I have been reading about the front prop shaft issues and wanted to ask if and when should they be replaced? I have a 2004 SE7 with 102K miles. I had the shaft off the vehicle and it looked like it was in good condition and had not slop in the joints. There is a single grease fitting on the joint and a plug for a grease fitting on the shaft itself.

I'm not up for the work to rebuild myself.

Do I need to worry about the rear shaft?

All suspension looks stock and most likely original.

 

Replace it now. No reason to wait if it's the original one or if you don't know when it was changed.

I don't think you need to worry about the rear. Just grease it and check the rotoflex.

In terms of suspension, I'm sure new shocks would improve the ride if it currently has the original shocks.

 

Rebuilding the front prop ain't too bad with proper tools like the c clamp, and doing it in the correct order to get the double cardan put back together.
And do get proper uj's and not any britpart crap.
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I rebuilt mine few months back when it failed and before I got a new wide angle one.

 

You also need a slide hammer to replace the centering ball which is part of the common failure in the double cardon joint.

 

Waiting is like the equivalent of the letting the ticking bomb go off, instead of cutting the wire. If the drive shaft goes it will more than likely take out a catalytic converter and punch a hole in the side of the transmission. You should absolutely rebuild or replace the shaft, especially if the truck is lifted. I personally recommend the Tom Wood's shafts. Just make sure you grease the joints.

 

There is is no “if” there is only “when” you replace the front drive shaft, and that when is more or less almost immediately after purchase in my opinion unless the shaft was already replaced with one that can be greased fully. I thought my latest one had the shaft replaced and thought I checked it well before my 1200 mile home and subsequently replaced a bunch of parts in the front end. Well, it was the shaft.

In terms of rebuild or replace, my thoughts are there are certain parts on a Disco you just pay the man and get either new OEM, or pay the premium for hotrod aftermarket. As the front driveshaft is one of the most well known design flaws of the D2, and when it fails, it does so the most spectacular of fashions, it’s worth it to get one that all 3 U Joints and the body can be regularly greased, and the U joints replaced. Tom Woods or call GBR to get one made. GBR is my choice as they are one of only a couple shops I’ve ever trusted implicitly.

After you get one, just make it part of your oil changes to grease the U joints every time and it will probably last the life of the vehicle.

 

I ordered a tom woods today from Lucky8. It is cheap insurance to have have the shaft fail and do 1000's worth of damage. I might get one I pull out rebuilt if it is not much $ by a local shop. I assume the one that I remove will have some value?

I have no lift but plan to install OME medium or HD springs and Bilstien shocks. I think this will keep me under 2" of lift.

 

I’ve used stock length shafts for 2” of lift in the past and I’d think it will be fine.

 

The original u- joints did not have zerk fittings

 

the u joints do have zerk fittings, one on each. Does this indicate the shaft has been rebuilt? The Rave manual shows them too.