Hey I just got a discovery 2 2004 and am doing the 60k service for preventative measures.i was wondering if I really need to rebuild the driveshaft as I would rather wait a bit, for the most part it seems tight and has little play, the rotoflex tha t prevents vibration isn't cracked or worn either, so I think someone has done driveshaft work before. Just curious if I need to get it done right away.

 

The rear is not the one that is the big worry, it's the front.

I'll say we cannot diagnose the condition of a driveshaft from pics on the internet. So it's your call on its condition.

If you feel it's good to go than by all means. If you are questioning it that tells you your answer.

Driveshaft are cheap.

 

Ok, rather dish out some money than nuke the transmission. Instead of buying the driveshaft can't I just buy 3 New zero joints Instead? It would be cheaper and I don't mind doing it, also where is the best place to buy those joints, I saw them on lucky8 for 15$ a pop, not sure if I should go with something else I don't want cheap parts that will break sooner

 

Yeah 125.00 can get you a fully grease-able unit. 90-100.00 for a new non grease-able unit.

That is an extremely small price to pay vs a new transmission, new 4WD selector cable, new transfer case, new transmission mounts, a new set of cats, not even counting labor!

I just fixed a friends 03 that had a catastrophic front drive shaft failure that took out the transmission, transfer case, transmission mounts, both fuel lines, cats, and it left a massive dent in the floor. Save yourself the trouble and fix it now vs pay for it later IMHO.

 

If you are using standard factory size tires and youll be good but you have mentioned there is a little play. That need to be addressed since there should be no play on the driveshaft itself. Shafts with factory size tires, goes over 150k miles in my experience with 2 discovery's But with, over 32 inch tires, mine broke an average of 50 to 60k miles per shaft.

 

Looking at the pictures, the front shaft has been rebuilt with aftermarket u-joints. You can tell by the retainer clips. Plus there are zerks on the cardan joint which are not stock. The rear shaft still has the original u-joint (old style retainer clips).

 

If you rebuild yourself you need all three u-joints plus the centering ball. I'm all in favor of lucky 8; if you're worried about the quality of the part call and ask. Great guys to work with; if you need to bump up to the next nicer part they'll tell you, and if you don't they wont try to get you to.

 

Unless this is just a bad pic, but WTF is that ??? It looks like a crack/seperation.
Replacing a Front Shaft on a DII is a no brainer > https://www.lucky8llc.com/collection...t-driveshaft-6

And again maybe a bad pic, but it looks like the heatshield is rubbing on the rear drive shaft gaiter. Or something F'd it up.