Hi All, don't know if it's me being thick, but here's the story. 1994 Defender 90 300 tdi. Clunk when pulling away, sounds like it's towards the rear. Not the A Frame balljoint, doesn't seem to be transfer box (had a good look through the PTO cover) so thought it must be the much-talked about drive flanges (or "members" as some people call them). Took rear wheel off and realised that I don't seem to have a separate flange; it looks like it is all one piece with the driveshaft. So, here's the question, if it's not a worn flange, is it likely to be the splines on the diff end of the driveshaft? There does seem to be quite a lot of play (I can rotate the wheel maybe 15 or 20 degrees with the handbrake on, and I think there is a clunk coming from within the diff).

I guess it's not too big a job to change the whole thing, but is there any way of checking whether I need to? If the play suggests that I should, does anyone know the part numbers for that style of "non-flanged" driveshaft?

Many thanks!

90 drive members and half shafts are 1 piece on 300tdis,worn diff splines isnt common,,drive member issue is extremely common on 110 rear axle though, was the shaft and input gear clean or full of dirty grease like stuff,rock props etc till you can feel were the play is with 1 x front and rear wheels off the ground hand brake off

Thanks James, I haven't actually got any further than removing the wheel and realising that the flange/shaft are all one piece. I guess I could strip it out, but does the amount of rotational play sound excessive (this is with rear jacked up, handbrake on)?

play could be in diff ,prop center diff t/box or even from front , rotating props can help as does counter rotating both as you can feel play in center diff then

Ok, thanks, I'll get back underneath and start fiddling. I was surprised how much I could rotate the wheel before it started to rotate the propshaft, but maybe that's normal?

I don't care what is in this post, but "Can't find my Flange!, by FlyPanda" would make a great title for a song and band name.