Wide angle front prop or td5 cardan double jointed?

I have a disco 1, 300dti commercial that's been lifted about 5 inches.
I do a lot of road miles and a bit of driving down tracks and feilds but not any hardcore off-roading.
I am sick of replacing uj's in the props, front and rear. The front prop was only replaced a few months ago and it's wearing already. I realise it's due to the lift on the car and the vibration.
This time I am going to try a different prop, I was told to go for a td5 cardan double jointed one and swap the flange over to make it fit but whilst looking for one I have noticed there is a wide angle one available for the 300dti that would be a direct swap. Will the double joined td5 one be the better option in the long run.

Contrary to popular belief, double cardans are about smoother running and not about allowing wider angles of operation.

Proper Bailey Morris WA shaft from Mr. Gwynn Lewis is the jobby you need, don't waste time on the TD5 shaft, it is just an extra hardy spicer to change when it wears out with the other two for trying to run at anles they werent designed for.

A wide angleprop does not mean it works more comfortably at more acute angles, it just means it has a bigger range of movement. So they wont necessarily solve the issue. As above, im sure a reputable shop could solve this for you with an appropriate prop. I think the big mileage you do on a 4" lift is the real issue, its not going to be kind on the drivetrain altogether. Check your pinion bearings too as vibes can wreck them and the oil seals.

Why have such a lift if it's no real use to you? It's normally pretty easy to go back to standard ...

i fitted an extreme double cardan prop to the front of mine (which only has a 2" lift but suffered awful stresses on the ujs) and it transformed it. The front is now super smooth £290 well spent

dieseldog69 said:

Contrary to popular belief, double cardans are about smoother running and not about allowing wider angles of operation.

Proper Bailey Morris WA shaft from Mr. Gwynn Lewis is the jobby you need, don't waste time on the TD5 shaft, it is just an extra hardy spicer to change when it wears out with the other two for trying to run at anles they werent designed for.

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double cardans also better cater for incorrect phased dif and t/box flanges ie not parallel ,wide yoke only for binding with parallel flanges (though some is catered for by offsetting prop splines), a cv joint would be better but double cardan isd the next best

Paul D said:

Why have such a lift if it's no real use to you? It's normally pretty easy to go back to standard ...

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Because I do a lot of shooting and lamping across muddy fields as well as needing to get down muddy tracks to feed the pheasants during the winter, I know it would make sense to have 2 cars but my wife doesn't drive and it would just be an extra expense keeping them on the road and then the issue of parking 2 cars outside my house.
Also I think it looks good lifted with big wheels on, maybe not practical all of the time but that's life, that's why I want the most suitable prop for the job because I realise the standard ones aren't upto the job.
If it means replacing the uj's every few months then so be it but was hoping there maybe another solution without lowering it.

mines been on for about 5000 miles now and the ujs have no play in them, they get a notably easier time.

However 5" is a significant lift so it might not be enough to completely eleminate all your issues.

Have you replaced the front radius arms with that lift?

vilguy said:

mines been on for about 5000 miles now and the ujs have no play in them, they get a notably easier time.

However 5" is a significant lift so it might not be enough to completely eleminate all your issues.

Have you replaced the front radius arms with that lift?

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Yes front radius arms have been upgraded, it's actually a 4 inch lift not a 5 inch.
Have you a link to the prop you bought please?

Why not a 2"lift, I get everywhere across fields in a standard disco with no lift.

What size tyres ?

200tdi ayre said:

Why not a 2"lift, I get everywhere across fields in a standard disco with no lift.

What size tyres ?

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Cooper stt 285 75 16, it had 35x12.5 inch creepy crawlers when I got it.
It already had the lift when I got it with quite a lot spent on it, so don't really want to lower it, I would rather replace the uj's regular than lower it.

I know this thread is a couple of months old but I can't seem to find a definitive answer anywhere so I'm hijacking it kinda.

I run a disco 1 with a 4" lift. It has 6 degree fronts arms, cranked rear, wide angle rear prop and until last night a d. carden front. However it decided it no longer wanted to be attached. I basically need to know which one gives the best flex, d. carden or wide angle??

I need 4" for the tyres which are 285 75 16 special tracks (they still catch on good flex) and I like to use it for what it was built for. I'm only asking as their pretty much the same price and don't wanna be replacing it again in 6 months time.

Why not drop down to a 2" suspension lift and then fit a 2" body lift. .?

Wish I had done to start with however, that would also mean getting new front arms and I can't stand the gaps left between bumper and body. And it's more work to then sort that problem out.

SuperMark said:

I know this thread is a couple of months old but I can't seem to find a definitive answer anywhere so I'm hijacking it kinda.

I run a disco 1 with a 4" lift. It has 6 degree fronts arms, cranked rear, wide angle rear prop and until last night a d. carden front. However it decided it no longer wanted to be attached. I basically need to know which one gives the best flex, d. carden or wide angle??

I need 4" for the tyres which are 285 75 16 special tracks (they still catch on good flex) and I like to use it for what it was built for. I'm only asking as their pretty much the same price and don't wanna be replacing it again in 6 months time.

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you're going to be killing UJ's no matter what with a 4'' lift buty wide angle are better and plentry of grease !!!

i've got a 2'' lift and 35's o my challenge truch with massive flex, just cut the arches out to fit tyres.

200tdi ayre said:

you're going to be killing UJ's no matter what with a 4'' lift buty wide angle are better and plentry of grease !!!

i've got a 2'' lift and 35's o my challenge truch with massive flex, just cut the arches out to fit tyres.

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Then that's the way i'll go, just wanted to know which would work best.

And I've followed your build thread, awesome truck. But mine isn't a challenge truck unfortunately so can't just keep cutting, i'll run out of arch, lol.

SuperMark said:

Then that's the way i'll go, just wanted to know which would work best.

And I've followed your build thread, awesome truck. But mine isn't a challenge truck unfortunately so can't just keep cutting, i'll run out of arch, lol.

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i ran out of arch on the rear so made new ones higher up although it will be traybacked soon anyway