Hi fellas, sorry for digging up an old thread, but seemed to be the perfect place for my post..

It's advised that new owners "inspect" the front driveshaft so that this doesn't happen to us. What is it that we're looking for, and how can one tell if the driveshaft is on its way out?

Are there any outward symptoms or indications that one might be ready to go? My "new" rover has 107k miles and I would sure hate for this to happen.

 

I'll let someone with more knowledge/experience of the inspect address that. But being a new Rover owner myself, the front prop shaft replacement was one of the first things I did (along with 180 t/stat and getting an Ultragauge). Got my prop shaft from Lucky8, was the right blend of durability/price for my needs (light/moderate trail driving, at worst). More rugged shafts can be had from BP Utah and others. Having only a little mechanical experience (mostly from prior Jeeps), the prop shaft replacement took me about 1 1/2 hours, and most of that time was just trying to get to the bolts, etc. Could probably be done in like 20 or 30 min's in ideal conditions, it's pretty simple and straightforward. Make sure to use new nylock nuts (8 total) and new bolts for the front attachments, the rear ones stay in place due to flange placement. Anyway, welcome.

 

Yes, agreed James. At that mileage don't wait or check for warning signs, just replace it. $250 and an hour of your time is well worth the preventive maintenance on the shaft. It's that or thousands of dollars worth of damage. The U-joints will fail with the extreme heat that is on top of them (cat converters) and being non serviceable, lack of grease nips on them.

I just did mine, it was two beer job and long as you have some in the fridge.