I have read both here on the forums and in the RAVE that the rear drive shaft on my D1 should have a u-joint at the gear box end and a rubber gaiter (rotoflex?) at the differential end.

Well, mine actually has u-joints at both ends. The previous owner (friend of mine) did not modify this, and I have no knowledge of the 2 previous owners before him doing this, but it seems like it has been modified.

Or, maybe I am just missing something obvious.

Did 1997 D1s switch over to two u-joints?

 

I have a '96 I was working on (under) all day and I have the same arrangement as you. I was also happy to notice that they are bristling with zerks as well. Time to get the grease gun warmed up

 

I don't know the exact date, but somewhere around '96 they switched, 'cause I've seen both(u-joint and rotoflex)

 

From what I remember reading, the D1's had u-joints the whole way 'round, and the rotoflex was introduced with the DII. But I might wrong, if Ken is correct. So your D1 is as it should be...rotoflex free.

 

No, there was a period of a little over a year and a half that Rover switched back and forth between u-joints and a roto-flex.
If you have a roto-flex, just check it for verticle cracks between the bolts, if u-joints grease them 2 times a year.

 

Chris, do you have a concern, or is it just out of curiosity?
As for greasing them, do it according to the instructions in the propshaft rebuild sticky in the write ups. Mike always says 2 times a year, but that's incorrect.

 

Just curiosity. Thought maybe a PO may have had it converted from rotoflex to u-joint, but it sounds like that wasn't the case.

Already greased them. I figure I will do it at each oil change.

 

I have the rotoflex. For anyones info who has the rotoflex. Rockauto has replacements for $20 or so.

 

My '97 has 4 u-joints, grease them every oil change.

 

Just as an FYI, there have been a fair number of reports of cheap rotoflexes shredding.
But if you off-road much you're probably better off doing a u-joint conversion anyway. A spinning piece of rubber hanging low on your drive train is asking for trouble.