Front Driveshaft Replacement

It's cold and I'm going to be on my own in the carpark at work, but I need to get the front right hand driveshaft swapped over on my Freelander.
Quickest and easiest is the way ahead!

I've got the hub nut loosened and assume the next step is to loosen from the IRD end, but can I get away with just removing the hub to strut bolts, tipping the full hub forward then pulling the driveshaft back for the CV to clear the hub? I fitted a 2" lift recently, so hopefully those hub/strut bolts are still free enough!

I've had a bit of a look about, but can't see a lot of info specifically on replacing the front driveshaft, so am hoping it's as simple as hub nut, release IRD end, pull hub forward, pull driveshaft away from hub and reassemble in the reverse order!

Any advice on things I may have missed gratefully accepted.

The drive shaft 'pops' out of the gearbox/ird side. There is a special tool but a ball joint splitting folk can be used if the prongs start thin enough. When wedging the tool between the box and the shaft joint be careful not to damage the seal.

You can manhandle the shaft out of the hub if you pull the hub far enough out and compress the joints, it's tight but can just be done. To do this I loosen the 3 securing bolts for the wishbone and this lets you swing the hub out and push the joint out.

I normally do it all in this order:-

Loosen hub nut

Jack up and loose wishbone

Pull hub outwards and push shaft spline out supporting the shaft when it's free as you will damage the inner joint if you pull on it and need to keep it

Support wishbone out of the way

Use wedge tool to pop out shaft, have something ready to collect ird oil or jack the car up at a high angle.

Remove shaft

Replace is reverse. Be carful not to stress pipes and wires etc.

Hope this helps- not the worst job but a pain and you need to safely support the car!

Fantastic, just what I was suspecting - although good to know I should do the hub end first.
What oil does the IRD use and how much of it? I guess I might as well replace that now while I'm under there.

The Docmeister said:

Fantastic, just what I was suspecting - although good to know I should do the hub end first.
What oil does the IRD use and how much of it? I guess I might as well replace that now while I'm under there.

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Not sure how rave says to do it but that's how I do it, done it about 6 times now. You will be fine just be careful.

Worth mentioning that you may want to make sure the filler plug opens on the ird as its a crap short headed bolt and it's at a poor angle for access.

Ird uses 75w90 something like Castrol universal or equivalent.

on the filler plug do not use the multi point socket on it use one that has the same number of flats and points as the bolt as they easy slip on the bolt I use the ones used on the airgun hope this helps

teddywood1 said:

on the filler plug do not use the multi point socket on it use one that has the same number of flats and points as the bolt as they easy slip on the bolt I use the ones used on the airgun hope this helps

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Second that! Only use a hex. Crap design from LR as usual and done up to an ungodly torque! Bit like the hub but!

Let us know how you get on

Finally getting round to doing this, all apart and old shaft off, but the angle between the shaft itself and inner joint looks crazy when I try to get it into the ird.
I'm not sure it's fully seated that end. I'll persevere, but any tips appreciated. It's the lack of room to waggle things about with the hub in place that's foxing me!
It feels like it's engaging in the splines but looks like it needs to go in an inch...

The Docmeister said:

Finally getting round to doing this, all apart and old shaft off, but the angle between the shaft itself and inner joint looks crazy when I try to get it into the ird.
I'm not sure it's fully seated that end. I'll persevere, but any tips appreciated. It's the lack of room to waggle things about with the hub in place that's foxing me!
It feels like it's engaging in the splines but looks like it needs to go in an inch...

Click to expand...

It should be basically flush with the ird, you need to push harder to get past the circlip

I reckoned on it needing to go further in, but am struggling to get any real purchase on the joint with the shaft being at such a steep angle. Don't know if maybe the lift kit is adding to this.
Think I'll rope in an extra pair of hands to help keep things aligned as I try to push harder.
Not been a bad job so far if it would only sit in place!
Thanks for the advice.