Pay someone else to do it, PERIOD. I have tackled more than a couple jobs during my short tenure as a Land Rover Discovery owner, from 02's to starters and water pumps, so I can say with certainty that I am confident in my how-to. But this thing broke me. No matter how hard or with what I hit it with she held her ground. In the end it I took the drive shaft to a guy named Jeff at Fleet Pride here in Memphis and let him have at it. I stood it awe as he almost artfully defeated the beast. In the end Jeff had used most of his arsenal including a welder to remove the center ball ring to which he had to welded a bolt and pry out with a vice like a rotten tooth. I awarded Jeff with his meager bounty of $40 and was out the door with the tamed monster only minutes later fully restored.

 

I understand your frustration. Happened to me too but I couldnt salvage the "monster" after my beatings to it. It all depends on what technique is used for removing the ball and how hard it is to remove. Good thing you got yours rebuilt!

 

So he rebuilt the whole propshaft for $40? Or just removed the centering ball for $40?

 

Has to be removal, rebuilt by a "friend" at a drive line shop was going to be $300. You have $200 in parts alone for the job. I know I keep saying this but the trick to popping the cardone ball out is heat. Heat the outside then douse the bearing ring in carb cleaner real quick, she will pop right out with a decent slide hammer.

 

He rebuilt it. I supplied the 3 U-joints and center ball kit.

 

Did mine with a bearing puller.I used the small fingers and turned them around then wedged them under the ball.Took a little umph but it popped rite out.Guess I just got an easy one.Actually getting the cardon joint apart was the hardest part.

 

Hardest part for me was putting the double-cardon back together.

 

Just got the call from my Rover mechanic, my transmission is toast. I repaired the damage done by my prop shaft failure, but the hidden damage was beyond me. Turns out the output shaft housing is cracked as well, and not repairable.

So anyone considering this job, don't. Just do it, and do it now. I'm looking at $2500 for the entire job, 1k for transmission the rest in labor. The cardon joint is like a hand grenade when it goes, and it will go. Don't be me.

 

Haha...oh I feel your pain. I just did it this past weekend and anybody that read my posts probably think I'm nuts but.....I WAS NUTS for two solid days.

Scott R is right. HEAT, HEAT, HEAT the centering ball. I used a little propane torch and sat till it was red hot. Then and only then did that subborn thing come out.

Getting the double abck together is a bear as well. Take all four caps off the last u-joint and get it in the position it will end up being in. Make sure you u-joint the centering ball part of the propshaft first. Lower in the other half of the propshaft slowly into the centering ball making sure not to forget to have the spring in place. Use lots of grease to keep the spring in place and a lot in the centering ball to protect the needle bearings. Lower it in and push real hard to ooze the extra grease out or the last u-joint won't line up right. Then put the caps in the joint and tap them in till they are flush with the inside of the double joint. Then it's just a matter of puching all the caps in and clipping them.

It really was a nightmare but I am so glad I stuck with it. It gave me confidence that I can tackle the other jobs that are sure to come. Rover have a way of keeping me humble for sure.

 

One of those jobs that I am glad I did myself. Not fun and an extra trip to work (the last place on Earth I want to go) to get a slide hammer that would do the job. The cause was too many trips wading when my road flooded. It took out the centering ball.