GKN Driveshafts worth it?

xDParis64 · Sep 23, 2024

Hey!

So I may need to replace the driveshaft on my 1.8 FL1 but I have heard the GKN ones are worth the cost as they are not cheap rubbish.

I took a look and at £60 for one or £100 for two non GKN ones for one GKN one at £320 is it really worth it!

I would expect for 6x the price they last 6x longer, anyone had any first hand experience?

Note I have a +50mm lift on the front and +60mm on the back.

Nodge68 · Sep 23, 2024

The main issue with cheap aftermarket shafts is to do with vibration. The inboard joints on the Freelander are tripod joints, which are at a steeper angle than a normal car, due to the higher body in relation to the wheel center. What happens on cheap shafts, is the inboard joints tend to wear and stiffen quite quickly, resulting in vibration under acceleration. This isn't ideal, as it causes bearing wear, and eventually oil seal failure, the former being much more expensive to put right, than simply fitting OE shafts in the first place.
It seems excessive to use genuine GKN parts, but only those seem to last.
What's wrong with the shafts on there?

xDParis64 · Sep 23, 2024

Nodge68 said:
The main issue with cheap aftermarket shafts is to do with vibration. The inboard joints on the Freelander are tripod joints, which are at a steeper angle than a normal car, due to the higher body in relation to the wheel center. What happens on cheap shafts, is the inboard joints tend to wear and stiffen quite quickly, resulting in vibration under acceleration. This isn't ideal, as it causes bearing wear, and eventually oil seal failure, the former being much more expensive to put right, than simply fitting OE shafts in the first place.
It seems excessive to use genuine GKN parts, but only those seem to last.
What's wrong with the shafts on there?

Yeah, and with a lift that only increases the wear.

The problem may not even be driveshaft but is the latest issue in this post https://www.landyzone.co.uk/land-rover/hello-again.394498/page-2 and my almost fully rebuilt fl1 at this point

Nodge68 · Sep 23, 2024

And yes, a lifted FL1 puts even more strain on those inboard joints.

andyfreelandy · Sep 23, 2024

Shout me if you need a replacement shaft.

kernowsvenski · Sep 23, 2024

I can tell you that GKN shafts are good quality, but the boots might let you down.

GrumpyGel · Sep 24, 2024

I wonder what the view is that with a 50mm lift the shafts are going to be destroyed anyway, so you may as well go cheap.

But will they make it to the parts store to pick up their replacements

resto_d1 · Sep 24, 2024

I’ve fitted gkn rather than ****part to my d1 at a way higher cost. I’d much rather gkn than britpart just so hopefully I don’t have to strip it back for a while!

GKN Driveshafts worth it?

xDParis64

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xDParis64

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