Please Help: Rear Propshaft removal

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Jan 29, 2013 | 07:47 PM

#11

antichrist

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From: Georgia, USA

A rotoflex absorbs driveline shock loading and also vibrations. The are quite common.

Jan 29, 2013 | 08:12 PM

#12

TRIARII

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Quote:

Originally Posted by jfall

Guys,
Forgive this perhaps obvious question.
I am more of a systems troubleshooter than a drive line guy.

With that said --

Is there a way to get a drive shaft with absolutely no rotoflexes?

Those seem like a "cheap" u-joint.

Why are there Rotoflexes and not U-Joints on a shaft?

Was it a way to decrease weight and just be cheap?
Or is there an advantage to a Rotoflex vs a U joint?

Seems the Discovery I has the advantage in this case?

I could be wrong so dont quote me but I thought early D1 models also had a rubber coupling on the one of its propshafts to?

I'm not sure why LR used rubber rotoflex couplings and I have no clue as to the pros and cons of them vs u-joints.

Jan 29, 2013 | 08:19 PM

#13

hilltoppersx

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From: Westchester, NY

Quote:

Originally Posted by TRIARII

I have found no indication regarding the correct direction for the rotoflex part. Could you elaborate? Because I did finally manage to remove the centering bushing thing, installed the new one and re-attached the propshaft to the truck. But if I did do it wrong then I will fix it tomorrow. and of course I used the new nuts and washers. Unfortunatly I forgot to install 7 washers! Kit came with 12 so I have to remove it tomorrow anyways to add the washers...

there should be an arrow on the rotoflex indicating the rotation direction of the shaft.

Jan 29, 2013 | 08:30 PM

#14

jafir

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From: Arkansas

Quote:

Originally Posted by jfall

Seems the Discovery I has the advantage in this case?

My d1 had a rotoflex.

Jan 29, 2013 | 08:32 PM

#15

jafir

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From: Arkansas

I'm pretty sure you install the rotoflex so that you are squeezing the meatier portions, not pulling them.

Jan 29, 2013 | 09:22 PM

#16

TRIARII

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Quote:

Originally Posted by hilltoppersx

there should be an arrow on the rotoflex indicating the rotation direction of the shaft.

I know the genuine rotoflex has the arrows but I did not notice any on the AB rotoflex, but Ill remove the part tomorrow after work and inspect it more closely. Also need to remove the spline and re-align it correct in the shaft.....

Jan 29, 2013 | 09:25 PM

#17

TRIARII

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Quote:

Originally Posted by jafir

My d1 had a rotoflex.

Thats what I thought. I remember know because when I called RoversNorth to order a replacement rear propshaft for my 98 D1, they asked me if I had the older rubber setup or the u-joint setup. At first I was completely confused by his question so he explained that early D1 models had a rubber flex coupler on the rear shaft then in either 1997 or 1998 they replaced the flex design with a u-joint setup.