My 2003 Disco 2 front drive shaft has no grease fittings. What kind of care can I provide for it?

 

A replacement or rebuild with greasable joints is the best if you don't know the mileage of current shaft.

 

After 100K miles ................ just prayers

 

My Rover mechanic tells me that getting a 'greasable' drive shaft will not fix the problem, as the shafts fail because of a ball which does not receive lubricant. He cautions that I just be aware of unusual noise or vibrations.

 

You replace that ball when doing the U joints.

 

sorry
should have said "A replacement or rebuild with greasable joints and greasable centering ball is the best if you don't know the mileage of current shaft. "

 

What's the proven method for greasing the centering ball? Is there a needle fitting you can point me to that I can ram in there and grease her up?

I had a new BPU shaft almost go belly up on a road trip because the centering bearing was not greased properly.

 

the needle is to stick in the pivot gap, but if the ball is greasable you can drop that end of the shaft and articulate the joints. you should then see this.....



here is a needle....



and the fitting below, far right, will push grease in the centering ball zerk, itself. (the thicker needle looking fitting will work too)

 

do you grease the centering ball as often as the u-joints? i've had mine on for almost 3 years and never greased the centering ball... do you have drop it every time you want to grease the centering ball?

I grease my u-joints every oil change

 

On the slip joint there is a grease fitting that is always gone and covered with
a special little bolt.

Remove that and put in a fitting and grease the slip joint.
then remove the grease fitting and put the little bolt back in the front of the front drive shaft.

I had a drive shaft that I swear was going to drop when I first got the 2001 Discovery I.
I just greased it well.

And on a 1,200 mile trip - I greased it in Ogden Utah really well. As i figured it needed it again.

And I got to Seattle.
The shaft did not drop and has been good since.
Just a stock shaft.
Make sure the drive shaft is greased every oil change and you'll be fine.