Hi Guys,

My front drive shaft in my 98 disco 1 broke off at the transfer case end when I was driving up a hill in town. The broken shaft flung around violently of course and I was able to pull in to the nearest pull out and guide her into a parking spot.

I had her towed home and ordered a new drive shaft. Tonight I thought that I would be able to drive it into my garage to work on it but found no power was going to the rear wheels - I was thinking that I would have power going to the rear wheels. I put it into drive, neutral, reverse and could see that there was corresponding spinning or no spinning at the transfer case. So it seems that my transmission is working to me but maybe not?

There is also this weird - what looks like aluminium bar - down along side the transmission that is broken at one end. What is that bar?

Do you guys think things with respect to my truck are normal considering a broken off front driveshaft?

Thanks so much,
Ray

 

You need to lock the transfercase. That broken rod is just a brace.

 

Without locking the center differential (hi loc or lo loc) power is transmitted to the area with the easiest to turn (broken drive shaft) by locking the transfer case, it sends power to front and rear.

 

Agree'd you need to put the transfercase into difflock and it will go.

Why did your drive shaft let go?

 

Ok thanks for the responses. Yes this all makes sense now.

I tried to shift the lever all the way over to the left and can't. I'm not sure why. I have never locked the transfer case before. I'll keep trying.

 

It will be the lack of engagement that will be the problem, seen loads of Disco's and even Defenders that have a seized up centre diff mechanism simply because they never leave pavement and the owners never engage them or lubricate the linkage during service.

Get underneath and apply penetrating fluid to the lever while wiggling, saving that you might need to be a bit more rough with it

 

Try going around to the passenger side and pushing the lever to the driver side. If it's never been worked chances are it's seized up good.