Whats happened ? Diff explode ?

Datatek said:

Sorry Tony, you can't test the VCU from the rear with the handbrake on, the prop will be locked before you get to the VCU.

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Didn't say you could. What i said was IF a rear half shaft is broken. You have to do the test with the handbrake on or as you turn the front wheel the rear prop will spin. Maybe it was not clear enough.

wammers said:

Didn't say you could. What i said was IF a rear half shaft is broken. You have to do the test with the handbrake on or as you turn the front wheel the rear prop will spin. Maybe it was not clear enough.

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OK hands up, I missunderstood

update

the front prop is completley missing

nothing seems to be broken, were just about to jack it up now...

if front prop has been removed at some time then v/c is seized and either damaged front diff or removed to stop it from been ,extra torque at back would eventually break something

:noipcs:

jamesmartin said:

if front prop has been removed at some time then v/c is seized and either damaged front diff or removed to stop it from been ,extra torque at back would eventually break something

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the clutch was done about 3 months ago and front prob was removed then, and put back in..could that have anything to do with it ?>

my mate here is unsure what the vcu is, he says is that just in autos ? or in manual too ? (mines manual)

what tests can we do now ? we have front end jacked up

he said a min ago, get a new prop and bolts and see if it works, would it ?

is there any way to test the diff and vcu like it is now ?

If the uj has failed ?

Everything seems to be spinning hes saying ,may of been uj fail ?
If i get a new uj and prob could it be ok ?

polsta said:

the clutch was done about 3 months ago and front prob was removed then, and put back in..could that have anything to do with it ?>

my mate here is unsure what the vcu is, he says is that just in autos ? or in manual too ? (mines manual)

what tests can we do now ? we have front end jacked up

he said a min ago, get a new prop and bolts and see if it works, would it ?

is there any way to test the diff and vcu like it is now ?

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vc is in front housing on transfer box and has flange for front porop bolted to it its in all p38s nothing to do with g/box ,get a 30mm socket and bar and turn or try front output flange

jamesmartin said:

if front prop has been removed at some time then v/c is seized and either damaged front diff or removed to stop it from been ,extra torque at back would eventually break something

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Yep, you have to remember the Range Rover was only permanent four wheel drive because the engineers were worried about the differentials being near their torque limits in 2wd configuration in such a heavy car.

Polsta you are talking in riddles. Your mate has no clue. If both prop shafts are still in place and not rattling about it is not a U/J. It is highly likely to be a broken half shaft. Jack each wheel up in turn and try to turn them. If one of them turns easily by hand that is the one with the broken half shaft. It is also highly likely to have been caused by a seized VCU. Try that first then get back with what you found.

I confused too, how can a prop be missing and then not? Does the "mechanic" even know what a prop looks like!

polsta said:

update

the front prop is completley missing

nothing seems to be broken, were just about to jack it up now...

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wammers said:

Polsta you are talking in riddles. Your mate has no clue. If both prop shafts are still in place and not rattling about it is not a U/J.

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maybe if you read whats been said...

the front prop is missing, and had broken from the rear facing end, he said luckily it hasnt damaged anything, the output flange is ok and everything else seems to be ok he said

he suspects...a failed uj on front prop, its fell down and spun/broken away and somehow been flung away from the car luckily not damaging anything

and i should get a new prob + the 8 bolts, or at least 4, and see if it sorts it and that it should be ok

could that be the case ?

Yeah ok missed that post. Maybe if you had looked under the car before posting. And given the correct info it would have been easier to diagnose. A totally missing prop shaft may have given us a little better clue. Instead of generating speculation. You still need to do the VCU test though.

can you do the vcu test like it is ? he tried the output flange as instructed a cple of posts above said it all seemed ok and everything seems to be ok

could it just be the failed uj thats caused it all ? i think half the uj is still attached, said we need at least 4 bolts (for the rear) where its snapped off, and said they need cutting/grinding off

i can get a prop with uj and bolts etc for £50 tomorrow from martin o toole in romsey ( ebay id r-r-parts-ltd ) , would a good used one be ok ? i can collect that tomorrow take straight to mates garage and hel do it tomorrow

or theres a brand new one here for £104 ?

P38 Range Rover Diesel Front Prop Shaft FTC4140 | eBay

and brand new bolts

Range Rover P38 Prop Shaft Nuts & Bolts Set x8 | eBay

island 4x4 has a brand new "quality aftermarket" one for £74+ vat

yes your actually turning v/c with the flange nut the threaded part is part of v/c,your choice new is normally better ,but a good used will get you going

I don't want to be a pessimist but I would have thought sheering a prop shaft was a symptom rather than the cause of the problem.

Are they designed to be sacrificial to protect the VCU?

G~

ok, ideally i need it for work tues morning-rest of the week

a new set up inc the bolts,delivery, bung mate a few quid,taking £150-170 odd, and a wait for it to turn up

i can get the used one tomorrow and all back on the road for a ton less

is there any way to check the prop and uj condition on how good or not is is when looking at it ? ie if really decent or a bit ropey

also i want to do diff oils,oil change and service, and can pick up a couple of trim parts tomorrow i want to get, and see what else of interest he has there, so would be handy if a decent used one can be had and an all round cheaper overall cost to do it all

gencybay said:

I don't want to be a pessimist but I would have thought sheering a prop shaft was a symptom rather than the cause of the problem.

Are they designed to be sacrificial to protect the VCU?

G~

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no theres no sacrifical part fitted otherwise they fit a support like on rear prop and shear bolts ,it is often symptom of seized v/c

i have no idea...but if the UJ, was on its way out- causing the vibrating/rumbling etc, and it just gave up the ghost, allowing the front end of the prop shaft to drop, and just spin catch and break away from the rear end and dissapear, luckily not damaging anything else/getting caught up (if thats whats happened?)

could that be whats happened ??

polsta said:

i have no idea...but if the UJ, was on its way out- causing the vibrating/rumbling etc, and it just gave up the ghost, allowing the front end of the prop shaft to drop, and just spin catch and break away from the rear end and dissapear, luckily not damaging anything else/getting caught up (if thats whats happened?)

could that be whats happened ??

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That IS what's happened. Think yourself lucky. Next time you get a rumbling don't leave it to get worse. Get it sorted straight away.