So while doing my oil change, I took a peek at the rear prop and noticed that my rear flexible coupling (rubber material) seems to be cracking. Should I simply replace this with a new one? Get a new rear prop shaft? OEM rear shaft, FYI.


'03 Disco with 88k miles, 2nd owner. Soccer dad, not off-roading, everyday car.


Thanks fellas

 

simply replace this with a new one

 

Don't buy a whole new shaft unless you are really rich, just buy the rubber coupling and centering bush. Buy a GKN which is the LR OEM don't buy the cheapo replacements. The rubber coupling is the source of many problems including vibrations. I would suggest you also change the UJ at the other end of the shaft and also fit new bolts and nuts both ends. Make sure you mark up the orientation of the shaft to the flanges both ends and also the couplings on the shaft as it helps maintain the shaft balance.

 

Ditto on what ORFrance said...


I was chasing a vibration issue last year. Changed pretty much everything (front driveshaft, shocks, rebalancing, realignment, etc). The vehicle was 79K miles at the time and the original Rotoflex rubber coupler which looked fine (no visible cracks). Still had the vibration. I decided to replace the Rotoflex coupler as a final desperate measure. Fixed the vibration issue instantly.

 

I bought one of the "Cheapo" ones from RockAuto and I was reallyy impressed with the quality of EuroParts in this case. The original appeared to be just plain rubber, but the EuroParts replacement I got looks like the side wall of a dump truck tire as it has threads made into the rubber. Just appears to be a lot more heavy duty. I was concerned when it arrived and looked so different. I was afraid it would cause vibrations until it got broken in good, but I have to say I am very pleased so far. About 20K miles on it so far and it's been just as smooth as the original that costs 3 times as much. Which is why I passed on it in the first place. Seems like I got mine for about 30 bucks shipped.

 

And ditto on the changing the U-joint on the other end of it. Whether it needs it or not.

 

I bought a cheapo and it vibrates more, it could be the U-Joint or maybe it lost its balance...I'd buy the GKN one like France said.

 

DANE! did you get a EuroParts unit or another aftermarket?

Thats the only problem with replacing more than one piece on the drive line at a time. If you do have a new vibration you can't be sure what it is that's caused it. You can save time and money doing it all at once, especially if you pay someone to do it, but you also increase your frustration if a problem arrises afterwords because you don't know what to look at first.

 

Also theres 4 different positions you can reinstall the shaft in since it has 4 sides. Always mark things so that you can put everything back as close to original placement as possible. If you don't and you have a vibration arrise you have to start indexing, which is basically process of elimination of all the possible ways the part can be installed until you find which one works best, which is a major PITA!

 

Get a GKN or Genuine Land Rover. Email me if you want, I believe you have it...