Driveshaft

[schadeam]

Hello,

Where can I get a replacement front driveshaft for a 95 RRC LWB? How hard is the install for one? And what damage is being caused to the vehicle if it is being driven without a front driveshaft? It fell off the RR the other day while I was driving, and didnt notice until I was getting an engine checkup at the dealership.

Thanks for your help.


Alex

[ArmyRover]

That's freaking amazing that you didn't notice it fall off.... It's usually a pretty momentous event.

pm paul grant on here he'll probably be able to get you taken care of.

[p76rangie]

Originally Posted by schadeam

It fell off the RR the other day while I was driving, and didnt notice until I was getting an engine checkup at the dealership.

How can you not notice a prop shaft falling off. It would only disconnect from one end. We can't be talking about the same thing.

[BullDogSix]

Me thinks that someone else needed your front drive shaft more than you did. They don't just fall off.

Driving with no front drive shaft will cause the vicious coupling in your transfer case to lock-up...and will more than likely shorten it's life span. I have been driving mine without a front DS for about 500 miles now...however my vicious coupling was already cooked so what the hey.

[Paul Grant]

If you need a front driveshaft for your truck I just removed one from a 1993 LWB (they are the same). You can have it for $50 but the shipping will be high to HI. It would have to go by USPS Priority Mail. If you are interested let me know and I'll calculate the shipping.
Cheers,
Paul

[schadeam]

please, ill pay shipping. my email is alexander.schade@us.army.mil. thank you for your help sir.


just to note, I bought the vehicle used about 3 days ago, so I probably bought it without the driveshaft, but the previous owner failed to tell me. I guess I am an optimist and would rather think the drive shaft is gone due to my own accord . Seriously though, any special tools required to re attach one? thanks again guys. this forum has been a lifesaver so far.

[p76rangie]

Originally Posted by schadeam

please, ill pay shipping. my email is alexander.schade@us.army.mil. thank you for your help sir.


just to note, I bought the vehicle used about 3 days ago, so I probably bought it without the driveshaft, but the previous owner failed to tell me. I guess I am an optimist and would rather think the drive shaft is gone due to my own accord . Seriously though, any special tools required to re attach one? thanks again guys. this forum has been a lifesaver so far.

You need to find out why it was removed in the first place before replacing it. Is your transfer case locked up? Is there something broken in the front end?, etc, etc.

People do not remove them for the fun of it and if it was something minor, he would have told you about it.

[schadeam]

the only reason it was spotted was due to the landrover dealership service, and he said it looked like it was broken off, and that the car was now a 2 wheel drive, due to it not having the driveshaft. i looked under the vehicle afterwards and didnt see anything out of the ordinary missing, but I am probably looking at the wrong part of the vehicle. the guy I bought it from is deployed in iraq and i cant get in touch with him till he gets back in a year or so.

[Paul Grant]

I sent you an email regarding the driveshaft.

As far as where it goes, if you crawl under the truck and look at the rear you will see a long pipe like part (driveshaft) extending from the big lump (differential) in the center of the rear axle to the center of a round drum (emergency brake) on the back of what is the transfer case. Now, if you look at the same lump on the front axle, there should also be a shorter pipe like part extending from there to the front of the transfer case. That is where the part you are missing would fit.
Cheers,
Paul

[schadeam]

So any last minute advice or tips regarding the install of the front driveshaft before I attempt it? The part is being shipped tomorrow, and I have my tools and weekend ahead of me. Hopefully this won't be too hard of a project. I peered under the vehicle today and confirmed that the front drive shaft is definately gone. Looks like someone just unscrewed it out of there and kept it for themselves...

anyways, thanks for everything guys. don't know what i'd do without ya

oh, and how do i find out if the transfer case is locked up? last thing i want to do is install it and cause further damage?

[roverandom]

Propshafts are balanced. Be sure the new unit has balancing weights on it or you will have a vibration problem.
If the hardware is missing be sure to replace with the same or better grade hardware.
The transfer case is "locked" by the viscous coupling and is only so when the wheels are slipping (front to back). The unit is fairly tough and not overly prone to failure, if the Dealership thinks it looked "broken off" then look out for other off road damage, Perhaps he caught a rock, bent it up and removed it, or perhaps not.....

More likely a problem with the front axle. If this guy (who has subsequently been deployed to Iraq and is no longer available) did not inform you of this problem (a pretty darn big one by anyone's standards) I'm afraid you have to assume the worst and check everything. If you don't know what to look for find a buddy that does to give you a hand.
Hope this helps.

[schadeam]

sounds good. from what i saw, it looked like the drive shaft had been removed, and not broken off. the guy at the dealership didnt speak much english so I don't know if he meant broken off, all he kept doing was showing me the 2000 dollar repair estimate. My concern is putting this driveshaft in, and putting it in drive and all the sudden it snaps and causes more damage to the car itself. The vehicle drives fine now, but i dont want to put constant tension on the transfer case with only the rear driveshaft in.


If the transfer case is locked, and i throw in the front driveshaft, and attempt to drive, what will happen?

thanks again for all the help, and sorry for the dumb questions..

[p76rangie]

Originally Posted by roverandom

Propshafts are balanced. Be sure the new unit has balancing weights on it or you will have a vibration problem.

A shaft without weights does not mean that it is out of balance. Neither of mine have weights and they have been balanced by an engineering shop that specialises in prop shafts. If they have the right gear they can get them perfect without weights. It is also better not to have the weights when you go off-road. That is, if they are not there they can't be ripped off.

[antichrist]

Originally Posted by schadeam

So any last minute advice or tips regarding the install of the front driveshaft before I attempt it?

It might be a good idea to start a thread, "Anybody live on Oahu?"
I admire your willingness to fix this yourself, but it also sounds like you have really limited experience. It might be helpful to find someone there who has time to give you some pointers in person. Just a thought. It doesn't have to be a RR owner.

[schadeam]

good idea. tried doing an into in the hawaii section, but no one ever replied... ill try a new thread with this issue instead. thanks.