Front Drive Shaft Failure Off Road

[mick968]

Was out wheeling yesterday and had front drive shaft failure(yoke on shaft broke off on T-case side).I was following a couple of well kitted D1's(both running 35's with proper drivetrain/suspension enhancements) up a
steep,wet,boulder strewn trail when I started hearing banging noise and knew that no matter what it was no good.Originally thought it was CV or sheared axle.Got to a spot where we could get under and remove rest of Dshaft from front diff.It was all I could do(with my set up-2" lift and running 265/75/16 MT's) to get to where we were and now I was going to have to go back down and through all the crazy stuff(we were about 3 miles in on a very difficult trail) in 2 wheel drive!Needless to say it was a little hair raising but the guys with me were extremely helpful(only need to be pulled through one stretch).You take for granted the extreme capabilities of the Rovers 4 wheel drive system(until you only have 2 wheel drive!).Made me a better driver for sure.Amazing what it did in 2 wheel drive.Got a chance to use and practice nearly all vehicle recovery techniques(Hi-lift,straps,winch,ect).Anyway,going to take nuked shaft to driveshaft shop and see if they can repair and beef it up a little.It was great fun until then.(none of us had camera's)?

[tcpfl]

Well, on the bright side, at least it didn't take out your tranny

[mick968]

Yeah, we all agreed that of all the things that it(sounded like) and then could of been it was the least likely to leave me stranded,although the guys I was running with had spare CV's and axels(like all prepared off roaders).Actually,Disco ran pretty good on highway in Diff lock -hi(without front drive shaft).Don't plan on driving it much before I get driveshaft rebuilt or replaced but had to drive it aprox 50 miles home(in difflock hi) from where were off roading.Any possible damage there?

[antichrist]

Can't really beef up a stock one. About all you can do is use quality u-joints and lube it properly and every oil change. Beyond that, you have to step up from the stock 1300 series u-joints to 1310's, which is a new shaft from GBR or TW.

[mick968]

What sucks is recent(January) had all u-joints replaced(front and rear).Had a U-joint go bad(front-Tcase side)(same as D-shaft failure).Never felt too good about install(not my usual shop but local).Oh well,chance to upgrade.