I was just reading up on drive shafts. I have a 2000 Disco II with about 67,000 miles on it. When should I replace or rebuild my front drive shafts?

 

30,000 miles ago.
Seriously, some people have gone over 100k with no issues, some people haven't gotten 35k. You're gambling your gearbox.
https://landroverforums.com/forum/sh...ad.php?t=29302

 

i went 106 on my original. only cuz i bought it at 105 and it still had the original then i heard it starting to fail. better to get it done and take care of it at every oil change and not have to worry about it destroying the under belly of your rig.

 

X3. Some people report no symptoms prior to their DS failing. Follow AC's recommendations to rebuild yours or start saving for a new one from Tom Woods. DON'T BUY A GENUINE ROVER DS.

Paranoid yet???

 

My total bill for a blown driveshaft as of Sunday:

Transmission $1,000
Drive shaft $350
O2 Sensor $60
Catalytic converters and exhaust section $400

$2440 without labor since I did it all myself. All of which could have been avoided with the purchase of a new drive shaft. In my case I purchased the truck with the blown shaft. You get a chance to catch it before it blows.

 

I saw a '04 for sale on Craig's List with 75,000 miles on it, it needs a transmission, which means the driveshaft broke at 75k.

 

makes me nervous as a long tail cat in a room full of rocking chairs. What is the general consensus on why the failures are occurring?

 

The U-Joints are sealed, and located right next to the exhaust. The heat from the exhaust bakes the grease in the sealed joints, they lock up and WHAMMY!

I don't think there is an equation to tell you how long the shaft will actually last...some go early like AC says and some will last longer like mine at 112K! I have heard the more off-roading/rough driving you do, the shorter the lifespan.

 

They fail because they are non serviceable.
Meaning that they cannot be greased at every oil change like all u-joints need to be.
And without proper service the grease inside them wears out.
The front driveshaft on a DII is only 2" from the passenger side catalytic converter, and it is right under the passenger side a/c drain.
So it gets the trifecta, non greaseable, water drips on it and then it gets baked by a 1000*F furnace.

When it breaks, and it will, it will take out your transmission, if you are lucky that is all it does.
It can also take out your exhaust.

You can avoid all of this by having it rebuilt using greasable u-joints.
Having it done will cost about $300.

 

Thanks guys.