Front drive shafts when should they be replaced?
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.
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.
AND your transfer case.
Administrator
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 25,707
Likes: 107
From: Denver, Colorado
When you first bought it. Mine failed under hard wheeling at 37,000 miles and believe me you don't want to wait around till you punch a hole in the tranny.
If you get it rebuilt, make sure to buy American made u-joints with grease fittings and a new centering ball.
If you get it rebuilt, make sure to buy American made u-joints with grease fittings and a new centering ball.
Baja
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 5,584
Likes: 7
From: Pittsburgh PA suburbs.
Mike, I have a 97 DI that probably has the original drive shaft. I bought it will approx 100k on it and it has about 112 now. Do you have instructions/parts list for rebuilding. Your help is sincerely appreciated.
Baja
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 5,232
Likes: 52
From: Georgia, USA
Everything you need to know but were afraid to ask. 
https://landroverforums.com/forum/sh...ad.php?t=29302
https://landroverforums.com/forum/sh...ad.php?t=29302
any drive line shop should do a bang up job. just make sure you have them use the correct parts and balance it.
Baja
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 5,584
Likes: 7
From: Pittsburgh PA suburbs.
Rebuilding Driveshaft
Mike,
After reading this thread, I am concerned with mine. I called a local salvage yard that specializes in Foreign Autos and they have a front drive shaft for $45. So I plan on grabbing it up and upgrading it to swap out with mine which is probably original. My questions are what is the Centering Ball and is there a procedure for rebuilding the drive shaft.
Is thyere a specific manufacturer or source you can reccommend for the parts?
Thanks immensely for your help to me and everyone else that writes in.
I plan on continuing to upgrade my DI and hopefully get another one as well. I am sure I will be turning to this site for guidance.
Recovery Vehicle
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 916
Likes: 1
From: Quarryville, Pa
Mike,
After reading this thread, I am concerned with mine. I called a local salvage yard that specializes in Foreign Autos and they have a front drive shaft for $45. So I plan on grabbing it up and upgrading it to swap out with mine which is probably original. My questions are what is the Centering Ball and is there a procedure for rebuilding the drive shaft.
Is thyere a specific manufacturer or source you can reccommend for the parts?
Thanks immensely for your help to me and everyone else that writes in.
I plan on continuing to upgrade my DI and hopefully get another one as well. I am sure I will be turning to this site for guidance.
After reading this thread, I am concerned with mine. I called a local salvage yard that specializes in Foreign Autos and they have a front drive shaft for $45. So I plan on grabbing it up and upgrading it to swap out with mine which is probably original. My questions are what is the Centering Ball and is there a procedure for rebuilding the drive shaft.
Is thyere a specific manufacturer or source you can reccommend for the parts?
Thanks immensely for your help to me and everyone else that writes in.
I plan on continuing to upgrade my DI and hopefully get another one as well. I am sure I will be turning to this site for guidance.
The D1 doesnt have a centering ball. It just has a standard 2 joint drive shaft. But I would recomend replacing the factory non greasable with greasable ujoints.
Mike,
After reading this thread, I am concerned with mine. I called a local salvage yard that specializes in Foreign Autos and they have a front drive shaft for $45. So I plan on grabbing it up and upgrading it to swap out with mine which is probably original. My questions are what is the Centering Ball and is there a procedure for rebuilding the drive shaft.
Is thyere a specific manufacturer or source you can reccommend for the parts?
Thanks immensely for your help to me and everyone else that writes in.
I plan on continuing to upgrade my DI and hopefully get another one as well. I am sure I will be turning to this site for guidance.
After reading this thread, I am concerned with mine. I called a local salvage yard that specializes in Foreign Autos and they have a front drive shaft for $45. So I plan on grabbing it up and upgrading it to swap out with mine which is probably original. My questions are what is the Centering Ball and is there a procedure for rebuilding the drive shaft.
Is thyere a specific manufacturer or source you can reccommend for the parts?
Thanks immensely for your help to me and everyone else that writes in.
I plan on continuing to upgrade my DI and hopefully get another one as well. I am sure I will be turning to this site for guidance.
If you want Mike then send him a PM.
The 1997 Discovery has 4 u-joints and they are all greasable from the factory.
ONLY the DII came with non greasable u-joints, that was one of BMW's cost saving idea's.
Grease all four of your u-joints at every oil change and you will be fine.
For piece of mind you can have your u-joints replaced.
A friend and I did all of mine last year and it cost me $50 for four u-joints from AutoZone.
If you buy a used driveshaft you will need to replace it's u-joints before you can even install it.
Any shop can replace all of yours, probably cost $100-150 to have them done.