Hi Gary,
Check carefully the shaft to IRD connection, check for any play - there should be none.
If there is any lateral movement at all in the shaft where it enters the ird then the IRD bearing and seal must be replaced.
There is absolutely no problem at all in replacing a single drive shaft either.
The cheap ones seem really good. I know a few guys here who use them off road and never had an issue.
If there is no play in the ird input bearing for the shaft - and you think it is leaking oil from the seal, then replace the ird shaft seal on it's own.
Hopefully you will find something obvious. Is the 'heaviness' only on one side ? - any difference between forward and reverse ?
Compare Left - forward and reverse to Right forward and reverse.
If you really cannot find anything then remove the VCU and check again although it is not a normal sign of a vcu issue at all.
Joe
vcu is fine , it goes in reverse on full lock in a figure of eight the same as it's always done , on level ground and does it on tickover
know it's not the proper test but it's not being held in any way
it's just on the left lock that it feels heavy , right lock forward is fine and reverse is fine on both locks ,
as i reverse onto the drive feel no resistance what so ever
a couple of years ago i had the props rebuilt
ref the ird bearing and seal i think i will have to put this in a garage
reason being is not being able to get underneath the car properly and get it all removed
haven't got a torque wrench that goes up to over 300 i lbs/ft
got plenty of tools and ramps, jack etc ,
thinking about it , when i went up the road a few weeks back i felt the steering was very very slightly going left, but then on another stretch of road felt fine
don't want to leave it , will keep it very local
thks ref about having to change just one and the £52 quid ines are ok , think they have a 12 month warranty as well and brand new
there's no vibration regardless of speed, no uneven wear on the tyres
think ats do free tracking , has been off road quite a bit and plenty of speed humps
do think though i will have to put it into a garage, my back just won't allow me to physically get the shafts out if that's what it is
what do u think, get the tracking checked first as they have now have a special laser four wheel drive alignment system
if that's ok think i will have to sit down and get a quote to get the drive shafts replaced ,
assume as it's heavy on the left the shaft on the left would be the faulty one, if that is what it is
am very grateful , will indeed keep u updated so it may help someone else
thank u