hi guys ive used the forum for reference for a long time but need help specifically with this, ive got a disco 1. last week i was driving and there was a clatter and i lost drive, i discovered the front driveshaft snapped. now the question is should the rear wheels not still be driving with the front drive shaft snapped? im asking this as the landy would not drive at all with the front drive shaft broken even with difflock engaged. so i replaced the front drive shaft and its driving again but how can i check my 4wd is working or am i wrong in thinking the rear wheels should be driving with the front shaft snapped. any help much appreciated, tony
MPfive
Active Member
As above you needed to put it in difflock if your removing a prop. Think of it as having 3 diffs,1 in the middle to go to both axles and 1 in each axle. If you try driving without a prop and not in difflock then the centre diff will try sending the power to the propless axles. If you lock the diff,it locks the left and right wheels together so you can still get drive.
auf_wiedersehen_pet
Well-Known Member
Years ago I bought a RRC which was totally crap when I took it off road. A quick inspection at home revealed I only had three half shafts!! 
Just a thought.
Just a thought.
MPfive
Active Member
Years ago I bought a RRC which was totally crap when I took it off road. A quick inspection at home revealed I only had three half shafts!!
Just a thought.
Ha ha ha
what was it like on a wet road?
chezvegas
Active Member
So with front prop off and diff lock on you had no drive, that points to something on the rear axle being faulty as well but if something had broken on the rear (half shaft) then it should not have been driving without diff lock on prior to the front prop going....
I would put diff lock on , in 1st gear and jack up each wheel and try to rotate it. The should only turn a fraction before taking up the slack in the transmission. If you get one tha freely rotates then that should be your problem bit.
ok so engage difflock and put in first as im sure it needs to be in drive to engage the difflock, then do i turn off the engine? then jack up 1 wheel at a time and check for free play. i will try this tomorrow when home.
i was getting concerned as it feels like im getting wheelspin from the front on the grass/mud.
also i appreciate the helpful replys
auf_wiedersehen_pet
Well-Known Member
Ha ha ha
Never found out - bought it in the summer and found the missing shaft soon after.
nrgserv
Well-Known Member
locks the front axle to rear axle, not left to right
sounds like the diff lock aint doing what it should.
do you get the dash light on, saying its engaged?
loosing the front prop will give the symptoms you describe, loss of drive.
as someone else pointed out, engaging the difflock should have given drive to the rear axle, tho i wouldnt recoment driving without first removing whats left of the front prop.
nrgserv
Well-Known Member
lol know the problem aint yours, was just mis information.
you need to re explain this one again, cos i got a clue what your on about locking the left to the right.
nrgserv
Well-Known Member
erm....
the centre diff lock, locks the two propshafts together, internally in the gearbox.
axle diff locks (which wont be fitted) will lock the wheels on the ends of the axle its fitted to.
so to lock both left wheels and both right wheels all three diff locks would need engaging.
MPfive
Active Member
Yes the centre diff lock does lock front to back. However only the left wheels will spin together or the right wheels. This is how we can take off a prop and drive without winding up anything.
nrgserv
Well-Known Member
or diagonally opposite wheels.
the axle diff will prevent wind up when driving with a prop off.
the centre diff prevents wind up when all props are connected (thats why its there)
