freelander 2 rear diff

Hi
just got over the issue of a faulty clutch which turned out to be the slave failing, now fixed.
Noticed a leak at back of car that looked like it was coming from the rear diff. **** they are expensive.
Garage first thought it could just be the drive seals. On inspection the rear left drive shaft fell out of the diff and looked like the end had sheared off and was still in the diff.Ive only had two wheel drive so that explains the wheelspinning in the snow recently. A land rover workshop manager I know said hed never heard of that happening. So the diff is out and off to a specialist to see if they can recondition it.
Anyone had this issue before, what could cause the drive shaft to shear off?

Rear diffs on F2 are rubbish - they are always failing - I presume through bearing failure.

Not heard of 1 snapping the drive shaft before though.

Did you not hear it go bang? I'd have thought it would make a hell of a sound when it went.

Bell Enginerring do recon F2 diffs for £500 (cough!). Get a genuine LR or OEM replacement drive shaft - if the aftermarket ones are anything like on F1 they won't last long at all and can do more damage to the diff.

If the diff has failed internally, then there is a possibility of the drive shaft snapping. Although it's far from a common occurrence.

Have seen this twice, if driveshaft wasn't pushed back into diff properly or the spring clip has broke the drive shaft can pop out. The last 2mm stays engaged for about 100miles then it shears off.