Transmission juddering

Hi guys, new to the site and new to Land rover ownership, not a week goes by without something goin wrong but I still dont want a toyota haha! Had my 1998 disco automatic 300tdi about 4 months and love it, its a bit tatty but im a sprayer by trade so have a respray on the cards, also have a 1996 300tdi manual for parts(genuine FSH but chassis gone). I'm reasonably mechanically minded and have just done the head gasket but now im getting a knocking sound, and shudder, from the drive train. when i first noticed it i was going down a hill, i stopped and put it in park but when i let off the brake it jerked forward bit by bit, felt very much like teeth on a gear somewhere were "jumping" if that makes sense. I braked and put the trans in reverse and reversed up the hill a bit and then into drive and drove home, the shuddering only seems to happen when there is 'slack' in the drive train ie when i lift off for a junction etc, when the power is on or when engine braking it doesnt seem as bad. I parked up at the house and slid underneath, the rear prop shaft had no play at all, except a little from the hardy spicer. The front however has alot of play, about 50 or 60 degrees. And there is a clunking sound coming from the centre box. Is this called the transfer box? The unit between the handbrake drum on the rear shaft and the front shaft? Assuming this is my problem is it a common fault? Can it be repaired or does it need replaced, will the unit from my manual disco fit and how big a job is it? Thanks Chris

- replace front prop from spare disco.......if it doesn't cure
- swap transfer box from spare disco....they'll fit....

thanks for reply. should have mentioned (duh!) front prop shaft is new, no play whatsoever in hardy spicers, the play i refered to is from the diff/transfer box, ie. they let the shaft turn 60 degrees or so. obv this rules out the shaft so its has to be the transfer box? How long should i plan to be without the jeep then? is it a couple of nights work?

took me 5 hours to replace the transfer box last time......and 3 days a mate took......so, hard to tell...pending on how much time you spend on brew...!!!

Disco300td! said:

t How long should i plan to be without the jeep then?

Click to expand...

jeep?

wow wow! that just slipped out, forgive me lol. i meant landie. She's called lucille actually, cos she always picks a fine time to break down! its never outside a garage or at my house, no no! always in a contraflow or 3 feckin hundred miles away from home! still love her tho haha. thanks, is a haynes manual, a comprehensive tool kit and a head half screwed on all i'll need? any tips before i start? and i know im jumping the gun a little but need to be prepared, what oil will i put in there when im done? is there a filter?

auto boxes not really my thing.
depends how comprehensive your toolkit is!
atf?
where abouts are you?

atf? in the transfer box? does the gearbox have to come out to replace the transfer box? Im in co antrim northern ireland

Disco300td! said:

atf? in the transfer box? does the gearbox have to come out to replace the transfer box? Im in co antrim northern ireland

Click to expand...

sorry my cock up. was thinkin bout the autobox.

ep80/90 transferbox
atf for the autobox. which will probably empty its self when you remove the transfer box.

honestly dont know if they can be split in situ. personally i'd remove them a one lump then sort it out.