Urgent advice needed - rear prop shaft

Retrospaceman · Aug 10, 2016

Hi all.
I'm on my family holiday and having driven the 1400 miles from Cumbria to Switzerland, then driving around the Alps I've developed an issue on the rear prop shaft. It's become very loose and the rear joint has a lot of play and making some very unpleasant noises. I'm due to start the trip home on friday so another 1400 miles till I can replace it.
I'm worried it will fail on the auto route and cause a whole heap of trouble.
My front shaft is new and in good condition.
Could I drop the rear one off, put it in different lock and drive that distance in front wheel drive, or do you think it would damage something else?
Many thanks for your help.

doodle bug · Aug 10, 2016

Take it off !! or suffer even more damage ! surely there must be somewhere on route you can find some new UJs

wattfield · Aug 10, 2016

I asked the same question recently, and apparently you can.

flat · Aug 10, 2016

Take it off then drive in difflock.

Remove it completely though don't just disconnect at one end

Retrospaceman · Aug 10, 2016

Thanks guys. I've dropped it out. The uj crumbled during the process so it's a good thing I did. Have taken it for a little dive in different lock and all seems o.k, although there is still a bit of a clunking noise coming from the front end, which I suspect is the steering damper, but that should hopefully be fine. Homeward bound Friday. Fingers crossed haha

doodle bug · Aug 10, 2016

Retrospaceman said:
Thanks guys. I've dropped it out. The uj crumbled during the process so it's a good thing I did. Have taken it for a little dive in different lock and all seems o.k, although there is still a bit of a clunking noise coming from the front end, which I suspect is the steering damper, but that should hopefully be fine. Homeward bound Friday. Fingers crossed haha

If theres still a clunk from the front i suspect you,ve been a litle lax with the grease gun ! UJs need regulary service......(something like a good wife)

Wimblowdriver · Aug 10, 2016

doodle bug said:
UJs need regulary service......(something like a good wife)

A bad wife is better

doodle bug · Aug 10, 2016

Wimblowdriver said:
A bad wife is better

ONLY if she belongs to someone else

Retrospaceman · Aug 10, 2016

You may be right about the grease, but the front is new so don't think that will be a problem.

I'll be sure to service the wife tonight just to be sure....Oh yeah and she is someone else's

LeftFoot · Aug 11, 2016

Retrospaceman said:
Thanks guys. I've dropped it out. The uj crumbled during the process so it's a good thing I did. Have taken it for a little dive in different lock and all seems o.k, although there is still a bit of a clunking noise coming from the front end, which I suspect is the steering damper, but that should hopefully be fine. Homeward bound Friday. Fingers crossed haha

Make sure the hand brake drum cover is secure. I didn't, and mine got away during my test drive. Sounded like hell broke loose underneath the defender.

Retrospaceman · Aug 15, 2016

Back home, and all o.k. Had an issue with an injector pipe but managed to drive 200 miles on 3 cylinders till I got back to the UK and stopped at island 4x4 in Kent before finishing the trip. Thanks for all the advise. @LeftFoot she threw the securing screws for the transmission drum. Thanks for the advise as I kept an eye on it and caught it before it became a headache.

Urgent advice needed - rear prop shaft

Retrospaceman

Well-Known Member

doodle bug

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wattfield

AKA Dirk Diggler

flat

Well-Known Member

Retrospaceman

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doodle bug

Well-Known Member

Wimblowdriver

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doodle bug

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Retrospaceman

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LeftFoot

Active Member

Retrospaceman

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