I'm about to inherit a 2000 Disco II, I want to do all the servicing as shown on this site but I have two questions.
1 Will a failing drive shaft give warning before it goes? I had a toyota pickup years ago and the drive shaft died, it felt like I was driving on the rumble strip. It gave me time to slowly drive to a shop and get it repaired
2 What is involved in rebuilding the drive shaft, new U joints or more than that? and is it only the front one that is the main issue?

Thanks

 

you might get a squeak / chirping / viberation from the ujoint before but dont count on it. Most times when they go you will not have time to pull over, when it breaks the shaft starts swinging around breaking thing up to and including the tranny. The are quite a few post if you do a search that will give you all the parts and part numbers needed.

 

You need special tools to rebuild (and it's not an easy job unless you have rebuilt driveshafts before). Your options are ordering the 3 ujoints and center ball join, and having a shop rebuild it for you (cheapest route). Or you can spend 200 more dollars or so and order one already built off

Home

or

Tom Wood's Custom Drive Shafts - Tom Woods Custom Drive Shafts Custom Driveshafts Specialist

Then you just remove your old one, throw it away (hit baseballs with it, sell it to a noob, whatever rocks your boat ) and replace it with the new one (easiest route).

 

[quote=sloan74;251052]You need special tools to rebuild (and it's not an easy job unless you have rebuilt driveshafts before). [quote]

listen to the man. i rebuilt mine and i will never rebuild another again.
path of least resistance is to buy one already done or have a shop do it for you......

 

[QUOTE=dgi 07;251055][quote=sloan74;251052]You need special tools to rebuild (and it's not an easy job unless you have rebuilt driveshafts before). The tools really aren't all that specialized, but x2 to doing it yourself being a PITA. I'd pay to have it done for me if I had to do it again...

 

Agreed on the tools. A press would have made it so easy but the press at my shop was broken. So I had to do it with a table vice. Next time, im just gonna buy one already done

 

PITA. But glad I did it once. Just found out my brothers Dodge has one too. Told him I would HELP but that he is best off sending it to the pro's.

 

You guys are making me paranoid! Ok, so I ducked under the Disco today and by desciptions on this site it looks like the drive shafts are original. Some pics are attached for verification from those who know much more than me.

I know the Disco started in Oregon and then that owner moved to Palm Springs for a few years, then sold it to the 2nd owner out here in the Northeast last year. The 2nd owner put 5,000 miles on it and then ended up having the engine re-built and then sold it to me.

It is a 2004 and has 81,000 miles. Is original drive shaft failure imminent or is it realted to use and climate??

While I was under there this morning I noticed a few wet spots too, no drips on the driveway that I have noticed yet, but I am wondering if I should be doing something about the dribbles before they get worse of if they seem "normal" for these trucks. Any input would be appreciated!

 

Just got mine replaced this past Monday, mine had slight vibration and was chirping/squeaking high pitched. It almost sounded like it was the tire, but I realized soon enough that it had to be the drive shaft. Unfourtanetly, failure is imminent on these trucks. And yes, the drips are quite normal and it is nearly impossible to prevent it entirely. Just keep an eye out for any large puddles, as that can be a real bad sign.

 

It's not a matter of if, it's when. It will go, the grease will bake out, it will fail. Sometimes it makes noise, sometimes it doesn't. It may or may not bust a hole in your case when it does fail, but why gamble. Also remember that replacing it with a fully greasable one is not a maintenance free fix, it actually requires more maintenance. You will need to grease it every 5k.

Labor of love baby. Fwiw, I thought the rebuild was pretty easy. Did it in a morning.