Quick question about driving in Diff

Hi,
I have to get my Landy to the garage, it is a 90 body, Defender underneath and Isuzu engine. I was suppose to take the front prop off so the garage could fit the UJ, it has come off by the middle transmission box. I have tried and tried to get the prop off but I am just shearing bolts, so can I drive it to the garage, it is not far, around a mile and a half, just in DIFF on the back wheels?

What I am asking, is will the front prop still spin?
It is hanging on at the front end but not by the transmission box.
I have not driven just in diff before so this should be fun!

Please reply in simple language, I am learning. Thanks in advance

I'm not 100% sure what you are saying or what is wrong.

However maybe this will answer your question.

If the prop is still connected to the diff, then it will rotate when the wheels rotate (assuming the diff and half shafts are working).

If the prop is attached to the transfer box, this will rotate when you are in gear. With diff lock out, the prop with the least resistance will spin, the other won't, i.e. if your front wheels are off the ground, then only the fronts would spin. With diff lock in, it will rotate both props at the same speed.

It is unsafe to drive the vehicle with part of the prop not attached, as it could flail about, cause lots of damage and/or injury.

Thanks, you answered my badly written question
It is attached to the front but has come off at the Universal joint on that middle box, the back propshaft is fine I wondered if I put it in diff it would maybe just drive the back wheels and not the front, but as you said it would flail around. That is what I needed to know. I was wondering how to get it to the garage with the front propshaft off at one end.
I have tried getting the propshaft off but I am just shearing the bolts off.
Thank you for taking the time to write. I am sorry if I don't explain myself too well, I am not all that technical with the Landrover yet, but I am trying.

No worries. It's probably worth trying to get the prop off completely. You might need to rotate it (move the vehicle back and forth) to get access. If they shear off, you can replace them when refitting. At least you'll get it off. Once it's all out of the way, just stick it in diff lock and it'll drive on 2wd, although both transfer output will be spinning.

Thanks that is just what I needed to know. I got no chance of getting these bolts off with my naff spanners! I really have to upgrade them!

Get the proper removal tool for uj bolts when you upgrade, worth its weight in gold when you need to undo them bolts in a hurry.

Thanks Yes worth me getting, this simple job is turning in to a nightmare!

As a matter of getting the job done, you could sacrifice the front U/J in order to remove the prop. They aren't that expensive and it would be worth replacing both at the same time anyway. If you have a vice and a few other basic hand tools you could have a go at replacing them yourself.

Yes I did think of that It might have to be done that way by the looks of it

Helen G said:

Yes I did think of that It might have to be done that way by the looks of it

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Sometimes you just got to reach for the ommer!

I shall give it a go tomorrow.

Helen G said:

I shall give it a go tomorrow.

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Let us know how you get on

Well I am utterly ashamed of myself, frustrated when I realised I had to get some cutting discs and had no way to go and get them I ended up getting the chaps from the local garage to come and get it off, on the brightside, they couldn't have done it by hand either. Note to self - I must upgrade my impact driver! (Mine is like a really rubbish cordless drill!).
I wanted to be so good at my Landy repairs, I fell at the first hurdle :-( But I have learned that I can only be as good as my tools will allow.

It seems also that my prop is knackered too, the U joint sheared through the side of the fitting, so may need a new one of those too. Going to be an expensive day for me.

Breakers yard or interweb.

Helen G said:

Well I am utterly ashamed of myself, frustrated when I realised I had to get some cutting discs and had no way to go and get them I ended up getting the chaps from the local garage to come and get it off, on the brightside, they couldn't have done it by hand either. Note to self - I must upgrade my impact driver! (Mine is like a really rubbish cordless drill!).
I wanted to be so good at my Landy repairs, I fell at the first hurdle :-( But I have learned that I can only be as good as my tools will allow.

It seems also that my prop is knackered too, the U joint sheared through the side of the fitting, so may need a new one of those too. Going to be an expensive day for me.

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Fair play to you for having a go, I usually have to resort to making my son go to school on the bus so I can nick his moped. The last time I rode to work on it it was peeing it down with rain and I had to leave the house at about 3am to get to work then a blast over to Craddocks after work then home. What joy


One thing about Land Rover ownership you do end up with some quality tools

Haha! I have always prided myself of being a girl with a good set of tools, I have better tools than most chaps I know, it seems my spanners and impact driver just need updating

I sympathise with the moped thing, I had one years ago, I loved it, well back then I did. Recently I have been looking at those old enclosed moped-van vehicles, they look great fun, cheap to run too!

A replacement propshaft should come complete with UJ's and the flange. You'll need new bolts, nuts and lock washers. It's no shame having to get help. Landys can be pigs to work on, especially when you do not have a vehicle hoist. Grubbing around underneath in winter isn't much fun. Good luck with future maintenance.

Thanks, I shall add tools to my Christmas list and try harder next time. I am just relieved to be on the road again.

Helen G said:

Thanks, I shall add tools to my Christmas list and try harder next time. I am just relieved to be on the road again.

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Nice one... "on the road again" is the only bit that matters! Quality tools of the right type are great to own...but the best tool you will ever own is the one between your ears

Try to get hold of a full workshop manual n parts list. I think there are threads for this elsewhere. Check out Halfords n Aldi right now for good tools offers. You need good basics:

- metric spanner set

- half n quarter in driver socket set

- long half inch socket pinch bar (for leverage on those bloody rusty nuts n bolts.

- a 27mm socket to un do yet wheel nuts

- an engineering hammer

- pliers

- full set screwdrivers

There's loads of other tools the list endless. Get tools as you need them. A hillwalking head torch a cheap must. And finally a good 2/3 ton jack n axle stands. Hey it's Dear Santa time .

- impact screwdrivers