Hi Guys,
I just got my 2003 discovery up and running. I bought it with a broken front prop shaft and busted transmission. I replaced the transmission with a used one from a 2004 disco (w/ 89k on it), and replaced the front prop shaft with a new one (with greasable joints) I bought off ebay. I took it for a test drive and it has a vibration around 35 mph and up. It does it worse under accelleration, but still has some vibration when I let off the gas. Can I remove the front prop shaft and test to see if that is the cause of the vibration? Or any other ideas? Thanks.

 

if you haven done cdl upgrade you can pull it and drive. if you have not done cdl (2003 usually does not) you will not go if you pull a shaft. you needed the tcase off of that '04.

the new shaft may need to be balanced
and check that everything is tight

 

If you have a locking CDL, or if your transfer case has this spud on top that you can turn to lock position. Then you can have a 2WD Disco with either shaft out.

Also, if you have a rotoflex coupler at the end of the back shaft consider that if any cracks showing.

BTW, how many miles on the Disco, what did you pay for it, and what did you pay for the shaft?

 

Items to look at,
Front drive shaft balance.
Check for bad cracks on the rotoflex
Doubtfull it is the tire balance cause it is from 35 MPH and up.

 

Thanks guys for the advice. I'm not sure if I have a locking CDL, but will check. It probably does not, being a 2003 transfer case. I read in another post it may be the front differential from where the front prop shaft origially broke?

Savannah, the Disco has 87k on it. I paid $1500 for it, $450 for the used tranny, and $250 for the front prop shaft. It's in good shape, if I can just get this vibration out.

 

another recent thread was similar. it turned out to be his diff.

 

https://landroverforums.com/forum/di...n-60923/page2/

 

I suppose engine/tranny mounts could also be considered.

 

I had this problem on my 2004 D2. Same symptoms. Turned out that the output shaft bearing inside the transfer case on which the front drive shaft attaches, it had about 1/16 th of an inch in radial play. Nevertheless, make sure that all 3 U joints on the drive shaft are tight and in good shape. I rebuilt mine using 3 new U joints.

 

Just so I will know, can the output shaft bearing be replaced without removing the transfer case?