Can’t think of another word for it so ‘shuddering’

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Out of the blue juddering, have you checked the obvious that it's not a misfire? That can send dicks right down the drive train if it's bad enough
 
Thanks for that Kermit. Thanks to all the advice and options given on here we are fairly certain it’s the front propshaft UJ. I can’t see any damage, staining or other debris but the noises and the timings, and indeed the smell of hot metal, all fit. I have looked at the tools I need to get, right down to circlip pliers, against buying a new prop shaft with UJ from Brookwells and there is not much in it. The prospect of failure and messing up the kitchen is too much to bear and I need a quick turnaround so I think it’s a new prop shaft with UJ circa 70 quid and repair the old one at my leisure. Circlip pliers for Easter, a driver and great big vice for Fathers Day…….. I have plenty of hammers!
 
As I found out, there is no way to tell if the yoke eyes are stretched or corroded until you disassemble it and remove the bearing cups. A replacement is the right way to go in my opinion.

You also risk distorting or breaking the yoke eyes trying to remove the old bearing cups if they are corroded in.

There is no problem driving it on the road without a front propshaft fitted. The rear axle will still be driven as normal, though you will not be able to power the front axle.
 
Sounds to me like the handbrake - I had the same and only happened once warm.

Adjust the handbrake and see if it happens again
 
Ok I’ll look at the handbrake system tomorrow. It works fine in that there is no slack and it’s not tight. Am I looking at loosening it up a bit?
Our service lane was clear today, for a change, so the UJ’s got some attention. Ten minutes cleaning them up then 25 minutes trying to get the pesky grease gun cap off the second one I did. In for a penny and all that I carried on with the last two, three minutes tops. Why is there always one!! The UJ I had thought suspect, on the front prop-shaft, took at least six pumps with the grease gun before there was any resistance………… I wonder.
 
The trouble with old UJ's is there are four journals the grease needs to go to and if there is a dry one you can have a sure bet it's the one grease will not go to unless it has reached stage 4 when it may take some and extend its life a little but the writing is already on the wall.
Hand brake judder is a possibility, it happens when the expander gets sticky and does not let go all the way even though the lever is all the way down. Turning back the adjuster can be a temporary fix but cure is a clean and re grease or renew the unit if worn.
 
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Thanks for that. I think the collective train of thought is that the UJ is a spent force so it’s got to go but having a poke around underneath armed with a stiff brush, the grease gun, WD40 and some rags was quite enlightening and enabled to “see what’s what”. She is in good nick but I was reminded that other oil changes/ lubrication points need my attention. Getting the front prop shaft off could go either way couldn’t it but this morning I seem to be aching in places I had forgotten about.
 
I changed the front prop shaft, all went well until tightening the jubilee clip on the gaiter, and pumped everything that moved with grease. There are no tell tale signs of failure on the original shaft but I don’t have a big enough vice to secure it in so I can properly wiggle the UJ’s about. We went for a spin and after about ten miles all was well but something doesn’t feel right, an occasional murmur more than a shudder, like something was building up, and I coaxed her back home. It might be paranoia or my frozen shoulder but at times she felt like she was pulling towards the left. Tyres and braking are fine. After checking everything I could reach we went round the bigger block a few times and out of the blue there was a horrible clunking noise for about five seconds which went as I slowed down to a crawl. I couldn’t stop anywhere but there was no noise at all as I carefully picked up speed and went through the gears.
I did check over the handbrake system as suggested way back but it worked fine and was fully engaged on four clicks. The drum did feel warm but I have read that is normal. Haynes doesn’t cover noises but could it be an issue with the handbrake drum after all even though everything works as it should.
 
Are you certain it is not in 4wd as if it is you will get wind up and knotchy steering.
Jack one front wheel up and check you can turn it freely front propshaft should turn when you rotate the wheel lots of turns not just rocking it as the dog clutch in front output gives some movement.
 
Thanks. I’ll try that tomorrow. I haven’t had the need to engage 4WD for quite a while but I can certainly check the freewheeling hubs are properly set on ‘2’ and the levers have not slipped with a torch in a minute or two.
 
That's great but doesn't mean the freewheeling hubs are working correctly and the transfer box isn't in 4wd.
 
WoodyO. I’ll do the wheel, prop shaft test as well but it will be a roadside job so I’ll need to pick my moment. After I have ticked everything off we will go round the block a few times to warm her up, about ten miles seems to be the catalyst.
 
If you have FWHs surely your front prop wouldnt get much use and shouldnt wear. Sorry I cant offer a solution but I find parabolic springs are hard on the rear propshaft. My last series went through 2 in a couple of years. It was a daily driver and did quite a few miles. I always changed ujs or prop if I could feel any wear.
 
Morning,
The front prop, more specifically the UJ’s, were pinged mostly on the process of elimination. At one point I had the middle seat out and I was certain the clunk/shudder came from directly below, ie the front prop, as by then we had already eliminated the handbrake, tyres, suspension and brakes and anything that may have worked loose. Anyway the prop and UJ’s were replaced as that was the pragmatic gamble but the old UJ’s do not appear to be loose, I have arthritis so it wasn’t the strongest test, and the shaft looks fine so where to go next. I did a complete E90 oil change whilst I was getting wet and muddy and no scary bits of metal came out and I have driven around some local lanes in 4WD and high and low and all seemed fine………… until Tuesday when the clunking/shuddering occurred again, this time 100 yards up the road. I went down the gears, slowed up and it faded. I couldn’t find that ‘spot’ again but I think we can move on from shuddering. It’s more like slowing right down in fourth and then pulling away again without going down a gear or two. The weather has been against me since but tomorrow afternoon I hope to be allowed out and we are off for a spin. It’s all a bit nerve racking getting out of Exeter as it’s so stop, stop, start these days but if we get into the sticks and she is purring she is still a joy………. even at 1.76 a litre
 
Hi Scalley - did you ever get to the bottom of your issue. I am having the very same problem that you describe, although I have had the gearbox rebuilt since that was what I thought it was - 10 minutes in, same issue. No miss fire and all new dizzy, coil, plugs and carb set up. Baffled! Any advice would be helpful.
 
And... did you check the handbrake drum? The four nuts holding the prop flange and drum have been loose on three of the four Landy's I've had when I bought them.
 
Orjip. Technically No but with all the nuts checked and tightened, oils changed, (in part to check the discharged oil for clues), grease topped up, bearings checked, handbrake and housing checked, hubs engaged and disengaged and numerous diversions when under the chassis I am beyond help. There is still a dull noise, definitely something rotating , but it is nothing like it used to be, it was scary at times, and by driving carefully you can reduce it or even lose it. I am going to replace the rear prop shaft as well when I get a chance just because it’s bugging me. I couldn’t get the UJs off the front so replaced the whole unit and seem to be better at ‘bigger’ repairs that require spanner’s and hammers than the fiddly things that require some finesse, (too many years as a wicket keeper). I am not sure what your noise will be but the process of elimination I have learned on here has certainly helped me.
 
Thanks Scalleys Dad. Appreciate the update. Thanks. I'll take a look at my front and rear props again and run through everything again. I am lucky that I have a classic landrover engineer near me in the Forest of Dean as I am now beyond a DIYer - and like you, it can be a little scary, so much so, my young kids wont now come out with me. I will keep you posted. Thanks all.
 
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