Modified front shaft

[Patchy]

Hey ppl im getting ready to lift my defender a bit and fit long travel shocks so in the process of sorting everything I need..

With the front drive shaft I contacted Drive Shafts Australia and been quoted $600 to fit a double cardon joint which is about half price of a new aftermarket one just wondering if anyone has gone this route and if the stock shaft is strong enough once the double cardon isfitted. I cant see why it wouldn't but other on here prob know more than me so thought I would ask the question.

Cheers Brian

[harro]

What model and year?

[Patchy]

Ah sorry 2004 td5 110

[harro]

Ah sorry 2004 td5 110

Hi Patchy,
I have an 02 defender 110 with 50mm lift and no issues with the factory drive shafts.
I believe it is a different story with the Puma's due to the T/case mounted on a more acute angle to accommodate the ford box and engine.
This increases the front prop shaft angle when standard height so any lift will make it worse hence the need for a double cardan joint.
At least that is my understanding of the issue.
So unless you really want it you could save yourself some $$:)

Cheers,
Paul.

[Felix]

For $600 I'd just buy a Tom Woods shaft. Better unis, stronger slip joint and they're proven to be reliable.

But if you're just lifting it 50mm, no need for DC shaft. I had a wide angle prop in mine with 50mm lift and Gwyn Lewis suspension, not a problem. Funnily enough, its for sale in the market section!

[MLD]

I agree that you might want to give consideration to a wide angle prop shaft in lieu of a DC shaft. That is all you need for a TD5 and 50mm lift. DC is nice but not necessary. The Morris Bailey is thicker than factory and if you break that you are going pretty hard.

Budget USD500 for a Tom Wood, plus freight and if you break the ton, GST. Someone recently posted that they landed a TW for about $750.

A cheaper alternative is a modified D2 shaft. They sell for about $250 S/H plus the adaptor flange for the LT230 $70 and you have a DC shaft.

Cheeky one Alex :eek: I have that same shaft redundantly laying around under the house too.

MLD

[Patchy]

Yeah I've just been reading and a bit of miss information so might save my money and see how it goes and worry about it if its needed I also sent an email to Tom Wood but haven't had a reply as yet.

Also since yourself MLD and Felix have the same shaft can I start a bartering war haha:p

cheers for your help guys probably saved me some money I can spend elsewhere

[Felix]

My tom woods was landed for about $650 I think.

Yeah but Mark, mines been reco'd. Thats good for at least 10hp at the wheels.....

[Iain_B]

Tom Woods shafts are not infallible. Mine died in less than 15,000km. The unis have the grease nipple on the outer cup, rather than the cross like all the other ones I have seen. I greased all the joints before we left Carnarvon heading back east, the front uni took quite a bit of grease but I did not think too much about it but 6000km later the uni has failed. Not a big problem to replace it.

I put the OEM one back in, and that has done 120,000km without any problems. I have the Tom Woods shaft sitting on the workbench, might re-fit it one day, but will probably look for some better style uni joints or at least, some right angle grease nipples and caps.