I have been a long time reader of this forum and think it is the best Land Rover forum on the web. I have had a 97 DI for the last 6 years and have moved into a 04 just recently and working out a few bugs. It is finally time to make a post as I have no idea of the best option for my situation. My discovery 04 had a vibration that started about 55 and the worst at 65 and seemed to smooth out at 70. I searched and searched and have tried many things including removing front drive shaft ( shaft is new ), new tires, and new rear roto flex and u-joint nothing helped. One last test was to remove the rear shaft and test for vibration and with shaft removed it is smooth as silk.

My question is what to do. I have a few options but want to do this right. I could send shaft to a local shop and have it check and balanced
I could buy a shaft at the dealer
I could buy a shaft from Atlantic British
I could buy a used shaft from a local Rover salvage yard

I would appreciate and opinions.
Thanks
Jon

 

Take the rear shaft back off and take it to a driveline shop and have it inspected.
Have them make sure it is "true" as well as balanced.

 

Just thought of this, another option is for you to remove it and the turn it 180* and reinstall and see if the vibration goes away.

 

Do not chance damaging your tranny, rotating the drive shaft.
If anything remove it, engage your CDL to H lock and drive. If the problem is gone then either rebuild it if you know how or go to someone like Bill Davis at Great Basins Rovers in Salt Lake City, he has over 30 years of drive line related experience and offers 2 different drive shaft replacement.
If when you look at your drive shaft and it only has 1 grease fitting then get rid of it any way cause they all fail at some point and you don't want to loose a tranny at the same time when it does go south.

 

"One last test was to remove the rear shaft and test for vibration and with shaft removed it is smooth as silk."


I agree with Spike

Take it to the drive shaft shop. it's either bent and they will replace the tube. Or more likely the balancing weight fell off, and they will replace it.

 

Thank you for the replies! I sourced a thought to be good rear shaft today and gave it a shot. The vibration is still in the vehicle but not as bad. This vibration is gone with rear shaft removed. I'm thinking about pulling this shaft out and sending it out to the local drive shaft shop and have it check.

I'm willing to try just about anything at this point so all ideas are welcome.

 

Let us know how it works out for you.
We had a guy from Mexico a while back with a similar problem and it was the transfer case output shaft that was bad.
I hope it is just your driveshaft.

 

VIBRATION FOUND!!!!! Good news I have found the rear diff centralizing pin is bent. I called the dealer and they do not know what I'm talking about. This centralizing pin is the nub that sticks out of the rear pinion flange ( this part has to be removed to access pinion flange nut) and the rear drive shaft bushing rides on it. If anyone knows the part number please post it.

 

Look it up in the RAVE manual, it is a free download in Mikes signature.

 

I have looked in Rave and it has it listed as part 11 in the rear axel section but no part number, that is the problem I have now.