note: Rover gods are omnipotent, and demand constant offerings of raw meat roasted on fire surrounded by scantily clad dancing women and quantities of beverages with alcohol content greater than local gasoline. If not, you will be forced to suffer at some point of their choosing. Disco Mike is a Rover guru and will save you money or pull you back from the edge. The Rover gods grease the path over the edge with all the oil drips.

Note 2 - there was a post of a guy who had the shaft tear loose, smack hole in the tranny, and his insurance covered it as he "ran over something in the road". Who knows if that would fly again.

 

Very well explained.
Damn he must have had a real push over insurance agent.

 

If it for sure hasn't been greased for 10K+ mi, you may want to replace it whether that's the source of the sound or not. Small price to pay to keep your tranny.

 

First grease all the fittings at each oil change or twice a year.
As for the number of fittings on each shaft, look for a plug toward the front of the drive shaft, it will have a very small bolt in it. Remove it, add another grease fitting and give the slip shaft 5 or 6 pumps.
Do the same on the rear shaft.
Let us now how it goes.

 

Grease fittings had allready been added. I tried that, but the problem was VERY obviously the ball joint at the double u joint end, it took force to rotate and would sqweak in my hands just trying. I'm getting it replaced as I write.

I "think" I done good. Jacked her up on stands, put it in neutral, was able to loosen all 8 bolts easily.

I left the four rear bolts in, as I don't think I could have easily backed them out due to that circle flange directly behind it? So I detached the front completely and backed it off the bolts carefully.

Ill let you know the finish when I get the prop. Shaft back tomorrow or Monday.
Thx. Joe

 

What are they charging you to replace the ball joint?
Was quoted by a place here in Denver $250 to rebuild the entire driveshaft... I would by a new one for $300 at that price.
I too have the drive shaft with the grease fittings on each of the U joints and the slip joint.
Greased and greased them again in the fight against the squeak. I lost the battle... assume it is the pain in the butt ball joint....

 

You know, your 02 has a locking t/case so you could lock it and drive without the front shaft for now.

 

I would buy a new one too lol hey do not forget to replace the 8 ny-lock nuts that hold it on, they are a 1 time use.

 

I don't think every oil change or twice a year is often enough. I would go with every three months regardless of mileage or the oil change schedule. And, never trust an oil change place to adequately grease prop shaft u-joints. They just don't get it. The second joint in the double cardan is very close to the cat converter and can get cooked. Oil change places don't use enough grease. You need to pump the new grease through the u-joint until new grease comes out of all four seals on each u-joint. Then clean everything up so you don't have grease flying all over the place. Anything less than that leaves old cooked grease in the joint that will cause a fail sometime.

 

02s do not have CDL option, only up til 2001.5