My 2003 Discovery II recently got the front driveshaft u-joint broken. I had the front driveshaft removed and sent it to a machine shop. However, the guy messed up the shaft when he tried to press the u-joint out. So now I have to wait for the new driveshaft I just ordered online. I figured the front driveshaft only connects the tranferbox to the front diff. So if I have the front driveshaft disconnected, I should be still able to drive the truck with the rear-drive only. I am not sure if there is any other implications other than not getting the 4-wheel drive?
Can anyone with the experience/expertise on this help me out? Thanks,

 

No. 03 does not have a locking center diff, so you can not. With open diff you will be sending all power to the shaft less front. This is true for U.S. Trucks that have not been retrofitted with a locking center diff

 

What Dusty said. I have a 1999 so I can. Sorry for your luck. Can't really understand why LR didn't just put the locking diff T case in all discovery's.

 

Soccer moms didn't want it.

 

saved like $35 a truck. helped in making a handsome profit margin in the hand off

 

for reference; from mid '01 till the end of '03 they were deleted
to regain you have 2 choices. replace the t case with one that has cdl fitted or replace the nose section of yours with one from a cdl case

 

Well you could jam a pipe into the front U-joint on the transfer case to lock it.
Bet it would drive on the back diff then.

If the front output from the transfer case is jammed with a pipe, you will get power to the back diff via the transfer case.

Well, the pipe could slap around - but it would work in a pinch to get you home.

 

Who LR .............. never ............... how could they .................

In all seriousness, I haven't got a CDL on mine and have never missed it and never use the low range either only to exercise it now and then. But I don't do offroading per se so don't need these extras. Got the old trick Pajero for offroading with all 3 diff lockers and a 'magic' transfer box and autobox. Only problem is the motor is old mechanical injection pump techno.

 

I've had front driveshaft issues twice (once while it was being repaired, and once after it was STOLEN in parking lot overnight ) - in both situations I locked the diff and went on my way happily ever after... the second time I was actually without it for a few weeks.

I was easy on it under accel and whenever the torque converter was locked up at higher speeds, but other than that it actually drove MUCH better.. far less NVH, better mpg, more quiet, etc.

I just found an 06 Jeep Liberty diesel for the GF and it can either be (as is normal) 2WD (RWD) OR full time AWD also.. which blows my mind but is totally awesome, as much as I dislike Jeeps that thing is a freaking little tractor (that also manages ~30mpg!)

Oh you can also lock it into part time AWD AND AWD / low range.