i have been confronted with damage to the prop and diff where the rubber doughnut coupling is. Im guessing at some point the coupling was loose and the bolt have been contacting with the 2 halfs. I have attached a pic of the shaft but the diff input looks the same. How common is this and how serious? I can replace the prop easy enough but cannot find a input shaft without replacing the whole diff.

Anyone have any advice please

Is that cast or steel? Welding would seem the answer if it's steel.

Thanks, I did wonder if welding might be an option I'll take the grinder to it tomorrow and see

Time do do away with the doughnut, and fit a complete four bolt coupling maybe.

Whoever was driving it in that condition had no mechanical sympathy at all & makes you wonder what else was probably abused,
I've run for 30 miles or so with a mildly knackered rubber coupling on 2 occasions & that resulted in minor marking of the metalwork & a horrible droning noise / out of balance prop that was unmissable.

All the above.
and before someone else mentions it, have you done the "introduce yourself" thing? I haven't looked so ignore this if you have.

Stanleysteamer said:

have you done the "introduce yourself" thing?

Click to expand...

Yep. He’s cleared.